Although still relatively unknown to the general public, the electronic dance music (EDM) genre has steadily been gaining popularity in the United States over the past decade.
Produced primarily for nightclubs, the reverberating beats and looping bass tones of EDM are designed to keep dancers on the floor as disc jockeys slide seamlessly from one song to the next.
Some EDM artists have managed to break into the mainstream market, and many have taken their irresistible beats on tour.
One of the most popular EDM tours is the Winter White Tour, which features laser beams and robots and asks attendees to wear white to enjoy the full effect of the black lights. Headliner David Guetta will be supported by upcoming EDM artists Dada Life and R3hab.
David Guetta is one of the biggest names in EDM. In 2011, Guetta was voted the #1 disc jockey in the world according to DJ Mag, a monthly magazine dedicated to dance music.
Guetta’s collaborations have propelled the EDM genre into the limelight. Guetta’s 2009 album “One Love” included the hit singles that featured such well-known names as Fergie, Akon, and Kid Cudi. All three singles reached #1 in the United Kingdom pop charts and ranked highly on U.S. charts.
One of Guetta’s supporters in the Winter White Tour is Dada Life, which consists of Swedish music producers Stefan Engblom and Olle Corneer. In 2010, Dada Life was voted #89 in DJ Mag‘s annual Top 100 list of most popular disc jockeys and #38 in DJ Mag‘s Top 100 artists. Dada Life frequently headlines at North America’s two largest electronic dance festivals, the Electric Daisy Carnival and the Ultra Music Festival.
Another premier EDM artist is Skrillex, which is the stage name for disc jockey Sonny John Moore. In November 2011, Skrillex earned a total of five Grammy Awards at the 54th Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist. This win, along with Skrillex’s song “First of the Year (Equinox),” appearing on the first episode of the “Beavis and Butt-head” revival, brought Skrillex and electronic dance music into mainstream attention. Skrillex is currently on tour and does frequent shows in New York City.
An additional EDM artist currently on tour is disc jockey Wick-it the Instigator. Wick-it the Instigator managed to carve a niche in EDM with his creative re-mixes of popular hip-hop songs that incorporate electronic beats. He is known for his offbeat sense of humor that he adds to every song. Currently Wick-it the Instigator is on tour for his album “Grindhouse Basterds.”
A brand new EDM artist is the electropop duo Black Cards. When the pop rock band Fall Out Boy unofficially dissolved, bassist Pete Wentz paired up with singer Bebe Rexha. Since its July 2010 formation, Black Cards has slowly gained popularity through its original songs and remixes of popular electronic pieces. On January 26, 2012, the group released a mixtape entitled “Up the Anti – Volume 1.” Although experimental, Wentz hopes to find success with the Black Cards and has hinted at tour dates in the near future.
Although still relatively new to the scene, electronic dance music earns fans as it inspires artists to create new kinds of music.
