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Philosophy of EDM music production

Recently, I began to view and think about Electronic Music in a different light. As aspiring producers or just listeners of EDM, we've all had moments when we're almost ashamed of stating that we like electronic music... I know I did. The reason is that many "real" musicians don't consider it a serious art. The thought is that because the structure and melody is identical it's easy and requires no mastery or talent.

The truth of the matter is that it is quite the opposite. Sure, you can take a song with a "signature" trance/EDM structure and call it "simple". Why? Well, many of "hooks" or main portions of the typical trance/edm track are simple. They can be hummed or even easily replicated (think: solarstone - solarcoaster).

It is perhaps because EDM track pays so much attention to the beat and baseline most of the time and not so much to the lead. So, unlike a "real instrument" solo, which often can take months or years to perfect - trance solo is relatively easy to either play or if you're not a great player but good arranger/writer - can be inscribed in MIDI. No practice, no mastery - just editing and painting. Sure, this takes skill and can be very time consuming but often viewed as not nearly as prestigious or masterful as grabing a guitar and playing the chorus of "Comfortably Numb".

What most of the people fail to realize is that what goes into trance track is many times more complex than most "rock" songs. You have so many elements to worry about and unlike learining to play one instrument (ex. guitar) you have to understand and play many instruments: drums, synths, FX, etc. So, composing an EDM track is (in my opinion) is an excercise not just in mastery of different instruments but also orchestration. Yes - you are the conductor, musician, sound engineer, and composer - all rolled into one.

Doesn't look that easy anymore, does it? So, with that philosophy I've freed myself from any complex I had about the music I listen to or try to compose... And to all the naysayers - well, just ignore them and realize that on a certain level you're a part of something much more than simple beats and beeps (not that there's anything wrong with it).

Trance on.


////this has been your daily affirmation with EMC^2

Agreed. I now have the Trance Experience book and it has made me see things in a whole new light as well.

PC

I'm not quite sure what you are arguing here. are you saying EDM is a valid art because its comprised of more complicated elements than rock music?

Don't know about feeling ashamed??? I always felt that everyone who tried to put down EDM just didn't understand it.(Living in the past )
Funny thing is, in the early 90's all my mates were like 'What's this shit', and 'Fuck raves', and now they go all the time, and I don't.

Yeah i wouldn't really ever say ive been ashamed, to be honest if i have a little above & beyond or some andy moor, or any other great trance tune playing in my car with the windows down and someone pulls up next to me and looks at me stupid, i honestly just turn my volume up more. I really hate when im talking to someone and we get on the subject of music and im like yeah i understand i'm actually a trance dj, and theyre like that techno shit, that really bothers me. And also people that down edm and dont like it, really dont understand and it sucks that theyre so closed minded because its a great thing and they will probably never understand.

I have to say, that every time I hear the incredible solo in guns'n'roses's sweet child of mine, I get somehow humble on the fact that I don't even know how to play a simple C chord on a guitar. But then again I pity the folks such as yngwie malmstrom, who by-the-way is a legend on the guitar, because they have had to practice for soooo long in order to play that sort of melodies, while I only need to arrangie the midi notes on the piano roll, and get an equally impressive musical experience. While some of the experience of listening to well played acoustical instrumets, is the fact that it requires THAT much talent and experience.. The musicality is just as easily reproduced with a vst synth, and a series of well placed notes.

side note: Just wanted to make people aware of this huge talent on the synth.. Jens Johansson - the keyboard player of stratovarius, and probably the best one at it aswell. (arguably)

I find it to be that they can play a guitar while I can program my own synth sounds. One takes work in reality while the other is digital unless you have a hardware synth. Being a sound engineer takes years of experience just like learning to play the guitar. We just have our talent on a different instrument.

Re: Philosophy of EDM music production

Oh, nevermind...

I believe that the modern day equivalant of a baroque or classical composer is the electronic musician.

Musicians today have as much, if not more control over their compositions than these artists did, hundereds of years ago.

IMHO, Rock and Roll is dead. The towering musical icons of the last few decades are being toppled by the creative electronic musicians in the studio today.

Remember the Eminem song where he says "...nobody listens to techno..." you take away his whiny voice and what you are left with is exactly that: TECHNO

Pop music is driven by the influence of EDM. Today EDM is everywhere. Its in movies, commercials and in the persons car riding next to you. To say the least, EDM fans are die-hard, and I am proud to be one.

