Electronic
Music primarily produced with electronic instruments, synthesizers, drum machines, and digital audio workstations — from early experiments to global dance culture.
Sub-topics
Music produced primarily through electronic means — from early tape experiments and Moog synthesizers in the 1950s-60s to the global dance music industry.
Music centered on the synthesizer, from Wendy Carlos's Switched-On Bach (1968) to Kraftwerk's electronic pop (1970s). The DX7 and TR-808 revolutionized production in the 1980s.
1970s dance music born in underground clubs of New York — funk, soul, and Latin rhythms with four-on-the-floor beats. Donna Summer, Bee Gees, Giorgio Moroder. Catalyzed house and techno.
Born in Chicago clubs in the early 1980s from disco, electronic pop, and drum machines. Frankie Knuckles, the Warehouse. Four-on-the-floor kick, synthesized basslines, soulful vocals.
Emerged in Detroit in the mid-1980s, created by Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson. Fused Chicago house, Kraftwerk's electronic sound, and Detroit funk into futuristic machine music.
Melodic, hypnotic electronic dance music that emerged in Germany and the Netherlands in the early 1990s. Build-ups, breakdowns, and euphoric synth leads. Paul van Dyk, Tiesto, Armin van Buuren.
Fast-tempo (160-180 BPM) UK electronic genre from the early 1990s, emphasizing breakbeats and heavy bass. Evolved from rave and jungle. Goldie, Roni Size, LTJ Bukem.
Music emphasizing atmosphere, tone, and texture over rhythm or melody. Brian Eno coined the term with Ambient 1: Music for Airports (1978). Aphex Twin, Stars of the Lid.
Intelligent dance music — experimental electronic music for listening rather than dancing, emerging in the early 1990s. Aphex Twin, Autechre, Boards of Canada. Warp Records.
Born in South London in the early 2000s from UK garage, dub, and drum and bass. Deep sub-bass, sparse rhythms, half-time beats. Skream, Burial, Benga. Later popularized by Skrillex.
Umbrella term for festival-oriented electronic dance music that dominated the 2010s. Big-room drops, pop crossovers, Las Vegas residencies. Avicii, Calvin Harris, Marshmello.
2000s-2010s retro-electronic genre inspired by 1980s film soundtracks, video games, and synth-pop. Analog synths, neon aesthetics. Kavinsky, Perturbator, Carpenter Brut.
Internet-born micro-genre from the early 2010s — slowed-down samples of 1980s-90s muzak, smooth jazz, and pop. Critique of consumer capitalism through surreal nostalgia. Macintosh Plus.
Chill, low-fidelity hip-hop-influenced beats popularized on YouTube and streaming platforms in the 2010s. Jazz samples, vinyl crackle, relaxed tempos. Nujabes as spiritual predecessor.
Abrasive, confrontational electronic music using noise, distortion, and mechanical sounds. Throbbing Gristle (1976), Einsturzende Neubauten, Nine Inch Nails, Ministry.