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-- From My Perspective: The Growth of The Dance Music Scene
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From My Perspective: The Growth of The Dance Music Scene

There was a time in the very recent past where you could walk into a club and hear nothing but top40 and rap. That was the dance music. Nights with EDM were special nights, usually with less of a crowd, and mostly people twirling glowsticks and dancing around in their big pants and visors. Its been a slow journey. People like myself pushing club promoters to bring EDM events to the mainstream. To incorporate house music into ordinary club nights and yes, we've created something. We've helped to create a genre of music that's led to artists winning Grammy's, we've helped to bring to the masses a genre of music that can be heard on the radio, can be heard in commercials, and in movies. We've helped to create an entire market for Electronic Music because it deserved to be heard. Now in every corner of the US you have hundreds of thousands of dance music fans attending festivals that we could only dream about back in the day. Chicago, Atlanta, Las Vegas, LA, New York, Miami. Yes, these places are acting as a catalyst for an even bigger scene and even more of an enjoyable experience. The sound has gotten bigger, the lights brighter, the people more massive. This has helped to create an electrofying scene that we should all be thrilled to participate in. I for one am glad that our hard-work and efforts have paid off. But there's still work to do.

Going forward my fear is that the corporate conglomerate will take our scene over. It will be even more commercialized causing prices to explode, talent to become comparable to your late 90's boy-bands. Here today and gone tomorrow. You'll encounter dj's who have not put here time in, but due to there financial backing, the ability to put on a big show with less than stellar music, take hold and deteriorate oour loving scene. Although I don't wish this to happen, we can already tell that organziations and media giants are positioning themselves to capitalize even moer on unsuspecting ravers.

Although the music is being brought to the mainstream, the mainstream will attract people not familiar to the ol school vibe that these events and parties used to incorporate. The familiar faces, hugs, and beads, will be replaced with the newest and trendiest fads, and what once was will be no more.

This is not what I envisioned in my effort to attract more people to the scene. What I had envisioned was more outlets for people other thanmyself to hear electronic dance music, and attract more people to our shows. Well, we got what we wanted- sort of.

LOL.

Supa Nintendo, Sega Genesis, didn't know that we could handle this..

Re: From My Perspective: The Growth of The Dance Music Scene

quote:

Originally posted by DJRYAN� There was a time in the very recent past where you could walk into a club and hear nothing but top40 and rap. That was the dance music. Nights with EDM were special nights, usually with less of a crowd, and mostly people twirling glowsticks and dancing around in their big pants and visors. Its been a slow journey. People like myself pushing club promoters to bring EDM events to the mainstream. To incorporate house music into ordinary club nights and yes, we've created something. We've helped to create a genre of music that's led to artists winning Grammy's, we've helped to bring to the masses a genre of music that can be heard on the radio, can be heard in commercials, and in movies. We've helped to create an entire market for Electronic Music because it deserved to be heard. Now in every corner of the US you have hundreds of thousands of dance music fans attending festivals that we could only dream about back in the day. Chicago, Atlanta, Las Vegas, LA, New York, Miami. Yes, these places are acting as a catalyst for an even bigger scene and even more of an enjoyable experience. The sound has gotten bigger, the lights brighter, the people more massive. This has helped to create an electrofying scene that we should all be thrilled to participate in. I for one am glad that our hard-work and efforts have paid off. But there's still work to do. Going forward my fear is that the corporate conglomerate will take our scene over. It will be even more commercialized causing prices to explode, talent to become comparable to your late 90's boy-bands. Here today and gone tomorrow. You'll encounter dj's who have not put here time in, but due to there financial backing, the ability to put on a big show with less than stellar music, take hold and deteriorate oour loving scene. Although I don't wish this to happen, we can already tell that organziations and media giants are positioning themselves to capitalize even moer on unsuspecting ravers. Although the music is being brought to the mainstream, the mainstream will attract people not familiar to the ol school vibe that these events and parties used to incorporate. The familiar faces, hugs, and beads, will be replaced with the newest and trendiest fads, and what once was will be no more. This is not what I envisioned in my effort to attract more people to the scene. What I had envisioned was more outlets for people other thanmyself to hear electronic dance music, and attract more people to our shows. Well, we got what we wanted- sort of.

