Electronic dance music, also referred to as EDM, is a broad range of electronic music often played in nightclubs, at raves and at major South African festivals such as Ultra, Oasis and the infamous Bushfire Festival. iMusician describes it as a musical genre that is often characterised by a strong danceable beat, and it is usually produced by DJs who create a seamless selection of tracks (a DJ mix). These DJ mixes are slowed down or sped up as a means of creating suspense and excitement for the audience, indicating a potential change in the usual melody of the song such as a beat dropping. The genre consists of three subgenres: house music, techno music and synthpop.

A trip in the time machine

According to the American-based blog site The DJ Revolution, electronic dance music was born in the 1960s. This decade is regarded as one of the greatest for rock and house music because it paved the way for iconic bands such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles. The Beatles introduced the use of electronic instruments mostly in their album Abby Road in 1969, showcasing how fast-paced instrumentals accompanied by enthusiastic or lively vocals can be used to captivate and excite an audience, especially during live performances.

The economic crises that hit America in the 1970s forced major discotheques and clubs to close. But this did not stop the youth from dancing as they brought their music and sound systems out onto the streets in the early seventies, which – along with the emergence of hip hop – led to the formation of block parties.

Famous block parties such as Soul Train allowed DJs and MCs to develop the concept of mixing the vocals of the music with other tracks. In 1979, The Sugarhill Gang released “Rapper’s Delight” using Chic’s popular disco track “Good Times”. This cemented hip hop’s influence on the electronic dance music scene. The 1980s can be credited for the introduction of electronic dance music’s subgenre of disco into major clubs. Disco blew up in America and locally in various Johannesburg clubs like Foxy’s and EPS. Since then, the genre has gained popularity nationally and is loved by many locals.

Those worthy of applause

“All I need is some love tonight.” Imagine yourself at a concert with one or two friends, one hand holding a cold brandy and mix while the other is scrunched up in a fist and bopping to these iconic lyrics. The song “Love Tonight”, created by the musical duo Shouse, deserves a gold shelf on the electronic dance music wall of fame. Released in 2017, this song introduced many to this genre, and to date it has received an APRA AMCOS Billions Award for achieving over one billion streams.

Of course, the hit single “Summer” by Calvin Harris cannot go unmentioned. Coincidentally released during the summer of 2014, this song should be held accountable for many dirty white sneakers and foot cramps due to endless jumping. Calvin Harris has graced us with many hit singles such as “One Kiss” and “Feels”. These are just two examples of the bangers he continues to deliver. Local names that also deserve applause for their contribution to the genre include Sun-El Musician, DJ Shimza, Culoe De Song and Da Capo.

Next track

It is time to put your rave shoes on as we enter the world of electronic dance music. Close your eyes and allow yourself to be consumed by the upbeat tempo and rhythm that make this genre stand out among the rest. Remember to dance like no one is watching and listen responsibly, music heads.

Abiro (Da Capo’s Touch) –  Kato Change, Winyo & Da Capo

Hey Hey – Dennis Ferrer

King of Hearts – Kim Petras

Rinketin – Ajna (BE) & Samm (BE)

Abandonment Issues – Atmos Blaq & Sio

Muenda Mputu

Originally published on the PDBY website: Next track: Electronic dance music