I believe that in a few hundered years the names of EDM musicians will rank right up there with Vivaldi and Mozart.

I understand where you're coming from emc^2, I've thought about this very notion from time to time.

You see for me Trance and other various forms of edm are a new art form, a new musical outlet.

I've played guitar since the age of 11, mostly heavy metal (Steve Vai, Ozzy, Metallica, Megadeth type music) and heavy blues (SRV, Robin Trower etc).
I've dedicated ALOT of time to learning the guitar, been in various heavy metal and rock bands, performed live, written some music, etc, so I know what you mean about 'learning an instrument'.

I still actively play guitar daily, I still record my guitar music and I'm an active member of various heavy metal message forums.

Although I still definitely love the instrument and I still love rock and roll, I find trance music very fascinating.

I'm still in the beginner phase of writing this type of music but I'm having a great time learning all the do's and dont's and I have a great deal of respect for trance/EDM musicians.

I consider people who write/record and perform this type of music to be musicians.
To me, it doesn't matter if you do it with a guitar, piano, singing, synthesizer, sequencer or whatever, if you have the talent to capture the beauty and emotions of good music, than you are a master of your craft.

EDM is definitely not easy, there's alot to learn and master here, just as it is with any form of music I believe.

I'm glad trance music exists and I'm glad I discovered it, so far it's been very entertaining to listen to and very challenging to learn how to write and perform it.

My hat's off to people who have mastered this craft, you have my respect.

quote:

Originally posted by DJMiakoda I understand where you're coming from emc^2, I've thought about this very notion from time to time. You see for me Trance and other various forms of edm are a new art form, a new musical outlet. I've played guitar since the age of 11, mostly heavy metal (Steve Vai, Ozzy, Metallica, Megadeth type music) and heavy blues (SRV, Robin Trower etc). I've dedicated ALOT of time to learning the guitar, been in various heavy metal and rock bands, performed live, written some music, etc, so I know what you mean about 'learning an instrument'. I still actively play guitar daily, I still record my guitar music and I'm an active member of various heavy metal message forums. Although I still definitely love the instrument and I still love rock and roll, I find trance music very fascinating. I'm still in the beginner phase of writing this type of music but I'm having a great time learning all the do's and dont's and I have a great deal of respect for trance/EDM musicians. I consider people who write/record and perform this type of music to be musicians. To me, it doesn't matter if you do it with a guitar, piano, singing, synthesizer, sequencer or whatever, if you have the talent to capture the beauty and emotions of good music, than you are a master of your craft. EDM is definitely not easy, there's alot to learn and master here, just as it is with any form of music I believe. I'm glad trance music exists and I'm glad I discovered it, so far it's been very entertaining to listen to and very challenging to learn how to write and perform it. My hat's off to people who have mastered this craft, you have my respect.

riiizpect, yo!

Seriously, though... I was at my friend's house and he's an accomplished Prog Rocker (think Rush, Yes, etc.) He can play just about any instrument - drums, synths, base and his specialty is electric guitar. So, he has all these musicians over and we start discussing who plays what. Sheet, there were guys who said they play country or whatnot. The moment I said (very quietly) that I play EDM/Industrial/Ambient - the room fell silent and I saw all these disaproving glances. And inspite of what I tried to explain and convince anyone - everyone thought "techno/rave/stupid music" without much thought or consideration. Simply because, as someone once pointed out to me: "Can you grab your instrument of choice and play it live?" I said not just a synth alone. Perhaps a computer, sequencer, sampler, etc. He said - "here's the reason why. Many people don't see the art involved in composing computer-based sequences. They don't care how many tracks you have in your DAW and how many hours that 1 second FS Swoosh took you to create. They see a guitar player and see his art live. Your art is invisible and largely misunderstood by the masses"

That certainly seems to be the "public opinion" of EDM, outside of our tightly-knit, still mostly underground community.

thanks for that mate! very true gonna print that out anyways. good explanation you have made.
^^^
your right! people who dismiss edm straight away probably sometimes means that they havent seen that invisible side to your production skills. they cant see how much you put in, but then again they songb has to relate to them well for them to like it.

quote:

Originally posted by emc^2 "Can you grab your instrument of choice and play it live?"

you can do this tho, and with a backing track (which IS used by some cover bands) you can play live. Their arguement is sort of redundant, although I know where they are coming from.
Besides how many guitarists are able to comprehend MIDI?

its the tron effect, people who dont understand computers think the computer is doing all the work

quote:

Originally posted by jacheatamobits I believe that the modern day equivalant of a baroque or classical composer is the electronic musician.

