The number of EDM subgenres out there is endless, and it can be tough trying to figure out if your favorite house artist is classified as tropical, electro, dutch, progressive, or one of the other ten bajillion sub-genres! To help you become a master at understanding all of the different types of EDM out there, I have created a simple breakdown of some of the most popular types of edm out there and their subsequent sub-genres.

EDM Subgenres

• House
• Deep House
• Tropical House
• Progressive House
• Electro House
• Dub
• Dubstep
• Trap
• Glitch-hop
• Techno
• Tech House
• Acid Techno
• Trance
• Progressive Trance
• Psytrance
• Drum and Bass
• NeuroFunk
• Future Bass

House

Artists: Chris Lake, Tchami, Walker & Royce, Claude VonStroke

One of the leading genres of the EDM world, house music has made its way from its roots as an underground warehouse favorite to the mainstage at your favorite festivals. House music is characterized by its repetition and use of bass drums. The tempo is typically in the 120-130 bpm range and can sound a bit funky. You will almost always find a house stage at every festival, but some spots that best feature edm types like house are Nocturnal Wonderland, Paradiso, Desert Hearts and Dirtybird Campout.

Meme by @rahh.rahh

Deep House

Artists: Disclosure, Rüfüs Du Sol, Lee Burridge, Damian Lazarus, Thugfucker

Although popular, this genre of edm is often one of the most misunderstood. Deep house songs follow a 4/4 beat structure, made up of heavy bass and unique chord progressions. The majority of these songs rely strongly on the presence of bass for those smooth wub sounds that we like to hear in clubs and lounges.The tempo is a bit slower than house music but trust us when we say that in a live setting, the vibes with this type of edm are great.

Boogie Blast Disco Outfit

Tropical House

Artists: Kygo, Clean Bandit, Matoma, Klingande

These playful tunes truly sound tropical with their beachy sounds and light drum features. Creators will often utilize the sounds of pan flutes and saxophones to create a sense of calming and relaxation in their music. With tropical house, think poolside chillin’ or laid back beach party. These are upbeat songs that will make you feel as warm as the summer sun you are likely listening to this under.

Progressive House

Artists: Avicii, Oona Dahl, Hardwell, Eric Prydz, Alesso

If you hear progressive house, the only thing you will want to do is dance. This funky genre is simultaneously melodic and hard, driving crowds to get up and groove. These songs often feature extensive build up sections followed by a simplistic breakdown. Progressive house is very experimental compared to other variations of House.

Electro House

Artists: Steve Aoki, Calvin Harris, R3hab, Botnek, Tiesto

Electro house is one of the most intense edm styles of all House music. You’ll know if you are listening to electro house if you notice distorted bass lines with a heavy use of synths, as well as pounding beats and strong buildups. One thing you will NOT hear is a lot of percussion- electro house relies primarily on bass to carry the song.

Red Hot Raver Outfit

Dub

For all my wubheads, Dub has the power to send us into an aggressively euphoric state of happiness. With a focus on bass and uptempo breaks, some of the EDM world’s most legendary drops belong to this genre. Next time you are at a concert but you’re not sure whether or not you are listening to Dub, just look around for anyone headbanging the life out of themselves - that is how you know.

Meme by @may_lena_gallrein

Dubstep

Artist: Skrillex, Flux Pavilion, Borgore

Anything dubstep is typically high in BPM and packed with syncopated rhythmic percussion patterns. This form of bass distortion is best enjoyed when listened to at high volumes. Dubstep is also known for having epic drops that are guaranteed to make it onto every raver's Snapchat story.

Trap

Artists: RL Grime, Baauer, Flosstradamus

Trap originally drew mainly on rap and hip hop, but over time it has evolved to revolve more around electronic sounds. You will hear a lot of snappy snares, loud kicks, and trihats behind the focus of the song's heavy bass. No matter what club or party you are at, you are bound to hear at least one trap song… or twenty.

Glitch-Hop

Artists: Bassnectar, Bleep Bloop, B.R.E.E.D, The Glitch Mob

Unlike most styles, tempo does not play a huge role in glitch-hop, in fact it is usually ignored. DJ's focus on uniquely manipulating sounds and beats to incorporate glitchy tones into their songs. Clicks, bleeps, and sweeps are dominant sounds we hear being combined with traditional Dub elements.

Techno

Tech House

Artists: Fisher, Shiba San, Camelphat

This dynamic cross breed combines the styles of Techno and House to create a distinct structure. Elements such as synthetic melodies and hi-hats are present from Techno, while the tempo and rhythm of House tend to dominate. Tech house is big in the underground community, and it often times pushes people to dance in ways that they never knew they could.

Acid Techno

Artists: Aphex Twin, Hardfloor, Acid Junkies

Distorted layers of sounds and synths are what bring Acid Techno to life. Producers have mastered the manipulation of controls that generate this unique sound. This sub-genre is quite ambiguous and hard for some people to understand.

Trance

Surfacing from the Europe, Trance has flowed it’s way to America and hypnotized us all. Packed with captivating rhythms and sonic elements, Trance has transfixed it’s listeners on this spellbinding genre. One of my favorite Trance festivals is Dreamstate, Insomniac’s leading Trance destination.

Meme by @edmfriends

Progressive Trance

Artists: Markus Schulz, James Holden

Progressives are smooth running tracks that are constantly flowing from start to finish. The multitude of buildups incorporate futuristic and fast sounds that are balanced with instrumental breakdowns to create a less aggressive tone.

Psytrance

Artists: Infected Mushroom, Astrix, Skazi

Often lengthy, psytrance’s claim to fame is its hypnotic beat. Psytrance may not be for everyone though… it is music created for the body, mind, and soul. The psychedelic gods demand that listeners embrace the energy of the cosmos while radiating the twisted, trancey sounds. It is difficult to only appreciate this music sitting down.

Drum and Bass

This well-known branch emerged from jungle scenes and has become one of the dominant classifications of EDM. Pretty self-explanatory by the name, drum and bass are the two central components that come into play when creating DnB music.  These beat focused songs are the type that are worth blowing out your sub-woofers for.

Meme by @junglistsurprise

NeuroFunk

Artists: Ed Rush, Noisia, Optical

Also known as techstep, this style is a funky take on DnB. Neurofunk music features an industrial overtone to the drops, accompanied by a continuously building backbeat. Artists that have mastered this subgenre are extremely brilliant when it comes to blending synthesized percussion sounds with insane basslines.

Future Bass

Artists: San Holo, Troyboi, GTA

These songs can range from aggressive joyful. Future bass is a hybrid of lots of genres, including dutch house, dubstep, and trap. These powerful songs are created with pulsating synths and trap-like beats. Very synthy elements help them to fully transform into future bass.

And there you have it, your official quick guide to EDM! Now you are ready to take on your next rave and not only identify any song or artists but impress your friends with your new skills, too.

Right Back - ALLEYCVT

If you haven’t heard of ALLEYCVT yet, you will soon. She’ll be performing this song at tons of festivals this year including Lost Lands and Electric Zoo. “Right Back” recalls that childhood innocence so many of us try to reclaim at EDM festivals. Between her killer vocals and the gritty bass-filled drops, this track has it all. Think about your favorite pop-EDM hits from the 2010s, add dirty bass and heavy womps, and you’ll have the vibe of an ALLEYCVT song.

The Fit: Rainbow Reverie Faux Fur Bikini Top

With a song this nostalgic, you need an outfit to match the vibe. This pastel, fur top is reminiscent of some of the best 90’s and 00’s fashion trends. Pair it with the matching skirt to complete the look.

