The dance/EDM movement isn’t a genre I’m that well versed in, so I thought it was high time that I learned a little more about the genre, especially considering how popular it is at the moment! All the songs listed here have EDM elements, although they’re all slightly differently stylistically, so there should be something for every taste!
Review by Jane Howkins
Picture by LOVETA
LOVETA – Drive
Drive has a huge amount of energy from the very start, with the opening synth effects building LOVETA’s track up instantly. A groovy bassline works underneath the seams, alongside an upbeat percussive beat that has a slight Latin infusion. The vocals have an effortless feeling of cool, working well as the music crashes around them. This is one for those into their mainstream pop, although it’s definitely very danceable too!
Social media: Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, Soundcloud, Youtube, Instagram
Miles Away – Happy Tears (feat. RUNN & AYMEN)
Miles Away has teamed up with RUNN & AYMEN on this stunning new track, Happy Tears. It starts out with a trickling piano melody and some luscious female vocals, with the beat building upwards into a hugely satisfying crescendo of sounds. Happy Tears mixes house and EDM music together, but it also has elements of other genres, with a fantastic clean guitar melody appearing later on to add more of a blues-rock quality to this banging tune.
Social media: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, Soundcloud, Youtube, Instagram, Bandcamp, TikTok
Klary – Paradise
Klary (otherwise known as Klarissa) uses a fantastic main chord sequence in her track Paradise, making it sound catchy from the very start! The piano plays the main melody of the track as the rest of the instrumentation builds up, with a fast drum beat mixing well with the bass and synths. Klary has a fantastic singing voice that is full of emotion throughout, inviting the listener into her wonderful world.
Social media: Facebook, Spotify, Soundcloud, Youtube, Instagram
7KY – PAPILLÓN
PAPILLÓN starts out slowly, with some gorgeous textural synths appearing, swiftly followed by a set of soft vocals It sounds really ethereal and mystical at the start, before the drum and bass style beat crashes into the music, alongside a set of interweaving synths. One of the things I loved about 7KY’s track was the use of both male and female vocals, as well as the way the song changed every so often, adding a great deal of variety to proceedings.
Social media: Twitter, Spotify, Soundcloud, Youtube, Instagram, Flowcode, TikTok
Carter Ray – Scars
Scars has a summery feel from the start – the opening synth melody is gorgeous, opening Carter Ray’s addition up nicely. This track also has elements of modern pop and r&b, as well as the EDM moments, making for something that has a vast appeal. The vocals are low on the verses, but they’re elevated to a higher pitch on the chorus, having a great depth of emotion. The rhythm is a little slower than might be expected, but the bass has a fantastic throbbing sound to it.
Social media: Spotify, Youtube, Instagram
Marlene. – Open Up
Open Up starts slowly, with a haunting piano melody mixing well with Marlene’s stunning vocals. The vocal effects are used really well here, creating several layers as the music builds up, with bubbling synths and a sequence of backing effects slowly appearing over time. The beat finally kicks in as an eerie guitar melody takes the place of the piano. It’s a really interesting piece of music and one that sounds different from anything else on this list.
Social media: Spotify, Instagram
Agenda Ambiente – Next Gen
Agenda Ambiente creates electronic EDM music with a slightly left-field sound, making this one for all of you who prefer their music a little more experimental! Next Gen is an immense sounding piece of music that punches hard, with a dark and throbbing beat complete with intense basslines and intercrossing synths, mixing together to create a dark ambience that will also get you up and dancing straight away. It’s the perfect song for an underground rave.
Social media: Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, Youtube, Instagram
Kellan. – Free Girl (Ben Casey Remix)
As the name suggests, Free Girl ( Ben Casey Remix) is a remix of the original track by Kellan, and it sounds magnificent. The song has quite a soulful sound and the main vocals switch between rapping and singing, also having an r&b style. The remix adds more of an EDM vibe to the song, giving it a slightly faster tempo and rhythm, changing things up slightly. I’m not normally a fan of autotune, but it’s used to great effect here.
Social media: Linktree, Spotify, Instagram
AroMani – Finale
Finale has an intense sound from the very start, opening with a fast-paced bassline recorded using synths, alongside experimental percussion and some unique sounding backing effects. The rhythm changes into more of typical EDM beat with some immense drops, as synthlines weave their way in and out of the music. AroMani’s track has a really menacing atmosphere, creeping under your skin in a dystopian way.
Social media: Spotify, Soundcloud, Youtube, Instagram
The Domain – Favorite Mistake
The Domain create sick electronic beats in their lovely synth pop sound, backed by a soft and sweet vocals that add a more melodic sound to the music. Favorite Mistake has a fast beat, but the vocals and the way the backing synths move over each other add a dreamy quality to the mix, with more synthlines being added over time. The tempo never really lets up, making for a song that sounds fairly positive throughout.
Social media: Website, Facebook, Spotify, Soundcloud, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Youtube
Guido Hermans – That’s Yours
That’s Yours starts with an eerie whispered vocal line repeating the title of the track, as a dark bassline and a fast beat push the track along, with more and more being added as it continues. The whispered vocals continue to provide additional lyrics, as huge synths perfect for any worthy dancefloor collide with the bass and drums to provide something utterly satisfying to the ear, despite sounding slightly discordant. Guido Hermans’ track is another one for those who like their EDM a little different from the norm.
Social media: Website, Spotify, Soundcloud, Youtube
ALEJ – Infectious
It’s a good thing this tune is called Infectious, as it’s a perfect description of what the track is. What’s interesting about ALEJ’s song is that it’s got more of a traditional pop/r&b sound, yet the synths in the background help to give it an EDM vibe. The vocals are incredibly heartfelt, especially on the chorus which will make you want to sing along instantly. It all makes for a fantastic mix of sounds.
Social media: Spotify, Soundcloud, Instagram
Plastic Punk – Solar System
We’ve featured Plastic Punk before, so it’s great to be able to share their latest song Solar System, which also features BLVCK BARBIE. The track opens with a cool guitar melody and a lovely set of piano chords, before the beat and the bubbling synths chime in. The vocals have a soulful feel, working well with the rest of the music. The chorus is really upbeat and the production sounds great – just listen to that bassline!
Social media: Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, Soundcloud, Youtube, Instagram, TikTok
Spotify – Let’s Get This Party Started