The ’90s gave birth to a technological and cultural phenomenon: electronic dance music. Previously suppressed into seedy subcultures and warehouse raves, electronica has finally attained mainstream status. Whether you like it or not, this musical and cultural movement is here to stay, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Raves have grown up and electronica is no longer the misunderstood stepchild of the musical spectrum. In fact, this music has become an integral part of our generation’s popular culture — not to mention it’s also given way to an industry that is making millions off of the genre’s popularization.
Of course, electronica also raises questions about the artistic merit of productions. How does it prove itself as a viable and progressive musical medium?
Well, that’s exactly what the industry is trying to figure out. Rock ‘n’ roll has been around for more than half a century; electronica has been around for only a little more than two decades. This is where this music becomes a captivating industry to participate in and experience.
We are living in the information age, an era in which technology and music have developed an inseparable relationship. Our generation has taken electronica out of its obscure subculture and placed it under the spotlight, and we’ve almost entirely erased the classical idea of a rave and the connotations that go along with it.
The last — and most important — step is figuring out how to keep this new culture and industry sustainable for future generations to enjoy. This is precisely why electronica is such a captivating phenomenon. People are genuinely excited about what the future holds in terms of technology and music. Plus, electronica concerts are just plain rad.