Let me start off by saying something that will absolutely seem nonsensical at first; I promise that it will later make sense: country music, electronic dance music (EDM) and dub step all have something in common. (And no, the commonality is not the fact that they are all music.) Rather, they’re all genres that we either like, enjoy or take guilty pleasure in without understanding why. These types of music seem to be gaining an ever-increasing momentum with the general public and make us wonder what is it about country, EDM and dub step that leaves us wanting more.
To start, what exactly is the craze with country? I think that it’s a sound we’re a heck of a lot more familiar with then we may be aware of. Its sonic calling cards are beginning to permeate our own mainstream music. Take Mumford & Sons. While their aesthetic melds more closely to that of blue grass and rock there are definitely ties between the quick strumming techniques are similar to those in country music. Country is unique in the fact that it shares common ties to a wealth of different genres. I listen to the patterns that country musicians use in the strumming of their guitars and I’m instantly reminded of classic rock. I hear the themes of partying and having a good time and I hear a whole host of songs from the top 100 chart. I hear belting voices and flagrant demonstrations of skill that remind me of Christina Aguilera’s and Mariah Carey’s showmanship. There are little notes of this and that in country music, notes of familiarity, nostalgia and fun.
Even if you don’t like country music, it’s hard to not enjoy it. If you’re laughing at its lyrics such as, to quote Kenny Chesney, “No shirts, no shoes, no problem” at least you’re laughing. On the most basic level, this music has brought you some kind of joy. It makes you wonder if the lyrics are serious or if they’re meant to give you a laugh. If so, the song has clearly done its job. And if you don’t actually like the song, then you’ve overridden your need for aesthetic pleasure with the satisfaction of amusement. On the flip side of this, so many country songs feature raw, real emotion that can tear at the heartstrings of even the least emotional people. The messages are anywhere from hilarious to sentimental.
Sometimes the right country song can take me to an easier, light-hearted place. I’m given a small reprieve from whatever stressful day I’m having. Country music has the ability to take us to a different reality, even if we don’t want to willingly go there.
Much like the way country music can provide a mental release; EDM and dance music can provide a physical catharsis. Sometimes you just need to dance and you hardly care what’s playing as long as you can find a beat and bop around. Dub step and EDM both carry a level of familiarity with them; they feature repeated patterns, a small range of notes and attractively–synthesized foreign sounds. At the same time that they keep you constantly intrigued, they also lull you into a sense of complacency where you couldn’t care less what the melody was if there’s even one to be found. Dub step is like small talk – interesting and new at the same time that it’s a familiar vessel by which to socialize and have fun.
However, we can’t forget the fact that it’s also an art form. This art form is not to be thought of as simplistic or easy, so much as it is engineered in a way that makes it accessible and relatable to wide masses of people, people who often don’t even know why or how they like it. Maybe there’s a lot more at play here than a few guys sitting down and saying yeah bro, that sounds cool. There’s something profound about music that’s created in a way to appeal to everyone. Whether you like a song for its beat, or bass, or synth or samples, there’s something for every listener.
I’ll admit, if you’re not familiar with these genres, one short listen to country, EDM or dubstep can send you into a bit of sensory overload. But, they each have a redeeming quality, whether it’s music that gets your feet moving or gets you laughing, music with lyrics that pull at your heartstrings or rhythms that send your pulse skyrocketing. They’ve grown out of traditions similar to pop and rock and hip-hop and R&B, yet they seem so very different. On a very basic level, these genres are no different than the popular songs we hear on the radio.