HAPPY SONG - Ray Volpe

The man who brought us “Laserbeam” almost exactly a year ago is back with his next song of the summer. The lyrics in this track don’t lie when they say “this song makes me really happy.” It’s the ideal beat to go feral to at your favorite festival. The plucky bass drops and melodies are super energetic, you can totally feel Ray Volpe’s passion for his art.

The Fit: Silly In Space Speed Clasp Crop Top

The colors and smiley pattern of these bottoms are a fantastic match for “HAPPY SONG.” These bottoms will go great with the Rolita Couture X IHR Good Vibes Rebel Top too!

SAXORiDDiM - GRiZ

Shortly after announcing his upcoming hiatus, GRiZ released arguably one of his most iconic tracks to date. “SAXORiDDiM” combines the rich, jazzy saxophone sound with modern riddim. GRiZ is known for his upbeat, funky songs and his signature sax skills. This piece really showcases his sound in the best way possible. It’s got wubs, womps and a great rhythm. Between this release and the rising popularity of HOL!’s “Country Riddim,” we’re predicting an awesome genre-mixing trend this summer.

The Fit: Trippy Toxin Shoulder Cut Out Bodysuit

“SAXORiDDiM” is high-energy and funky, just like this bodysuit. The trippy pattern, cutouts and bright colors are perfect for any GRiZ song, especially this one.

Hero - Grabbitz

Grabbitz released “Hero,” the first single off his upcoming album, on June 30th. Needless to say, if this track is any reflection of the rest of the album, we can expect a masterpiece. The moody lyrics are perfect for singing along, and the drops include mid tempo bass that will get you dancing. This song really tells a story, and we can’t wait to hear more from Grabbitz soon.

The Fit: Lyte Couture Radiating Rainbow Reflective Chain Cage Top

Her latest single, "Afraid To Fail" is a testament of her artistic notion of accepting and controlling personal struggles in her upcoming album, Power of Panic. The darkest of mental health struggles serve as a reflective, creative source for this singer-songwriter-DJ-producer to motivate others. They, too, can transmute their pain into reformation. I, Mary Mason, had the honor of inquiring with Elohim on the behalf of savormeditation about self-validation as a female artist in the dance music industry, coping skills, and more after Electric Forest 2023. 

iHR: Elohim, thank you so much for your time! It’s an honor to interview you at this time in my life as mental health is a main priority for me. Your latest single, “Afraid To Fail”, is a song of perseverance and determination for those debilitating battles. The song reminds me that some battles are lost in the same spirit in which they are won. What motivates you to stay determined on your path or provides you hope when you “feel like a hamster on a wheel” during your most difficult moments? 

Elohim: Hi thank you for asking wonderful questions and talking to me! When I am having a defeated “want to quit it all” moment sometimes the simplest message from someone telling me my music meant something to them can quite literally alter the way my brain is thinking. After a show meeting someone and they tell me they needed that experience and it helped them in a difficult time. I always try to express my gratitude for that to people because I want them to know that their beautiful words have kept me going. 

iHR: If you were to create a music video for “Afraid To Fail”, which visual elements, concepts, or storyline would you like to incorporate?

E: I imagine it shot on a green screen treadmill and a HUMONGOUS hamster wheel with a tiny person endlessly running inside of it… maybe we reveal a hamster chasing her, I don’t know... Or a few different things chasing her… Hmm.

iHR: I’ve followed your performance presence for a year now. I’ve adored performance shots displaying you laying on the ground with a microphone in your hand wearing your signature white mesh mask. You exude intensity and vigor which inspires me to be unafraid to express myself. Can you describe the thoughts or feelings you experience on stage?

E: Thank you for saying that, it is really powerful to read what you wrote. See!! you just altered the way I was thinking! It’s like a breath of fresh air reading that! Some bonus oxygen to keep me going! On stage, I feel empowered! I feel emotional! I feel it is the place to release anything and everything I am holding on to. It feels like an emotional purge.

It is always different depending on the crowd, atmosphere, myself, and my state but I think that is why I keep doing it! You never really know what you're going to feel but it is always an opportunity for me to go out and try to share love, compassion, and empathy. My parents always said it doesn't matter if there is 1 person or 1,000 people in the crowd, always put on the best show and spread LOVE! 

iHR: With that, watching you perform at The Carousel Stage at this year’s Electric Forest was beautiful! Your white mesh mask is becoming iconic to your personal style. What attracted you to this specific mask and how does it serve your artistic expression? 

E: An amazing designer, Luke Vicious, let me go over to his very private studio and go through clothes. It was thrilling! He had made this mask with a matching shirt and said “You could try wearing this”. I got to my photo shoot and put it on and instantly felt something.

When we got the images back it felt RIGHT! For whatever reason when I looked at myself I looked strong. Still to this day when I see an image or video with me in the mask, it just feels powerful! I love the moment in the show when I rip it off and it always seems to excite the crowd which in return excites me!

iHR: As a female artist creating in a male-dominated industry, feelings of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and anxiety are unfortunately normal. What allows you to provide self-validation as a female artist in the dance music industry? 

E: I am not going to lie, it is really hard! Sometimes I am unable to self-validate and it feels impossible to get out of my own head. There are moments I see footage of myself performing and I feel as if I am watching someone else. Someone I want to be. Someone strong, in control, confidant, and bad ass. She is me but I don’t see me as her all the time.

Those moments when I can see that she is me are the best and give me a boost of confidence and resilience. Being human is really strange! We are inside of ourselves so we are brutally hard on ourselves while doubting everything. When we see other humans from the outside we adore and idolize them, give them compliments, wish we were them. I think they're looking at us the same way though… I wish we could love ourselves more!  

iHR: What are your go-to coping skills that allow you to reconnect with the truest and strongest parts of yourself? 

E: I would say creating is probably the quickest route to feeling like myself. Sitting at the piano, singing, writing, producing! Or even just listening to music. Family is really special for grounding and nature as well. I am not consistent with meditation and I wish I was but every time I do a 15-minute meditation, I feel changed. Sometimes a bath and sleep do the trick too.

iHR: From your entire discography, including unreleased IDs, can you name your favorite track to perform and explain why? 

E: BUCKETS!!!! This is the moment I ask the crowd to join me in an emotional purge! I ask the crowd to scream with me and let all their demons out! Whatever they've been holding on to. I count to 3 and we all scream at the top of our lungs. It is the most cathartic, empowering, and refreshing thing ever.

It has been such a joy to hand out flowers after every show, meet people, and hear how much they needed the emotional purge. Someone at Electric Forest said it shifted the energy of the entire tent!

iHR: You are known for transmuting your “hurt into art," why is it important for you to seize every opportunity to express yourself harder? 

E: Every opportunity—whether, good, bad, weird, magical, or scary—is the reason I am filled with inspiration. Sometimes it can be extremely difficult to peel yourself up off the floor when you're hurting so bad, but more times than not when I do I end up healed through my creation. The creation and the process of creating helps guide me to see things in a different light. 

iHR: Congratulations on the scheduled release of Power of Panic this 2023! Your fans (along with myself) are thrilled to experience the continuation of your sonic hope and healing! Will you be releasing another single?  If so, are you at liberty to share any details about the release? 

E: Thank you!!! It is exciting! This new chapter feels really strong physically, emotionally, and mentally. I will have a bunch of singles! The next song coming out is actually a collaboration, and it is not from my album. It is called “Stop Time” and I am excited for it to be out because the response at shows has been remarkable. So when that one drops you can expect my next single a few weeks later! I have been playing a lot of the album out at shows and it feels INCREDIBLE!

iHR: How would you like to grow or develop from this stage in your life? 

E: I want to continue learning to appreciate this life and every moment I am given. It is hard to grasp how miraculous it truly is that we are alive as humans at this exact moment in time. I want to live in every second, soak it up,  and accept myself with love and gratitude. That is what I desire from this stage. Thank you for the beautiful questions!

