Contemporary Electronic Dance Music

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

1. Chris & Cosey, “Fantastique” from Muzik Fantastique! (1992 Play It Again Sam Records). Written-By, Performer, Chris Carter And Cosey Fanni Tutti. UK duo.
2. Timmy Trumpet Feat. Mariana Bo, “Vivaldi (Extended Mix)” from Vivaldi (2022 Tomorrowland Music). From Mariana Bo, violinist, DJ and producer from Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico.
3. 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.
4. Deborah De Luca, “Anho” from Ten (2018 Sola_mente Records). Italian DJ and producer.
5. Charlotte De Witte, “Kali” from Universal Consciousness EP (2022 KNTXT). Belgian DJ and record producer.
6. 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.
7. Nora En Pure, “Norma Jean” from Come With Me (2013 Enormous Tunes). Swiss/South African DJ and producer.
8. Peggy Gou, “Maktoop” from Seek For Maktoop (2016 Technicolour). Berlin-based South Korean DJ and producer.
9. 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.
10. Nina Kraviz, “Love or Go” from Nina Kraviz (2012 Rekids). Nina Kraviz (Нина Кравиц) is a Russian singer, producer, dentist, and DJ.
11. 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.
12. Monika Kruse, “Summer Drops (original)” from Summer Drops (2014 Terminal M). German DJ and producer and founder of Terminal M.
13. Amelie Lens, “Drift” from Contradiction (2017 Second State). Techno DJ and producer from Antwerp, Belgium.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. TOKiMONSTA, “Let Me Trick You” from Cosmic Intoxication EP (2010 Ramp Recordings). Jennifer Lee is a producer from Los Angeles, California, USA.
17. 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.