Recently, Iâve been getting more into electronic music. I canât get enough, and it seems like the world agrees. There have been many rising electronic artists in the industry, and that can only mean one thing â electronic music is back, baby!
To put it simply, electronic music is a musical genre that emerged in the 1980s. Electronic is tightly related to EDM, also known as electronic dance music. However, it is not exactly the same genre. The electronic genre can be defined by synthetic drum machine rhythms, heavy robotic basslines, and vocoded vocals. At its core, electronic music is a genre that is created and produced using electronic or electromechanical music instruments.
EDM had a famous run in the 2010s. Artists like Calvin Harris, Avicii, David Guetta, and Skrillex consistently ranked in the Billboard Top 100 during this time. EDM DJâs worked closely with pop-star royalty to create our favorite songs. This, partially, was the reason for its intense popularity during the 2010s. Prime examples of pop/EDM collaborations include âWe Found Loveâ by Rihanna and Calvin Harris and âClarityâ by Zedd and Foxes. Even pure-pop princesses, like Taylor Swift explored EDM and its subgenre dub-step, with her 2012 smash-hit, âI Knew You Were Trouble.â
This intense popularity wouldnât last forever. During the late 2010s and throughout the 2020s, the world shifted its focus onto new musical genres, primarily hip-hop, rap, and R&B. All understandable, as well! Artists like Kendrick Lamar, Drake, The Weekend, and SZA remain staples on charts throughout this current decade. Nowadays, vastly different genres like Korean pop, Latin music, and country all compete for spots on the Billboard Top 100. People have become more well-rounded, and are able to enjoy different types of music genres now.Â
Now, because of this, the electronic music scene is smaller than it was before. But thatâs not a bad thing. New and upcoming artists like Slayyyter have begun to make waves mainstream, introducing more electropop/hyperpop tones to popular music. Her songs like âCRANKâ and âDANCEâŠâ initially blew up on TikTok. Aggressive, booming bass and distorted synths define Slayyyterâs newest album, âWOR$T GIRL IN AMERICAâ.Â
It is criminal to talk about electronic/hyperpopâs resurgence without talking about the queen herself, Charli XCX. Charliâs 6th studio album, âBratâ, was a major pop culture staple. It was due to this album that we coined the summer of 2024 a âbrat summerâ. The album blends EDM and pop music into one cohesive record. One of Charliâs biggest inspirations is her close friend and fellow artist, SOPHIE. Sophie Xeon was a British music producer/DJ that helped pioneer hyperpop/experimental pop. Her mixes are abrasive and warped, but are innovative and first of its kind. She sadly passed away in 2021, but her artistic vision is carried out in new-age electronic artists.
There are plenty of new artists that are bringing up a new age of electronic music. It is important to note that many of these artists blend into hyperpop sounds. One of my favorite artists, Underscores, recently released her third studio album, U. My favorite songs off the album are âMusicâ and âWish U Wellâ. There are plenty of other artists that are paving a new road for electronic music and its subgenres. For example: Jane Remover, Tiffany Day, Canelle, Frost Children, Porter Robinson, and Ninajirachi â to name a few.
The demand for new and interesting electronic music is growing. The future looks promising, and as a consumer, I canât complain. Electronic music is back and better than ever!