WWYB3 - Zingara

Zingara is back at it again with another hit. “WWYB3” stands for “wait, what’s your big three?” for all my astrology babes out there. This track is comical, filled with ridiculous soundbites like “wait can we pause the song for a second, I lost my vape” and “stop you’re a scorpio moon? I am so sorry.” It gives off major “Selfie” by the Chainsmokers vibes, but with bass. If you’re looking for a lighthearted bass-house beat, this is it. Not to mention it’s taking over TikTok, like Zingara’s “Astra” did last year.

What to wear: HALIENE X IHR Heavenly Rhinestone Bra Top

Obviously you need to be wearing something astral when you hear this song live. The star fringe on this rhinestone-studded top is so cute! You’ll be sure to sparkle as you sing along to “WWYB3.”

Baby Again… - Skrillex, Four Tet, Fred Again…

These three have been taking over the EDM world for months. They are pumping out bangers and just killed it at Coachella. After teasing this song for what felt like forever, they finally released it on March 17. Including samples from Lil Baby and DaBaby’s “Baby,” the house track has a fantastic beat and catchy lyrics.

What to wear: Sunflowerraver X IHR Heaven's Dust Sequin Triangle Wrap Top

Honor this iconic collab by sporting savormeditation newest collab with Sunflowerraver! This top will feel secure while you’re dancing along to “Baby Again…” and the sparkly embroidery is perfect for a house show. Complete the look with the matching mini skirt and crop top.

PUMPANY - Kai Wachi, Kompany

This track will get your blood pumping from the start. With an intense spoken word intro and drops that will make you want to go absolutely feral, Kai Wachi and Kompany prove that they are just the duo we needed. “PUMPANY” is a powerful song full of heavy bass, it’s a headbanger’s dream come true.

What to wear: Headbanger Reflective Strappy Bodysuit

This song will make you want to break your neck headbanging. You can rage all night to “PUMPANY” in this strappy “headbanger” bodysuit.

Illenium (album) - Illenium

It’s the moment all the crybangers have been waiting for, Illenium has released his self-titled album. When listening to this album, it’s clear the artist enjoyed exploring his sound and experimenting with different elements of music. We all know and love Illenium for his emotional melodic dubstep pieces, but this release proves he is capable of much more. You’ll hear pop-punk influences in “Eyes Wide Shut” with Avril Lavigne and a metalcore-inspired sound in “Nothing Ever After” with Motionless In White.

What to wear: Flashbang Matrix Silver Reflective Mini Skirt

Jessica Audiffred isn't afraid to make dance music fun. What I love the most about dance music is that it's fun, especially in a live setting. At its core, dance music doesn't want to be taken too seriously. Artists who understand that fundamental tend to stand out. They're the artists at a festival who are drawing in a massive crowd regardless of stage size simply because of their energy. They're the artists who are not afraid to take risks, and who end up creating the most memorable festival moments for their audiences because of it. 

The first time I saw Jessica Audiffred was at Das Energi 2022 when she played the mainstage during sunset—the best timeslot of the whole festival, in my opinion. The crowd was massive, and everyone lost their minds when she remixed Zedd's Clarity into a heavy dubstep track. Half a year later, we've caught up with Jessica Audiffred to discuss everything from her musical influence to what's next, and even her rave style!

savormeditation: How has coming from Mexico City influenced your work?

Jessica Audiffred: Mexico City is a very big city. Growing up, I was exposed to a lot of amazing music – rock & roll, trance, techno, and eventually bass music. All of this has influenced my sound heavily. Thanks to my older brother, as a kid, he would always play new music for me when he’d drop me off at school.

iHR: You just dropped a new track called "Never Be The Same," can you tell us a bit about the production on that?

JA: I wanted to make a song that I could play in all of my festival sets, something I knew my audience would like. I had the instrumental and melody down but needed a talented vocalist to bring it to life. I connected with Sara Benyo, who I had worked with in the past and she did just that. It’s been very well received. 

iHR: What are some of your current musical influences? How can fans expect those influences to come out in your future work?

JA: In the coming year I want to make my sound more accessible to a larger audience. I plan on working with more session writers and vocalists and scaling my sound for main stages. I’ll never lose the big bass drops that we all love so much but you will definitely notice a change in my future releases. 

IHR: You're just finishing up a pretty big tour, what are some of your favorite memories from that experience?

Honestly, seeing how many people have connected with my music in so many different cities across the world. People who sing along with my music, bring gifts, wear my merch, and want to take photos with me. It makes all of the hard work so much more worth it. 

iHR: What are some upcoming shows you're most excited for?

JA: Every show is exciting in its own way! But, if I had to pick one or two for the moment (that have been on my mind) it would have to be Tomorrowland in Belgium and Brazil! They are such new markets for me, and I am really excited about how that will go down!

iHR: Tell us about how you got involved in fashion?

JA: I’ve always loved expressing myself with the outfits I wear, it’s an art form in itself. I try to be unique in the way I do that and over the years it’s been noticed by others in the industry. I’ve had a long-term relationship with Adidas that has continued to grow over the years. They help me satisfy my sneaker addiction. 

iHR: What are some of your favorite rave and festival styles?

JA: I like to be comfortable at raves but also fully express myself without limits. To me, that is typically sporty, loose-fitting outfits that keep me cool and don’t restrict my movements, especially when I am performing. I also love to layer, that way I have options when it gets colder or warmer throughout the day. 

iHR: What does festival fashion mean to you? 

JA: Festival fashion should be expression free of judgement. It’s a time to share our vision and art with one another, inspire one another and grow together.  

iHR: What does rave and dance music culture mean to you?

JA: Rave and Dance culture has given me a platform to be myself and to express myself fully. There is no feeling like it and nothing that can replace it. It’s my home no matter where I go. 

iHR: If you made one piece of kandi today, what would it say?

JA: NO MAMES!

Quest For Fire - Skrillex

If you haven’t listened to this album yet, you need to. It is truly amazing. Don’t be expecting all these tracks to sound like your old Skrillex dubstep favorites, he experiments in the best ways possible. But you will hear an homage to the good old days with a familiar sound bite from “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” in “Leave Me Like This.” Oh, and almost immediately after this release, he surprise-dropped ANOTHER album, Don’t Get Too Close.

The Fit: Super Shock Outfit

Be ready for anything next time you see Skrillex. Will he dabble in drum and bass, play dubstep classics or shock us with even more new music? In this fun, holographic outfit, you’ll be able to match whatever vibe the show is giving.

S.O.S. - Zeds Dead, Jauz, Nicole Millar

“S.O.S.” is an emotional melodic dubstep track that features Nicole Millar’s vocals. You’ll hear elements of both artists’ styles join together to form a truly beautiful song. With a catchy melody, passionate lyrics and just enough bass, “S.O.S.” makes a third hit from Zeds Dead and Jauz.

The Fit: Techno Kitty Outfit

A collab this good should inspire you to do some collaboration of your own. This outfit is perfect for matching with your rave fam. It comes in two different colors and can be customized to fit everyone’s individual style by changing out what is worn underneath.

Things Don’t Always Go The Way You Plan - Flume

This album may be new to us, but some of the tracks date back to 2012. Ten years after his debut album was released, Flume began putting Things Don’t Always Go The Way You Plan together with mixes found on old laptops and hard drives. The 10 songs included in this piece range from 2012 to 2021, so you can listen for any changes in his technique or influence throughout the past decade. The mixtape also features collabs with artists such as Panda Bear and Injury Reserve.

The Fit: Alien Quest UV Reactive Neon Leg Wraps

Just like Flume, leg wraps were totally in the spotlight in 2012 and are still around today. Appreciate Flume’s journey and relive rave fashion’s history while embracing current trends (like UV reactive clothing) in these leg wraps.

