Is EDM one of the worst things that has ever happened to Dance Music?

After many requests I thought I would finally address this matter. I’m heavily into my Electronic but not this modern ‘EDM’ genre and here’s why…When I think of EDM I think of a predictable, cheap, unintelligent, repetitive, sell out, overproduced, pop genre with no technicality. Yes I know a lot of criticism in one sentence. So what has changed and why do people get so upset over the genre?

All the DJ’s sell out purely for the money!

Firstly I would just like to say I do not have a problem with artists selling out who are able to do it successfully by this I mean artists who continue to make sophisticated and challenging music. Daft Punk, Chemical Brothers & The Prodigy were able to do it; these artists maintain both a degree of underground dance music cool plus global chart and mega-festival headlining success. However I do not agree with money influenced DJ’s such as Avicii, David Guetta & Hardwell.  As DJ sneak once said about Armed Van Helden “He needs to step away from this DJ business…fuck money and fame. It’s all about passion and love for house music”. – I couldn’t agree more with this statement

EDM has become an entire generation’s pop music – ITS JUST POP MUSIC NOTHING ELSE!

EDM hasn’t always been what it is today! 10 years ago if you asked the average fan what their favourite EDM music was, I guarantee they would have been able to name three sub-genres (Techno to House all the way to Drum & Bass).   Nowadays the average fan probably wouldn’t be able to name any and you know why that is? It’s because… EDM has now become an entire generation’s pop music. Electronic dance music is no longer influencing mainstream pop music. EDM has become mainstream pop music. The reason why commercial music from the mid 90’s to early 20s is so timeless is because in most cases, tracks were crossed over from the clubs into the charts unintentionally. For Example Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter and his Stardust cohorts weren’t setting out nor anticipating a UK top ten to their vinyl-only pressing of ‘Music Sounds Better With You’ back in 1998. The EDM scene is attracting people who think they know about dance music when they don’t know a thing about it

Exploiting the music to create mass festivals in USA

EDM is a Market for a wide range of enterprises from all over the world. EDM is attracting big companies to just pour money into the genre. EDM festivals (ULTRA, Tommorowland) are exploiting this EDM scene for ridiculous money and the owners of the festivals don’t give a shit what it sounds like. When has music ever been about this!?

It all sounds the same

EDM’s A genre characterized by simple melodies that immediately get stuck in your head and catchy vocals that you can sing along to after the first listen (wait, isn’t that pretty much a definition of pop music?). Add a big drop with lots of bass, gritty synths and white noise to that, and you’ve got a pocket definition of 2012′s predictable idea of EDM.”

The only Instrument is a play button

Another criticism is the “we all hit play” statement made by deadmau5 on twitter. Have you ever been at one of these EDM gigs? Artists such as Steve Aoki are notorious for surfing underage crowds on an inflatable raft. SHM were notorious for shouting “Put your hands up” whilst in front of them are turntables and all sorts of other technology lacking any real purpose. Deadmau5 then went on to say “Anyone could learn what I do in my set in just an hour”. The bigger part of the music scene has turned into a commercial hype focused towards festivals, fireworks and rockstar personality cult rather than on the music itself. It has become harder to spot the most interesting artists, and it has become harder for talented artists to reach an audience if their music is not big-room compatible. While introducing massive crowds to electronic music, this thing called EDM has been a major setback for electronic dance music, as it has changed the public’s perception of dance music to something that dance music never wanted to represent.

There is no talent within EDM

Paris Hilton recently made her DJ debut in Brazil… Enough said.

DJ’s trying to now re-invent themselves because of how slated EDM is getting, – SO UNTRUE & FAKE

Deadmau5 is a sell-out. Some would say he sold out successfully some would say unsuccessfully. Personally he’s not my cup of tea, yes he has a few good progressive tracks, however his track professional griefers is one of the worst dance tracks I have ever heard. Seen him live it was great fun but he obviously wasn’t mixing. Anyhow he is now trying to redeem himself by collaborating with underground techno legend Richie Hawtin.    This I do not appreciate, he has a strong following of commercial chart followers he should keep it at that… You won’t be gaining much respect from the underground scene mate!

For all those who love EDM I leave you on this note as Techno Legend Richie Hawtin once explained: “If you just got into Calvin Harris or you just got into Afrojack, great. You’ve stepped through the door, but there’s so much more to learn.” However at some point in the near future the EDM hype will probably collapse… AMEN!

Writer: Kit Bienias