Each passing year brings new music trends and potentially new genres of music to add to your already diversified playlist. Because there are already so many different types of music and music production has only evolved over the years, new sub-genres are popping up all the time.
The infusion of different styles along with some of the strangest approaches to modern-tech recording has flooded the music industry, and what has followed is a whole new generation of artistry. Music critics would argue that new types of music are just an amalgamation of preestablished music genres. But even if this is partly true, it doesn’t negate the creativity of blending different styles into new genres of music. So have an open mind, and look out for these different genres of music that may fancy your interests.
Grime
Originating in London in the early 2000s, the eclectic hybrid of British hip-hop known as grime shook up the underground rap scene in the United Kingdom. This musical style has always been viewed as lyrically deft with strong African-Caribbean inspired sounds as well as the influences of fast beat techno and rap.
This percussion-heavy style of rapping was really first seen by underground grime artists like Wiley, Skepta and Dizzee Rascal. It really came into its own within new genres of music years later when the rising popularity of new grime artists like Bugzy Malone brought more of it into the mainstream.
Disco House
House music is a subgenre considered to be within the wide realms of electronic dance music and was known to have thrived in the 80s underground Chicago dance scene. With the advancements of music technology and production, producers and DJs began exploring different tempos and vocal arrangements to create this musical style. What followed was a number of subgenres, including disco house which layers classic 70s disco on top of the upbeat tempos of modern house music.
Because house is one of the most popular genres in EDM dance culture, this infusion of traditional 70s disco and house music is fitting for the modern day dance scene. Expect to be dancing the night away with Studio 54-esque flashbacks from the 70s disco scene.
Synthwave/Retrowave
Although some may assume that synthwave or retrowave means a song produced with only synthesizers, the nostalgic 80s retro stylings of the genre are much more than this general conclusion allows.
With a style that sounds like it was plucked right out of “Blade Runner,” the overall concept of this genre calls to mind things like neon-lit video arcades, oceanside palm trees and the altered realities of science fiction. The sounds of this genre include blends of alternative rock, mainstream pop, electronic music and more, which you’ll find integrated into modern science fiction soundtracks (like that of Netflix’s “Stranger Things”), video games and playlists on every music platform.
Acid Techno
The techno scene has already developed a large community through years of old school warehouse parties and subversive rave scenes. This genre can be fast paced and minimal with hard banging frequencies and elements of house music.
Although this dark repetitive genre was born in Europe in the late 80s and early 90s, the progressiveness and hard-edge bass mixed in with the electronic bass synthesizer-sequencers made their way into underground music scenes in the US. This genre is meant for hard core ravers and people who are into loud, minimalistic dark bass and strobe lights.
Future Funk
With Japanese-inspired musical elements as well as added notes of disco and funk, Future Funk has found a vast community in places like the US and Japan. Although this subgenre of microgenre vaporwave remains debatable to music critics who find it to be mocking the traditional style of funk, there’s a huge craze among those who appreciate its quick groove catchiness. Expect to hear the fusions of electronic jazz and Japanese pop music. It may not be everyone’s preference, but the demographic for it is growing by the day, and it’s gaining ground in TikTok videos and animé promos.
Experimental Bass
Probably one of the most unique subgenres you’ll discover at an EDM festival, experimental bass is fully embracing the wonkiness and power of bass music. Because of the music industry’s technological advancements in production, this genre embodies how sonic sounds and vibrational frequencies have evolved.
Experimental bass includes dynamic mixing of different frequencies, percussive driven rhythms, hints of dubstep and other wonky sounds, to say the least. The scene for this music genre is popular in the UK and has slowly made its way to the US, so keep an eye out for rising artists in this genre trying to make a name for themselves with their one-of-a-kind sound.
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