Born To Suffer - Svdden Death

If you’ve been to a Svdden Death show in the past year or so, you’ve probably already heard “Born To Suffer.” The heavy-metal sounding track has been kicking off sets for a while, but now it’s finally been given an official release. This dubstep banger is heavy on the bass and very different from Svdden Death’s recent ventures into house music.

The Fit: Laser Cut Outfit

There’s no question that this track is dark and you need an all black fit when you hear it live. The Laser Cut Outfit is sure to make you feel powerful. It features a cropped puffer, sexy garter bottoms and cat eye sunglasses.

ANTIFRACTALS - Subtronics

This year started with Subtronics’ debut album, FRACTALS, setting the tone for many amazing new releases to come. Now 11 months later, we have been blessed with ANTIFRACTALS. This follow-up album includes VIP mixes, guest DJs and a whole lot of bass. The Cyclops Army has been obsessed with this drop, helping the album hit over a million streams in just 24 hours!

The Fit: Don’t Be A Stranger Outfit

Be ready to get weird listening to this one. The beanie and puffer vest combo is a fun, unique look, ideal for this album. Subtronics is definitely not afraid to be himself up on stage, so you should feel that same confidence in the crowd.

Cold Blooded - Kompany

“Cold Blooded” is a high energy, dubstep track made for bassheads who like rage. Kompany experimented with some new elements of sound design with this one and it paid off. The mechanical sounds and heavy drops might scare off your strictly househead friends, but they are much appreciated by dubstep fans.

The Fit: Special Agent LED Glasses

This song has a major robotic feel to it, so a cyber themed outfit will fit right in. These glasses are perfect for “Cold Blooded.” Pair them with a matrix-style piece like the Lyte Couture Cyber Grid Chain High Waist Bottoms to complete the look.

Anti-Hero Remix - Illenium

It feels like Taylor Swift’s album was all anyone outside of the EDM community was talking about for weeks. Illenium united pop and EDM fans with the “Anti-Hero” remix. This song is a great place to start if you’re trying to get your friends into electronic music. With chord chops and pure vocals, I wouldn’t be surprised if it reminded them of their old favorite Chainsmokers song.

The Fit: Glamour Girl Pearl Studded Marabou Skirt Set

This sheer set is covered in pearls and lined with feathers. It’s the perfect softie look for any Taylor Swift fan exploring the EDM world. This lightweight set is a great option to keep you looking and feeling glamorous throughout the show.

Revolution - John Summit

For all my techno baddies, the party king himself, John Summit, has ventured into the technoverse with “Revolution.” Known for his house hits and carefree lifestyle, John Summit has become an easily recognizable name in 2022. To close out the year, he dropped his first techno track and it’s awesome. The piece, driven by repetitive percussion and bass, is elevated with synths to create a total banger.

The Fit: Laser Cut Outfit

The glasses and all-black look scream techno and the garter bottoms add a fun element to the outfit. You’ll be partying all night when you see John Summit, so make sure you’re comfortable and feeling like your best self!

2022 was an astounding year for new music. We can’t wait to see what 2023 brings!

“Bad Memories” by Meduza
- from Markus

Meduza’s ability to mix moody tunes with some of the most dancey beats has to be one of our favorite things about them! There isn’t a track they’ve made that we don’t obsess over!

“Alone” (Sullivan King Remix) by Kayzo & Our Last Night
- from Bella

The energy that these two have (especially when put together) is absolutely unmatched! Whether you wanna dance or headbang, they’re gonna have you pumped AF!

“Calling (Lose My Mind)” by Alesso, Ryan Tedder, and Sebastian Ingrosso
- from Layla

If Electric Daisy Carnival had a song that would perfectly describe its vibe, this one would be it! The nostalgia, the fireworks, all the feels!

“Let Me In” by Rezz x fknsyd
- from Cathryn

Hypnotic tunes with some flowy/eerie vocals to accompany it? YES PLEASE! Then y’all know Rezz is always making the whole thing complete by adding mind-blowing visuals to her shows!

“Utopia” by Black Tiger Sex Machine
- from Red

Speaking of visuals, these guys are also a blast to see in person! If you have the chance, 10/10 recommend!

“Don’t Let Me Let Go” ft. Evan Giia by Illenium x Dillon Francis
- from Bree

So we’re ready to cry AND dance? Count us in!

“Punjabi” by Timmy Trumpet & Dimatik
- from Renee

Bouncey, bassy, everything we need to get our night started! Coming in with those 2017 vibes and they never get old!

“Satisfaction” by Benny Benassi
- from Dez

Kickin’ it EVEN further back and we couldn’t be happier! This one is an absolutely classic and we know it’s going to keep going down in EDM history!

“Take A Chance” ft. Little Dragon by Flume
- from Presh

Watching/hearing this artist’s style transform over the years while still keeping to true to their sound has been such a fun journey and we can’t wait to see what he does next!

“Way Up” ft. Tima Dee by Borgore
- from Laura

The womp, womp, womps meet the feel good’s here and we’re here for it!

“Ecstasy” by ATB
- from Aaron

Kickin’ it back to the trancey dancey days where we’d all hold hands and sing to one another with tears in our eyes. Wait.. we’re still going with that! But this one still has to be considered another classic!

“Home” by Excision & Dion Timmer

Mr. Jeff has continues to dominate the heavy EDM scene with each of his tracks and his ability to wow us with each song, set and stage set up never ceases to amaze!

We don’t think we can stick with picking just one favorite, but if you HAD to pick one- what’s yours?!

Runaway (U & I) Subtronics Remix - Subtronics

In 2015, “Runaway (U & I)” by Galantis became the song of the summer with its pop-house sound. It took eight years for Subtronics to produce and release his remix to this track but it was worth the wait. This is truly a personality piece for Jesse, who wasn’t afraid to get weird with this one. You’d never expect to hear a heavy dubstep drop and wacky soundbytes in “Runaway (U & I)” but he hit us with the unexpected.

The Fit: Psychedelic Plaything Outfit

This mix is totally unique and all about having fun. The trippy smileys and cutouts in this fit are just as lively and carefree. Add accessories to show off your style, just like Subtronics did with this remix.

Nightmare On Rezz Street 2 - Rezz

Rezz brought us another spooky mix this Halloween with Nightmare On Rezz Street 2. The visuals that coincide with these twelve IDs are insane. Think monsters, spiders, haunted carousels and other trippy Halloween scenes. These tracks sound like the OG Rezz mixes that we all love with a creepy twist.

The Fit: Break Ya Neck Outfit

Just because Halloween is over doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the eerie mix. Embrace the ominous vibe with this black and red outfit. It helps that those are the colors featured in most of the visuals too!

Woke Up In Love - Gryffin, Kygo & Calum Scott

Kygo and Gryffin joined forces on “Woke Up In Love,” a lighthearted and uplifting number about finding the one. Between Calum Scott’s moving vocals, Kygo’s tropical vibes and Gryffin’s dance pop drops, this song is a hit. If your love life isn’t exactly where you’d like it to be right now, pay attention to these lyrics to inspire some hope!

The Fit: Angelic Alchemist Outfit

I actually saw this song live right after it came out and it was truly magical. All my worries melted away and I felt the love radiating through the crowd. This outfit will match “Woke Up In Love’s” upbeat energy, giving you the ultimate experience.

Thrive - Slander

After teasing this album for what felt like forever, Slander finally released Thrive on September 22nd. We got a taste of the album with “Love Is Gone” and we adored it, immediately making it the duo’s most played single on Spotify. Thrive starts with emotional love ballads, as we’d expect from Slander. They showed us on their most recent EP that they had been experimenting with techno, and you’ll find a couple similar tracks at the end of this album as well.

