Episode 71
Contemporary Electronic Dance Music
After doing my previous podcast about the vintage roots of electronic dance music, I said to myself, why not an episode featuring some examples of EDM as it stands today?
Collected here are sixteen examples from fourteen artists of what I call more extreme electronic dance music sounds. These tracks all share a few characteristics, as outlined in the last episode. These characteristics are the use of electronic sound sources, especially types that are easily programmed and operated in a live situation; music that is beat-driven and generally sparse on lyrics; a heavy reliance on repetition patterns and textures while preserving a spot for the artist to display some solo musicianship. The soloing may in fact come from manipulating various controls and buttons, or it may come from a more overtly inserted musical passage played on a keyboard, all to inject a touch of personal expression to the automation.
Here is a selection of tracks from around the globe, showing how EDM has become somewhat culturally agnostic.
Playlist
- Chris & Cosey, “Fantastique” from Muzik Fantastique! (1992 Play It Again Sam Records). Written-By, Performer, Chris Carter And Cosey Fanni Tutti. UK duo.
- Timmy Trumpet Feat. Mariana Bo, “Vivaldi (Extended Mix)” from Vivaldi (2022 Tomorrowland Music). From Mariana Bo, violinist, DJ and producer from Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico.
- Sam Divine & CASSIMM, “What God Has Chosen” from What God Has Chosen (2017 DFTD). Producer, CASSIMM, Sam Divine; Written by Mary J. Blige. Sam Divine and CASSIMM are DJs and producers based in London, UK.
- Deborah De Luca, “Anho” from Ten (2018 Sola_mente Records). Italian DJ and producer.
- Charlotte De Witte, “Kali” from Universal Consciousness EP (2022 KNTXT). Belgian DJ and record producer.
- Sam Divine & CASSIMM, “Can’t Stop the House” from In Da Nation EP (201 DFTD). Divine and CASSIMM are DJs and producers based in London, UK.
- Nora En Pure, “Norma Jean” from Come With Me (2013 Enormous Tunes). Swiss/South African DJ and producer.
- Peggy Gou, “Maktoop” from Seek For Maktoop (2016 Technicolour). Berlin-based South Korean DJ and producer.
- Grimes, “Symphonia IX (My Wait Is U)” from Visions (2011 Arbutus Records). Grimes is the Canadian artist Claire Boucher best known for her work as a producer, singer, and songwriter.
- Nina Kraviz, “Love or Go” from Nina Kraviz (2012 Rekids). Nina Kraviz (Нина Кравиц) is a Russian singer, producer, dentist, and DJ.
- Monika Kruse Meets Pig&Dan, “Boogie Man” from Oblivion EP (2016 Terminal). Kruse is a German DJ and producer and founder of Terminal M; Pig&Dan are a DJ and producer duo based in Spain.
- Monika Kruse, “Summer Drops (original)” from Summer Drops (2014 Terminal M). German DJ and producer and founder of Terminal M.
- Amelie Lens, “Drift” from Contradiction (2017 Second State). Techno DJ and producer from Antwerp, Belgium.
- Anne Savage Vs. Lisa Lashes, “Release Me” from Release Me (2010 Siren Tracks). Anne Savage is a UK hard-dance DJ & Producer. Lisa Lashes is a British trance/hard-house DJ and music producer.
- East Coast Boogiemen and DJ Heather, “Picture of You (Natural Rhythm Remix)” from Picture Of You Pt. 1 (2005 Blackcherry Recordings). East Coast Boogiemen was the DJ group consisting of Ken Christensen and Juan Zapata. DJ Heather is a DJ and producer from Chicago.
- TOKiMONSTA, “Let Me Trick You” from Cosmic Intoxication EP (2010 Ramp Recordings). Jennifer Lee is a producer from Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Nicole Moudaber & Skin, “Someone Like You” from Breed EP (2015 Mood Records). Nicole Moudaber is a DJ and producer born and raised in Nigeria and Lebanon, and who is now based in London, UK. Skin (Deborah Anne Dyer) is a British singer, songwriter, electronic music DJ.
Opening background music:
Thom Holmes, “To the Automation” (2022). Instrumentation, Spark, ARP Odyssey, and Buchla Easel plug-ins, Thom Holmes.
Opening and closing sequences voiced by Anne Benkovitz.
Additional opening, closing, and other incidental music by Thom Holmes.
For additional notes, please see my blog, Noise and Notations.