From my perspective this is how the scene has been for quite sometime now.

The only difference between today and 5 years ago is the amount of people listening to the music in the states.

Imagine how many people were listening to Electronic Music 15 years ago. That's my timeframe for the ideals contained in my little note. I got my first fake ID when I was 17. I was bouncing in and out of clubs dying to hear EDM. I finally found this one club, Ezars, and noone was ever there. It was one of the biggest clubs in the city, yet I found myself night in and night out being the only person out on the dancefloor. I remember looking around asking myself why is noone here- this music is awesome. It was the only place in the city where EDM was being played no matter the night, no matter the time of night. Needless-to-say, something like that would never occur today and I think that's the point. We've come along way since then but what we do with our scene next is just as important. Do we want corporations to shove down our throats the same garbage they put on the radio, or do we demand great music??

quote:

Originally posted by DJRYAN� Imagine how many people were listening to Electronic Music 15 years ago.

In my neck of the woods, there was an incredibly thriving electronic music scene 15 years ago, almost all underground but more than enough outlets for one to get their fix. If anything, it's scaled back compared to those years, though one can still find good nights out with a little effort.

I'll grant different regions and cities have unique perspectives on this thing, but just because some places have suddenly 'got it' doesn't mean others never had it.

That sounded like it was over here, but more like 20 years ago.

Yea it was way different here in the states. Its just nice to see how well things are going now.

it wasn't different, you were just a baby. THey used to have rave shops. THey had one in every major city in Canada including Calgary, the texas of Canada. EDM stores that did all stuff EDM. There is no music scene for EDM, only a vodka sponsored party scene that uses EDM. YOu missed out. Deal with it. Not saying any of the music is better or worse, but the scene was something and what you have now is frat boy bullshit.

I wouldn't say I missed out at all. In fact, I think I got in all the forefront of something special.

Keep telling yourself that.

I'll keep looking at your events list while laughing.

quote:

Originally posted by Sykonee In my neck of the woods, there was an incredibly thriving electronic music scene 15 years ago, almost all underground but more than enough outlets for one to get their fix. If anything, it's scaled back compared to those years, though one can still find good nights out with a little effort. I'll grant different regions and cities have unique perspectives on this thing, but just because some places have suddenly 'got it' doesn't mean others never had it.

Yup, this is the way I see it too. I'm lucky enough to have grown up near one of the birthplaces of dance music.. but when I started getting into dance music 15 years ago, most people I knew still had no clue what house music was. Outside of "Do It Again" by Razor N Guido, Long Island's main contribution to the dance music world for years until the LIES record label. Still, I was able to find more than enough dance music CDs and mixcomps in stores (especially at the Virgin Megastores around the area), music magazines like Mixmag and DJ Mag that clued me on to what was going on in the UK, clubs and events that catered to the kind of music I listened to (a little place called "Twilo"... Too bad I was one or two years too young to get in). At night all the NYC radio stations would broadcast from clubs, of course considering the era and the local, it was all gay circuit party hard house.

But then I went to Buffalo for college, a small industrial town that always seemed 5 years culturally stuck in the past compared to NYC... and was surprised how little activity there was EDM-wise, and how nobody even knew what it was. Apart from a rave at the Niagara Falls Convention Center in '99 (where I first saw TA's infamous Jon the Dentist, DJ Icey, Bad Boy Bill and Sandra Collins), I had to go to Toronto if I wanted anything EDM related.

This isn't about me being a dj.. I get my "occasional" gigs.. That's besides the point.. The point is that we've come along way from where we were and I just want to make sure that where we're going is going to be just as good..

The great wise sage of EDM, DJRYAN, has spoken.

quote:

Originally posted by enydo I'll keep looking at your events list while laughing.

I was thinking the same thing.