The Fit: Safety First Fishnet Reflective Vest

This vest combines two trends we love, reflective fabric and fishnets, to create a totally unique piece. Stand out in the crowd while dancing to this long awaited album on the Thrive tour. Enjoy the classic Slander tracks and get a taste of their newest techno ventures.

Space Candy - Zingara

Earlier this year Zingara stole bassheads’ hearts with “Astra,” and now she’s back with another banger. With vocals that’ll put you in a trance and trippy astral-trap beats, “Space Candy” is a must listen. Since blowing up on TikTok and winning Excision’s Bass Music Initiative, Zingara has blessed us with some dope bass tracks, played at Lost Lands, and proved that she has what it takes to be the next great DJ of our time.

The Fit: Bubblegum Bish Outfit

This mind-bending piece needs an extraterrestrial fit to match. The trippy print is outer space themed and will go perfectly with “Space Candy.”

Protocol - Dion Timmer

This track takes a minute and a half to drop but boy is it worth the wait. For that first minute and a half you’ll be transported to another dimension. Only listen to the words if you want to question your entire existence. And finally, the neck-breaking drop. With dirty wubs and rhythmic bass, it’s one to remember.

The Fit: Cyber Matrix Chain Halter Top

You obviously need a cyber look to wear when hearing this futuristic song live. This top adds an edgy chain accent to a robotic print. Pair it with the matching bottoms to complete the look!

Feel No Pain - GRiZ

No one gets funky quite like GRiZ. Featuring his signature saxophone sound and some lively wubs, this song is one to get down to. “Feel No Pain” features Bob Marley’s words, “one thing ‘bout music when it hit you feel no pain,” sampled from Dead Prez’s “Hip Hop.” This statement rings true, because when the beat drops, all your worries will melt away.

The fit:

Lost In The Sauce Outfit

This is the ultimate groovy outfit, so it’s ideal for GRiZ! If you’re trying to dance your pain away, this song and outfit combo is the way to go. How could you not feel better while twirling around in bright colors and a flowy skirt?!

From Daisy Dew Drops - iHR Unicorns and Festival Coordinator:

Trip of My Life Outfit

I love a fun funky vibe! Griz knows how to perfectly balance vibrant psychedelic beats, mellow dubstep, and classic funk for a truly unique sound. This Hazard bath set from Rolita Couture is the perfect amount of melty and sexy to jam out to this brand new Griz.

What A Life (feat. Stevie Appleton) - John Summit & Guz

We’ve been hearing a lot about John Summit lately and it doesn’t look like that’s going to change any time soon. “What A Life” is a summer house anthem. The melody beams with happiness and the lyrics will make you feel totally free. Get ready to have this one on repeat for the rest of the summer!

The fit:

Dancing In The Desert Outfit

This song is all about being young and free from responsibility, even if it’s just for the night. Let loose and embrace the summertime vibes in the Dancing In The Desert Outfit. With rhinestones, feathers and a flashy hat, this fit is just as fun as “What A Life!”

Everything Goes On - Porter Robinson

This emotional track will get you in your feels for sure. Porter Robinson worked with video game developer Riot Games to create the passionate piece for “League of Legends’ Star Guardian.” With a classic Porter piano intro and the incorporation of some playful drumming, new and existing fans will love “Everything Goes On.”

The fit:

Lost In Thought Outfit

Porter Robinson’s dreamy number will put love on your mind. The In A Heartbeat Vinyl Top features pastel colors and a super cute all-over heart pattern. Complete the look with the matching skirt and dance your heart out!

All That Really Matters - Illenium & Teddy Swims

Porter Robinson wasn’t the only one making us get all sentimental this July. Unsurprisingly, Illenium is here to make us cry again. Teddy Swims’ romantic vocals and Illenium’s dazzling pop-esque mix join forces to build an extraordinary love ballad.

The Fit:

Starlight Diva Outfit

This song will make you want to cuddle up with the love of your life, even if you haven’t met them yet. Get cozy in this heart-studded hoodie, and with “All That Really Matters” playing, I wouldn’t be surprised if you met them under the lasers.

From Pixxie Stixx, iHR Brand Manager: 

Club Vibes Part 01 - Boris Brejcha

Although the most recent release from Boris Berjcha only contains two tracks, Gehörschadengenerator and Fckng Trap; these 8-minute long songs are the perfect BPM to get you in a hypnotic techno trance. The ability to get completely lost in the music plays perfectly to its name, "Club Vibes" and paints a picture of groovin' all night and forgetting the world outside. If this is only Part 1, we can't wait to see what else the techno magician has in sore for us for the rest of them.

The fit: 

Cyber Angel Outfit

Odesza, Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia and Oliver Heldens also gifted us with new tracks this July. There are countless new bangers to add to your favorite playlist this month!

With a fast-paced electro beat and haunting vocals reminiscent of bloghouse icons like The Chemical Brothers, Starya is quickly carving her niche in electronic music. "The Garden" is a record filled with vivid imagery and full sound that builds worlds in your head as you listen. We caught up with Starya to discuss her new releases, favorite festival memories, and what her favorite iHR pieces are today.

Baby Ur A Star Oversized Mesh T Shirt

"I love versatile pieces like this star-themed, see-through t-shirt that would be great for a pool party bikini cover up or a nighttime club outing."

savormeditation: Tell us a bit about "The Garden"

Starya: I have always been obsessed with fantasy ideas and imagery—rainbows, secret gardens and treasure. I really wanted to lead the listener into this world of magic—isn't that what music is all about? I was also on a mission to create something very high energy with an emphasis on some fun bass synth sound design inspired by some of my favorite EDM artists.

iHR: What are some of your inspirations when making new music?

S: Probably the thing that inspires me the most when I hit a creative block are live shows, seeing an incredible artist create that energy is so inspiring. Day-to-day inspirations can be anything from the way the sunlight comes through the trees, to a weird sound my dog makes.

Pixel Pro Infinite Portal Goggles

"I've never seen anything like these hypnotic goggles, no need for small talk when you have these!"

iHR: Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming projects? Are there any releases in the pipeline?

S: My second release is called "Manipulator" and will be out on Popgang Records on Friday, July 1! I am also very excited to play at one of my FAVORITE venues in the world, Elsewhere in New York on Saturday, August 6.

[Editor's Note: You can now stream "Manipulator" here.]

J. Valentine Rainbow Bae Jacket"This cute rainbow jacket comes complete with clouds on the arms! I would be wearing this everywhere for sure."

iHR: When it comes to your rave or festival style, how do you approach creating a look?

S: I love to either go with something that matches perfectly, for instance everything that is yellow in my closet. Or, I like to grab the most random pieces and put them together to the point where I look absolutely ridiculous—and then go with it.

iHR: What rave fashion trends are you most excited to see this festival season?

S: I am super into all the jumpsuits and fun crazy sunglasses. Jumpsuits are the best, I have about 10 different ones.

iHR: If u made a piece of kandi today, what would it say?

S: "wow"

iHR: Favorite festival memory?

I have had so many fantastic and inspiring festival experiences, but I would have to say probably Coachella 2019 because I got to attend as an artist playing the campground stage. I had been many times before and always wanted to be there in the context of sharing my music. It was such a validating and special experience finally getting to do that and then attending the rest of the festival with my artist pass, which is an insanely incredible experience on its own because you get access to the best viewing area right in the front of every stage.

XYZ – Deadmau5

This nine and a half minute track was the first drop from Deadmau5’s  We Are Friends XI Compilation. The release date for the rest of this piece is tbd, but “XYZ” certainly has house heads pumped for it. With a song this long, Deadmau5 could really take his time with the build up in the intro. You’ll hear a lot of his signature beat repetition, along with the addition of various other sounds like synths and kick drums that’ll really tickle your brain.