Please. It's one thing being proud about the music you listen to but that's just ridiculous.

the "electronic art music" realm would probably have a more valid claim to this "modern day classical" comparison. There is electronic music made for concert halls, and those "installation pieces" that loop when you are in some artsy designed room like at festivals and stuff. Some of this electronic stuff that gets played in these concert settings with that same classical tradition, musician walks on stage, people applaud and watch the performance, real sit down and watch type music. Classical was never dancing music. The artsy music isnt made with the same stuff we use though, they get into things that are pretty complicated, there is some overlap in the tools used though.

Not quite true... Waltzes for sure were contemporty dance music.. ;-)

Blue Danube springes to mind here right off the bat

quote:

Originally posted by Mr.Mystery Please. It's one thing being proud about the music you listen to but that's just ridiculous.

actually with today's software you can create just as the early musicians of that time did with pen and paper, who orchestated many different instruments at a time.

they also experimented with new sounds. remember the harpsichord?

it might be ridiculous to think of the electronic musician as such, but we most resemble a composer, whose cellists and violinists are synths and VSTs.

quote:

Originally posted by Diginerd Not quite true... Waltzes for sure were contemporty dance music.. ;-)

i was actualy waiting for someone to say this. the rituals preformed by the modern day clubber resemble those of the "waltzer". they had extravagant clothes and the whole ordeal was fucking trend-city.

edit:

and they even took little notebooks with them to write down the "playlist".

okay, im done

quote:

Originally posted by jacheatamobits edit: and they even took little notebooks with them to write down the "playlist". okay, im done

^^^^ LOOOOLL! Not even mentioning how many were wacked out on Opium, absinthe, or hemp... )) Let's not forget all the orgies that happened thereafter - it's no wonder syphilys was sooo prominent back then.

quote:

Originally posted by jacheatamobits actually with today's software you can create just as the early musicians of that time did with pen and paper, who orchestated many different instruments at a time. they also experimented with new sounds. remember the harpsichord? it might be ridiculous to think of the electronic musician as such, but we most resemble a composer, whose cellists and violinists are synths and VSTs.

Yes, we could create something like that - thing is, 99% of the current trance producers don't even try. Not that many even know anything about music theory which is quite essential if you want to compose something like that.

yeah, thought producing trance/edm would be easier (or easy tpo get into) after spending a lot of time playing guitar for a while with bands ... how wrong was that With guitar or any instrument you only have to worry about your part and how it sounds and let the live/recording engineer worry about the rest of the band

Suppose trance does borrow ideas from classical music such as countermelodies which is something you dont really hear much with other forms of music.

seems like you neglect an important part of EDM production; synthesis - while other musicians need master their instrument, you need to create yours (unless you rely on the patch banks for your every need, in that case disregard this post as it doesn't apply to you at all).

to me it seemed there wasnt any point to that at all, just a recapitulation of a common pont of view.

I used to play the cello, it has been a few years though. I'm in the camp that casts trance as being nowhere close to classical. I think there is a compositional element to what we do, but it doesnt compare to classical, things in trance are thought of in terms of gimmicks, in the context of being played in a DJ mix so it must by default be somewhat similar to the other stuff that the DJ is playing, too much contrast sounds random, too much structure sounds boring.

To me trance doesn't seem to pride itself on exploring new sounds that much, just making people dance. The target demographic for classical and trance are way different, classical being uppder class, educated and rich types, trance is a lower middle class thing, there is no high culture in trance like there was in classical. This music is much more of a commodity, and nobody is getting commisioned to make it as some form of art, its just fun loops to dance to, much more simple and silly, not some serious prestigous elite thing.

Eh. You have a suprisingly narrow view of trance. I was expecting more, based on your production values thread.

It isn't written anywhere that trance has to be club music. In fact, there are lots of tracks without the DJ-friendly start/end beats. Those tracks are meant for people who like trance. Not to drunken teenage girls that just want a reason to shake their asses.

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