G&B - Boring Mash-Ups everytime.
W&W - LOL
Excision - ???
Knife Party - Yup
Tritonal - Lol again

These guys are playing the flavor of the month music. They are apart of the problem not the solution to your article there.

quote:

Originally posted by DJRYAN� This isn't about me being a dj.. I get my "occasional" gigs.. That's besides the point.. The point is that we've come along way from where we were and I just want to make sure that where we're going is going to be just as good..

If you figure a 'healthy scene' is a bunch of transients fist-pumping at club concerts, then no. Seeing as how no EDM acts performed at the Grammys this year, I'd say we're starting the decline from last year's peak of popularity.

what I've noticed a lot lately is that if your scrolling through a given list of dj's sets to listen to.. Most people click on who they're familiar with.. And that particular set could be absolute garbage, while the other ones could be bonkers.. The fact of the matter is, unless someone says, omg, check this out, the likelihood of them grabbing hold of a new artist is slim to nil.

What does that say?

The list that you put out is a typical season at that particular venue and personally, I like it. Sure, there are probably other dj's out there that are just as talented but do they get the attention- no. Not unless they have the name to go along with their talent.

Regardless, if your in the Atlanta area this weekend and want to come out and check out Tritonal.. Here's my link to get discounted tix..

Tickets: http://tritonalopera.eventbrite.com/ (USE PROMO CODE: RYAN)
Illuminate Video: http://bit.ly/134Ab2p

Let's have some fun and keep enjoying the music =)

the moment will.i.am said "electro house is going to be huge" about 2-3 years ago and the magnificent american term EDM was coined - the universe shifted in a magical way.

the effortless ease with which america (with great help and brotherly love from the dutch) deconstructed dance music and rebuilt it in a unique way - totally devoid of any groove or soul and so beautifully accessable and marketable to todays iGen. trully special moments where the youth of today can experience wet t-shirt competitions and all the lustre of girls gone wild spring break edition - with an entirely new and totally forgetable sound track. (mobile ringtone now only 99cents).

oh dj ryan you are indeed blessed to be at the forefront of such an artistic, dare i even say bohemian movement.

people were using the term EDM in 2000. IT was ubiquitous then among those that were tired of people calling it techno which was pretty much everyone that was in some way part of the scene. I would say americans have only ever liked house and dubstep and there was no reason for a term like EDM.

meh i think my point is made

quote:

Originally posted by Light The Fuse the moment will.i.am said "electro house is going to be huge" about 2-3 years ago and the magnificent american term EDM was coined - the universe shifted in a magical way. the effortless ease with which america (with great help and brotherly love from the dutch) deconstructed dance music and rebuilt it in a unique way - totally devoid of any groove or soul and so beautifully accessable and marketable to todays iGen. trully special moments where the youth of today can experience wet t-shirt competitions and all the lustre of girls gone wild spring break edition - with an entirely new and totally forgetable sound track. (mobile ringtone now only 99cents). oh dj ryan you are indeed blessed to be at the forefront of such an artistic, dare i even say bohemian movement.

This.

quote:

Originally posted by Light The Fuse meh i think my point is made

your point seems to forget the fact that the so called groove USA is destroying was an american invention. EDM owes more to american culture than people ever seem to want to give. America has always understood dance music. It just has never been a mass movement. Even popular disco was good disco white washed just like rock music before. Without America, you get electronic music ala stockhausen. It is only because of america your dance music is danceable.

I guess I think you should be somewhat sensitive to the history and as much as current douche bags ie OP representing 1 generation of americans, it has contributed more to every genre post romanticism than pretty much every country.

and that goes from the very technology to the core aesthetic of the music. With USA, you would be raging to music concrete based waltzes.

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney With USA, you would be raging to music concrete based waltzes.

One would assume that you probably meant to say "Without" in the blurb above?

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney people were using the term EDM in 2000. IT was ubiquitous then among those that were tired of people calling it techno which was pretty much everyone that was in some way part of the scene. I would say americans have only ever liked house and dubstep and there was no reason for a term like EDM.

that is correct. I heard the term being used about 10 years ago. And that is precisely the reason why, people either called it techno or those semi knowledgable thought they were being smart by calling it house or trance regardless of the genre.

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