The fit:

Lost In The Speed Outfit

“XYZ” is another one of Deadmau5’s instrumental house hits that’ll keep you engaged for almost ten straight minutes. These bottoms are mostly black with a fun splash of color and they totally match the vibe of this song.

Walkerverse Pt. 1 – Alan Walker

On June 17th Alan Walker released his five song EP,  Walkerverse Pt. 1. He starts off strong with “Adventure Time.” The beginning of this number truly makes you feel like you’re heading into an exciting adventure and delivers with a super energizing drop. You won’t be wishing this instrumental track had vocals to sing along to, you’ll be too busy dancing. “Hello World” closes out the EP with a tropical tune and catchy lyrics. Each track is great in its own way, so you won’t be needing the skip button at all during this fifteen minute collection.

The fit:

Fairy Dust Kisses Outfit

Walkerverse Pt. 1’s energy is light, fun and adventurous. This outfit is just as magical as the EP and has the same joyus aura.

Escape (feat. Hayla) [Subtronics Remix] – Subtronics

Subtronics has finally gifted us with this mix after debuting it at EDC last month. John Summit, who also recently remixed “Escape,” helped Subtronics come up with the perfect drop. From high-pitched tones to gritty bass, when you hear this track for the first time you’ll have no idea what to expect next.

The fit:

Hot Topic Outfit

This song radiates happiness. Whether it’s from the memory of Kaskade and Deadmau5 surprising Subtronics on stage at EDC or just hearing the euphoria-inducing bass, you’ll be filled with love just like this heart-studded outfit.

Laserbeam – Ray Volpe

This song has been teased for quite a while on social media and was finally released on June 24th. It is already a trending audio on TikTok, paired with creators’ favorite laser shows. This dubstep track gained traction when Excision played it at Thunderdome, and went on to be the most played record at EDC this year. Now, the bass masterpiece is finally available for us to stream!

The fit:

Electric Escape Outfit

The lasers during this drop are going to be unimaginably trippy and you need an outfit to match that energy. “Laserbeam” gives off total alien vibes and the reflective details in this pattern are going to look insane with lasers bouncing off them.

[Editor's Note: This track was released on 6/30/2022 and was added by the editor.]

Hot In It - Tiesto & Charli XCX

Charli XCX is having a moment this summer with shows all over the world at major music festivals. This surprise collaboration with Tiesto will be the song of the summer when it hits dancefloors. It's the perfect blend of groovy basslines and catchy lyrics to have you dancing all night long.

The fit:

Born This Gay Outfit

It's too bad Hot In It came out on the last day of June because there's no better Pride anthem than a Charli XCX banger about looking hot. No one says pride month has to end though, so this is the fit I would recommend for any of Charli's upcoming shows. Boise will NOT know what hit it! 

These exceptional releases are just a few of many that came out this June. Check out more new music by Flux Pavilion, Alesso, Kayzo, and more!

Onyx by Excision

This entire album is a must listen for Excision fans. It just dropped on January 13 but we’ve already played it all the way through at least 100 times. You can definitely hear Excision’s signature mechanical sound throughout, but he also gets creative with changes in bpm, melodic drops and vocals. The more emotional “Temporary Blue” is followed by “Reborn,” an absolute neck-breaker. A lot of the songs also have a spoken word element that is guaranteed to hype up any crowd and build the excitement.

The look: Leave U Breathless Outfit

Every track on Onyx radiates intensity and your outfit should do the same. This all black outfit will have you looking and feeling fearless for the ultimate dubstep adventure.

Fractals by Subtronics

Before we even had time to process Onyx, Subtronics dropped Fractals the next day. After listening to this album, we can confirm another great release for the dubstep community. Fractals was trending on Twitter almost immediately after its release, and for good reason. Every song on it is a banger. This was Subtronics’ debut album and it really showcases his range. Listen to “Take Flight VIP” and “Hieroglyph” and you’ll hear just how successful Subtronics was experimenting with different sound elements, such as frequency and vocal tone.

The look: Go Get ‘Em Reflective Chaps

Subtronics used this album to show off his assets and you should do the same! You’re sure to be noticed in any crowd in these reflective chaps. Pair them with your favorite booty short set and prepare for an epic journey through “Spacetime.”

Forget About Me by Diplo, Aluna and Durante

Moving away from dubstep and onto house, Diplo, Aluna and Durante gifted us with “Forget About Me” on the same day Subtronics gave us Fractals. Needless to say, it was an awesome day. This song is the ideal soundtrack for chilling on a beach. The use of steel drums creates a tropical vibe that is bound to help you embrace the sun or mentally escape the winter.

The look: Purple Plurmaid Outfit

The Purple Plurmaid Outfit completely matches the vibes of “Forget About Me.” The long wig, mirrored triangle top and flowy maxi skirt will make you feel like you’re getting ready for a day at the beach.

Menace by Rezz

Rezz blessed us with her newest album, Spiral, back in November but just hit us with a bonus track on January 7. Spiral was already an elite album, featuring collabs with a ton of artists like PEEKABOO and PVRIS. The addition of Menace really tied it together. Menace is exactly the kind of hypnotic track we would expect from Space Mom and it fits flawlessly with the rest of the album. Listen for those gritty basslines and mesmerizing tempo that we all know and love in Rezz’s music.

The look: Pixel Pro Infinite Portal Goggles

Rezz is known for her iconic light up goggles, so obviously you need a similar pair to show your support! These have over 350 light modes to help you match the vibe of any song she throws at you.

UNSOUND EP by NGHTMRE

For the first time in five years, NGHTMRE dropped a new EP on January 21. UNSOUND EP is just what we needed as we patiently await his album. This EP features four tracks, all collabs with other artists. “Euphoria” and “Sweetest Things” are lighter and more pop-esque while things get a little heavier with “Signal” and “Ring the Alarm.” These are all going to be great songs to hear live. The beat of “Signal” is set up for the ultimate laser show and the use of synths in “Ring the Alarm” is sure to boost the crowd’s energy.

The look: Sky Full of Stars PVC Mini Skirt

This glittery mini skirt is the perfect thing to wear when you see NGHTMRE. His EP is full of collabs, and this skirt comes in four colors so you can work with your rave crew to build a killer set of matching outfits! To complete the look, you can check out the Sky Full of Stars PVC Corset Top or Underboob Corset.

After these exceptional releases in the first few weeks of 2022, we are even more excited to see what the rest of the year will bring. For now, you have 133 minutes worth of bangers to get you through your day, and an outfit to wear when you see them live. Happy headbanging!

Drum and Bass - A Brief History

There have been many genre blends and crossovers throughout the years, but one that fuses some of the best and most dominant genres of the late 80’s & throughout the 90’s is definitely drum and bass. It’s like hip hop & house music made a baby while visiting the UK & left it there to fend for itself. From what i’ve gathered, at least, since it’s been often referred to as the “bastard child of electronic music.” See, drum and bass was never really the “popular” genre spinning at the clubs (relative to Detroit’s house or techno), and it never cared to be, even to this day as it begins to flood club speakers and major music festival lineups.

Although, to say that only hip-hop, rap, techno and house influenced DNB to be where or what it is today, would be far from the truth. In fact, like many genres in the electronic music scene, drum and bass dates back to having influences from the early rave scene, jazz, dancehall, and funk – among many other sounds stemming from the  breakbeat hardcore genre dominating the sound waves in the 90’s. Ever the rebel genre, however, DNB evolved from jungle and set itself apart with faster BPM’s, manipulating breakbeats to produce a sound that theorist Kodwo Eshun called “hyper rhythm, posthuman rhythm that’s impossible to play.”

