EDM soon became one of the most popular music genres all around the world and some of the forms of electronic music are Breakbeat, Dance-punk, Eurodance, Freestyle, House, Techno and Trance. Though the roots of electronic music are based in the disco music which was very popular in the 1970s it was only in 1990s, that this type music was widely accepted and it became one of the contemporary music styles in following years. Electronic music is generally created by means of electronic equipments and instruments like synthesizers, drum machines and sequencers and it mimics the unique sounds of the traditional acoustic instrumentation.

Apart from electro music genres like trance, techno, house and breakbeat which are primarily intended for dancing. Some genres of electronic music like IDM and trip hop are more associated with listening rather than body movements. Trance, which is also one of the forms of electronic genre of music, is a combination of techno, house and industrial music. The name is undoubtedly linked to perceive the ability of music to induce an altered state of consciousness.

With the growth of computers and music technologies, and reduction in the cost of music equipments, a number of upcoming artists and disk jockeys have emerged, showcasing their talent and taking electronic music to the next level. Also, with the advent of hard disk recording system, it is possible for any computer user to become a musician, hence we see a rising trend of bedroom bands where often only single player is the band himself.

The rise of Lorde and electronic dance music, or EDM, across the world has brought a new level of attention to music festivals in the country of New Zealand. The country is currently producing a number of leading popular musicians and acts and is the birthplace of the latest worldwide pop sensation, Lorde(1). The music scene supported the rise of acts Gotye, The Naked and Famous and Mt. Eden.

Music Festivals NZ

Music festivals have experienced the subsequent rise in attendance and prominence as well(2). They’ve been able to attract larger acts to the country both as openers for their own success stories and artists who are looking to make a wave in a new market. This has been especially prevalent in the dance music world, with prominent EDM acts such as Chet Faker, Peking Duk, Poniiboi and Hardwell headlining events in the country.

Because of this, a survey was conducted bout the various music festivals that have or are occurring in New Zealand this year and it shows that more people than ever are getting off the fence when it comes to attending the music festivals NZ throws. Over 30% of people surveyed said that they actually attend festivals, while just over 20% say that they do not normally attend, but they do check the line-ups. Those people are sure to find their way into music festivals because of the ever-larger names that New Zealand continues to attract!

Most Popular Music Festivals

The Rhythm and Vines (2) festival continues to be the most popular of all of the music festivals NZ holds with 13% of people surveyed saying that they look forward to it every year. The BW Summer Festival comes in second on this festival survey. Over 32% of people have not chosen a favourite music festival.

Favourite Music Acts

With all of the big names that have been coming to festivals in New Zealand lately, it is also difficult for people to pick a favourite act from any of these festivals. The festival survey found that three of the top five acts at festivals in New Zealand were from the dance genre – Chet Faker(3), Peking Duk(4) and Flume(5) – indicating that EDM is perhaps the most popular genre of music when it comes to festivals. The survey also had Maxwell and Bastille as the other top two acts that people enjoy.

But first, a little background: I am a music festival addict to the bone. I cannot get enough. I attended Vans Warped Tour as a young punk rocker in high school and in college, along with other day-long music festivals, mostly in the punk and alternative genre. The punk scene was so attractive to me as a pre-teen and beyond because it had this amazing sense of unity and empowerment. I felt like I totally belonged. I wasn’t weird for making my own clothes or fighting for my rights and the rights of others. I truly felt like I could make a positive difference in the world. And I wasn’t alone. Punk wasn’t about lying down and taking it just because bad things are “going to happen anyway.” For me, and others, it was about standing up, fighting back, and bringing people together, no matter how different.

Punk rock eventually led me to having a more of an indie-punk fashion sense and to listening to post-hardcore. These post-hardcore bands started to use synths more and more as years went on. Although synths had been used in hardcore and similar genre since the early 90’s, the first albums I came across with a heavy synth presence were between 2006 and 2008. It sounded more like electro-hardcore to me. And I loved it, a lot! So more and more I developed a love for bands with electronic elements. Electro-pop, electro-core, and so on.

Then Bonnaroo happened. I had heard rumours of the modern-Woodstock and I knew I had to check it out. A couple of my close guy friends were going and I quickly claimed a spot in their car for the 17+ hour drive to Manchester, TN in the summer of 2011.

Techno music, which some say, came out of Detroit in the early 90’s, may have begun through the evolutionary progress of various new textures, patterns and sounds which were emerging from all over the world.

New electronic music devices were being created while electronic sounds were coming into their own. The kick and snare became the heartbeat of the song. The bass became the backbone driving force. The synthesizer was the melody which brought people into the nightclub doors, and kept them dancing from dusk to dawn.

Over the years, some of the different genres and sub styles which have emerged with this new sound have been called: Deep House, House, Techo, Megabeat, Electro House, Disco House, Funky House, Garage, Techno, Industrial, Electronica, Breakcore, Micro-house, Underground, Trance, Ambient, Breaks, Minimal Techno, and many more.

But in looking at where we are now, it was the music groups from as far back as the 60’s that were the veterans of this new sound. Bands like “The Tornados” created one of the first techno-pop songs entitled Telstar in 1962, which became a Billboard number one hit for the band. The song featured a Clavioline, an instrument like a keyboard with a very distinctive electronic sound. Telstar was the first U.S. number one hit by a British group. The song was originally thought to be just a novelty record intended to make people think about the dawn of the space age. Little did they know at the time how evolutionary their record would become.

Since then, DJ’s and Re-mixers (both male and female) have come on the dance music scene, creating an entirely new sound of the future. With their flair for remixing different sounds, cuts and beats, many DJ’s have created number one dance singles. In doing so, they have developed a new artistry and way for them to be heard by music industry power players. Further, they continue to compete at becoming the best mixers and most popular DJ’s in the clubs. In their own right, they have become the celebrities.

With respect to all forms of music and genres introduced, there is no one sound or genre which now stands alone. Music is as diverse as the creators’ imagination. But groundbreakers, such as The Tornados and Kraftwerk have helped to pave the way.

Stay tuned, because the next groundbreakers are sitting in their studios (or sound proofed bedroom closets) right now creating the hottest ‘new sound’ as we speak. And moving forward toward the future, who knows what those sounds will be entitled. Perhaps you will come up with the next new style yourself. If so, what will it be coined? The world’s audience will definitely be listening.

Lady Gaga has really revolutionized pop music at the end of decade with her perfect timing and the Fame really brings disco-pop and yes, even electro pop to life. While Pink, Christina, Beyonce and company are releasing their albums and singles, Gaga has already cemented herself as not only one of the fastest emerging female artists in history, but also as a pop culture icon and one of the biggest favorites of disc jockeys.

She is a staple of pop culture continuing come up with new concepts. Gaga sings (live too!), dances, combines music and fashion, designs her own stage, plays an actual instrument (true musician), and most of all, actually writes her own material. Her strengths have produced a million wannabe’s that want to dance like Gaga or sing like Gaga. She’s such incredible entertainer that disc jockeys can’t wait to see what she gives next.

Gaga can tear the house down sitting on a stool with a mic in her hand or do a full out dance routine and knock others dead. What Alexander McQueen did for fashion, Gaga is doing to dance music. The most amazing with Lady Gaga is that she can change style, whether ballad or pop dance which makes her the new Queen Of Pop. Gaga will continue her career the same way Madonna has. She is a marketing machine for her amazing concerts and the disc jockey who need danceable hits to play.

One thing you all have to admit finally is that Lady Gaga really shook up Top 40 into liking electronic/dance music and abandoning the aggressive sounds of hip-hop in the early and mid 2000s.