What Is EDM?

When you look on places like Wiki you will see that Electronic Dance Music (EDM) has origins in Disco, Dub and HipHop. Or even further back to the 60s where some music was specifically created just to dance.

EDM is the collective term for all electronic dance music (techno, rave, dubstep) and possibly trying to rebrand some genres so that they become more commercially viable. In its simplest terms EDM is anything that uses electronic machines to make electronic music :) However, even with this term you could also ask yourself if early bands that used various electric organs could be classed as electronic dance music artists?

But what you will find is that too many people will be too preoccupied in terminology, percentage of song that is electronic and not realise what EDM should be about:

something that uses electronic machines
makes you dance/ groove
can be difficult to maintain momentum and releases (as an artist)
can level the playing field- anyone can create EDM if they want to
can give you fun
can be different and changing
can take you to a place that can be relaxing
can take you away from the grind of the day
can make you think- that is awesome, I want to listen to that again and again
there is a community spirit with some of the genres with fans recognising songs from years ago which also places them at a certain party or fun time in their life

For me, I have even bought songs that have a cool hook, instrument or effect,

It covers a lot of artists, songs and genres

Do you know your EDM goal?

But at the end of the day, EDM is actually what it makes you feel. If you can find that then creating the music will also be much deeper because it will have meaning and feeling to it.

Audience will then be able to relate.

And this is what EDM is all about. T rying to connect with the audience of the genre that you enjoy. This is why it doesn’t really matter of what constitutes EDM. Its your audience that is the key to this, no one else.

It is the same for anything, for any product that is created. For example, the blog. Most people who have made it through the Internet have zero following at the start. Their output was poor but the reasoning was to connect with like minded individuals, so the reward was that connection. As time progressed their output got better and more refined and viewers started to spread the information and “invite” other people to view the content that they liked. Then momentum builds up.

But Likes, spreading, downloads and even sales are a byproduct of your interaction first.

You can short cut your way into this, by buying viewers but it is not a lasting strategy.

Knowing your audience first is a huge reasoning why many people do not connect with that audience. Also they believe that it can be done in one night, with one Youtube video and 4 blog posts. It rarely happens.

But it always starts off with creating something and then refining that product targeted at an audience that you want to communicate with.

Even if your EDM genre has a limited amount of people listening to it, you just need a small amount to actually promote you and to just be a fan. Some people have suggested 1000 true fans that always open your email, always check on what you are up to and always interact. The Technium: 1,000 True Fans (kk.org). And when you start to think about this number it actually isn’t hard to achieve.

You have to think about it as well. Wouldn’t this be better for you to interact with like minded people? These people can give you their thoughts on your music and you are creating for people who are looking forward to that release? Isnt that a good goal to aim for?

For more electronic dance music articles check out the Jasonera blog.