DNB would eventually splinter off into various sub-genres and eventually began to decline in popularity in the early 2000’s, however, the Dons of DNB rose up in the 90’s to forever solidify DNB as a staple in the electronic music world.

Drum and Bass - OG’s

Drum N Bass wouldn't be where it is today without the mention of a few notables from the rise of the genre. Originating in the UK, some of the pioneers were artists like  Goldie, known for his golden grin & creating one of the first and most influential DNB record labels to this day:  Metalheadz.

But, he definitely wasn’t the only one:  Grooverider was another name that helped push Goldie to create the sounds being produced by the label, as well as continued to  disseminate the sounds all over the world on major radio stations like  BBC Radio 1. As a matter of fact, it was  Grooverider and Fabio – both DJ’s from London – who began to make waves and lay down the groundwork for DNB at  London’s Heaven Club in the early 90’s.

Thursday nights were called  RAGE and initially hosted primarily house music, but later on as Fabio and Grooverider began their Thursday night residency, Rage would take on a completely different vibe—one which would hold a strong and steady 5 year reign.

Drum’n’Bass - New

As the 2000’s made way for other emerging and more popular sounds, DNB began to fade into the underground from whence it came, though that never meant that it died; simply, it was no longer at the forefront of the electronic scene. It wasn’t until artists like  Netsky,  Sub Focus,  Machinedrum,  Mat Zo and many others began to refine the sounds to incorporate more modern, synchronized and even melodic elements into the jungle/DNB soundscape.

Most recently, labels like Space Yacht and  Jauz’s Bite This have been curating some incredible DNB compilations featuring artists like REAPER, Kumarion, Sorry If It’s Loud and more. Something I was really pleasantly surprised to see was JOYRYDE’s all DNB set at EDC - it was truly so incredible to witness and the energy was unlike anything else I’d experienced.

I am excited to see Drum n Bass continue to lift up and rise in the ranks as more UK sounds begin to infiltrate the electronic dance scene not only in the US, but around the world. How do you feel about DNB? Who are your favorite artists? Let us know in the comments!

100 gecs - mememe

For fans of: SOPHIE, GFOTY, Alice Glass, Charli XCX, A.G. Cook
Genre: Hyperpop

Hyperpop is easily my favorite new genre to come up in the last couple of years. Fans of nostalgic favorites like the early 2000s emo bands we all wish we could rage to today will feel right at home with 100 gecs. This new track is the first single off of their upcoming album, 10000 gecs which is out whenever they collect that many gecs—my guess is early next year.

A Drug From God - Chris Lake & NPC

For fans of: Chris Lake, Grimes, Rezz, Dombresky, Malaa
Genre: House

I first heard this track at Get Funky 2021 when Chris Lake sampled it onstage during his set. Naturally I am a little bit sad that this wasn't released until after the 2021 festival season came to a close, but you bet I will be blasting this on a loop in the gym to prepare for 2022. NPC is a new AI pop group created by Grimes, and this first single hints at a dive even further into dance music after her release of Miss Anthropocene Rave Edition earlier this year, which included remixes from Rezz and Richie Hawtin.

Intimidated EP - Kaytranada

For fans of: Anderson .Paak, Kali Uchis, Vic Mensa, AlunaGeorge
Genre: Funk

If you need the perfect music to chill to this week, I highly recommend this new EP from Kaytranada. In my opinion, since you asked, Kaytranada can do no wrong. Intimidated is exactly what I expected from a Kaytranada release and that's smooth funk beats paired with sultry, smooth vocals provided by H.E.R., Thundercat and Mach-Hommy.

Spiral - Rezz

For fans of: Deathpact, Porter Robinson, Excision, Deadmau5, Gesaffelstein
Genre: Techno

I realize that artist comparison is all over the place but uhhhh—iykyk. Rezz released her first album in three years this month and it was well worth the hype and the wait. Spiral is the more hyptnotizing and melodic older sibling to 2018's Certain Kind of Magic that shows Rezz has matured as an artist. Check out Let Me In and Sacrificial, two of my favorites that maintain that classic Rezz sound while giving us a dose of something new.

Walk Like Me - Robert DeLong

For fans of: She Wants Revenge, Matt & Kim, Dan Deacon, Flume
Genre: Electronic/Alternative

Longtime electronic music fans will recognize Robert DeLong as the mastermind behind 2013's "Global Concepts," a track that had a death grip on the MySpacers as they navigated the new post-Tom era. I wouldn't quite classify Robert DeLong as a dance music artist, but he's in that caliber of artists that tend to get booked during the day slots at some of the most popular festivals around the country. Walk Like Me is a 2021 version of 2013's Just Movement and captures the chaos that we're all living in today.

Call of the Unicorn - Moore Kismet

For fans of: Skrillex, Excision, Dion Timmer, Svdden Death
Genre: Dubstep

It isn't often that we see a 16-year-old producer make waves in an oversaturated music market. Moore Kismet, who is also known as Omar Davis, is doing just that. "Call of the Unicorn" is a clear homage to EDM's past, with references to Skrillex's "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" set against the backdrop of a melodic vocal collaboration from Tasha Baxter that immediately crashes into a brain scrambling dubstep drop.

Mean It - Manilla Killa, San Holo, Nick Lopez

For fans of: Avicii, Hotel Garuda, Chet Porter, Tycho, pluko
Genre: Downtempo/Melodic

Anyone in need of some good vibes can find them right here in "Mean It," by Manilla Killa, San Holo and Nick Lopez. This dreamy, melodic single is the perfect thing to listen to on your way to Dreamstate this weekend.

Most People - R3HAB, Lukas Graham

For fans of: Avicii, Alan Walker, Calvin Harris, Kygo
Genre: EDM

Remember when Avicii had that country/edm moment back in 2013 with "Wake Me Up" and "Hey Brother" off of True? The success of that album really seemed like it would trigger a country/electronic mashup trend that really never kicked off (unless you count all of the remixes of "Old Town Road"—which, I don't). R3HAB and Lukas Graham's collaboration on "Most People" would fit the mold for a resurgence of that long-forgotten era, and the overall positive message and upbeat tune perked my ears as I was looking for new music. Just as I loved that Avicii era, I'm gonna give this one a hard yes. We're never getting another Avicii record, but this is what I would have pictured to be a close successor to anything off of True.

Still Miss U - DJ_Dave, Kitty

For fans of: Slayyyter, GFOTY, Hannah Diamond
Genre: hyperpop/pop/electronic

It's not that this song is new, because I've been hearing remixes of Kitty's "Miss U" for years now. Don't get me wrong, "Miss U" is her best track, but the tech behind DJ_Dave's remix is what perked my ears up when I read about it. Get this, DJ_Dave is a queer, female producer that made this remix by livecoding, which means she inputs code into a computer and it creates music in return. Now that we're all plugged into the metaverse I shouldn't be surprised by this remix, but I'm stoked that it's first coming in the form of pop/electronic music. The song itself is haunting, glitchy and catchy, with deep synths and a disco break. I'll be putting this one on repeat.

1. Aviella

Aviella is a vocalist who has been featured on tracks with some big names in EDM such as Slushii, ARMNHMR, and Barclay Crenshaw.

Aviella in our Toxic Fire Crop Top & Toxic Fire High Waisted Bottoms

"To me, being a musician & vocalist allows me the ability to share my lyrics to touch other people’s lives, which is very humbling. In addition to continuing features on many EDM tracks, I’m currently working on creating music for my own “Aviella” artist project...I’m so excited to see what the future holds!! I’m extremely grateful for all of the love and support that I have received thus far in my journey! It means the world to me to be able to create in the EDM community, where every person can feel free to be unique and individual- and where we all come together with one another to share the important values of peace, love, unity, and respect!”- Aviella  

2. Boiish

Boiish is a tech-house duo with perfect party tracks;  bringing the heat to warehouse parties, festival art cars and most recently- live streams. 

"Kristin and I met sitting across from each other at work, and would exchange music throughout the day, usually gravitating towards house music and indie dance tracks. Kristin is a multi-instrumentalist, and I played piano and sang growing up, so I’ve always had an ear for music. We used our bond as friends alongside our similar interests in music to start producing tracks together after work, just for fun. The production of tracks turned into us planting the seed of finding ways to start playing those tracks and circulating our music without having an entire live set up and production. Simultaneously we were able to borrow a friend’s DJ gear, taught ourselves how to use the gear, and would play small house parties for our friend group. The energy that we received from seeing our friends hyped up - forgetting the world around them and just unapologetically enjoying themselves - while we were throwing down a set brought us to the next phase of Boiish, which was continuing to DJ, hone in on our craft, and bring that same energy to crowds beyond just our friend group (even though those parties will always be one of our favorite places to play)!

Amanda in our Head In The Clouds Oversized Tee

My favorite aspect of producing music is having an organic outlet that directly correlates to my emotions and how I can evoke those emotions in our audience. When I’m having a bad day and need to lift myself up and just dance, it shows in the tracks we’ve created. When we’re taking large, uncomfortable, or scary steps in our personal lives outside of boiish, the tracks we’ve created (many of which have yet to be released at the moment) reflect the epicness of our personal lives, and can be felt within a song from that time period. I listen to artists that I am inspired by and recognize the way their music makes me feel, and my favorite part of production comes down to trying to replicate that emotion in myself and hope that it can be projected onto at least one other person who listens to our tracks as we continue to grow." - Amanda

Check out their dance anthem People Wanna on Spotify. 

3. Wenzday

From bumpin' booty house to ratchet bass, you never know what you're going to get with a Wenzday set and that is exactly why her sets are so much fun.

"In my life, I have these mini mental moments linked to a songs I have heard at that time. These songs create a visceral response that takes me back to that experience. I’m hoping my music can help recreate that feeling with my listeners.

"My favorite part of playing live is providing my fans a temporary escape from their troubles—Even if only for a brief moment when everyone realizes they are surrounded by like-minded individuals and enjoying a certain song or drop is especially why I love what I do!" -Wenzday

4. Emileen aka @Love.You_Em

Emileen's soulful voice and catchy lyrics are a real treat. When listening to her music you feel like you know her, like she's got your back, ya know?

"My name is Emileen and creating music is my biggest passion. My most recent project “Good Girl” was released as a Pop/EDM EP with 7 songs that all had a fun energy of their own. I’m currently working on a new album that is more raw and feelsy but still brings a good vibe with EDM elements. I’m excited to continue my journey with my music career and look forward to growing as an artist." - Emileen

Emileen in our Dragon Secrets Cropped Long Sleeve

 Listen to Em's latest release here. 

If you're wondering what is the best EDM subgenres, but don't know where to begin, have no fear! We've done a deep dive of all the EDM subgenres and picked out some of our favorites for you guys to explore.

Take the quiz below and find out where to start!

Looking for more information on EDM subgenres? Check out this EDM sub-genres chart

You can listen to all the Quiz playlists below. Make sure to follow savormeditation on Spotify for more playlist updates. 

Here's a note about the playlist from Wenzday & Dack Janiels themselves-

"Hope you all enjoy the playlist we made featuring some of our favorite songs we have put out recently + new songs from the homies we can't stop playing! I have been raving at home by streaming on Twitch and keeping up with the homies on Insta Live and Twitch streams. Some of my faves are Dr. Fresch's "House Call", Kendoll's weekly Twitch Stream, and Sippy's Sips on Sundays." - Wenzday

“Life’s definitely been a little mixed up due to the current pandemic, but I’ve mainly just been trying to stay busy! I put this playlist together with some of my heaviest tracks along with songs from my homies that I’ve been bumping to get hyped before I skate, produce, or workout. In terms of raving at home, I’ve also been tuning into a bunch of streams and trying to catch sets from artists I haven’t seen live before."- Dack Janiels

"If you want to see how my brother and I have been quarantining tune into our takeover for Sidewalk Talk EDM's "Quarantine Series" this Saturday on their Youtube. Thankfully, we have been really busy these past couple weeks doing a Twitch stream with EDM.com and L7 Touring and dropping the "Fear the Forty Vol. 2" compilation on our label 40oz Cult," said Wenzday.

Want More Wenzday? Check out this playlist & look out for details coming soon on her next EP dropping on Bijou's Do Not Duplicate Recordings in May.

Want more Dack Janiels? Check out this playlist & look out for his new release, System Shock which drops on 4/20.

Want more 40oz Cult?  Check out this playlist.

Shop our New Arrivals section for the perfect Rave At Home fit!

Photo Credit: @nbkittiekat_

What is EDM?

It’s impossible to talk about riddim without first understanding EDM and its origins. EDM is an acronym that stands for electronic dance music, and it’s sometimes also referred to as electronic music or dance music.  EDM is commonly played at clubs, raves, and music festivals because it’s produced with dancing in mind, but you can also hear it on music streaming sites like Soundcloud and Live Nation radio. In the broadest terms, EDM features a repetitive percussion track, usually with a melody played by a synthesizer laid over the percussion. EDM has many different subgenres and remixes, each with distinctive characteristics of their own, so don’t expect all EDM to sound the same. 

Where Did EDM Originate?

EDM first started appearing in the music industry in the 1970s, but the music on your playlist today bears almost no resemblance to those early songs. The genre has evolved considerably over the past four decades, when it originated from the disco music of the late 70s. Disco used many of the same synthesized percussion sounds and electronic instruments that are used today to get people out on the dance floor.  Some of the early pioneers of the genre include Pete Bellotte and Giorgio Moroder, who wrote the synthesized disco song “I Feel Love,” by Donna Summer. Not only did that particular song usher in a new era of synthesized pop that would continue into the 1980s, Bellotte and Moroder would later go on to collaborate with Daft Punk, helping to connect today’s EDM to its roots. 

Ultra synthesized pop is what we think of when we think of classic 80s hits like “Take On Me” and the song that is today considered one of the first house records, “On and On,” by Jesse Saunders. The ultra synthesized pop of the 80s brought the level of synth up a notch, but the music of the 1970s and 80s still wouldn’t be recognizable to today’s EDM fans. It wasn’t until the  1990s when the sounds we know today were introduced via techno, house, hardcore rave, dub, trance, and drum and bass music. EDM exploded in popularity in Europe, where it eventually spread from rave culture into night clubs. Popular EDM songs in the 90s included “Strings of Life” by Derrick May, which helped introduce techno in the US. 

While momentum continued to build in the 1990s, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that EDM became a major part of mainstream American popular culture with the introduction of producers like Daft Punk, Avicii, Hardwell, Diplo, Martin Garrix, Tiesto, David Guetta, and Skrillex. No longer was EDM limited to raves and clubs; in the 2000s, all you had to do to hear EDM was turn on any Billboard Top 40 radio station. Today, EDM sounds are used by most mainstream pop and hip-hop artists, including everyone from Drake to Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Marshmello, and Lady Gaga. Even if you consider yourself unfamiliar with EDM, if you listen to popular music today, one of your favorite songs probably fits into the genre.

Origins of Riddim

It’s believed that the term “riddim” was first coined by Jakes around 2012. Riddim is the Jamaican patois (slang) pronunciation of the English word “rhythm,” and it refers to the instrumental accompaniment of a song in dancehall and reggae. Riddim is seen as a subgenre of dubstep, which is considered a subgenre of dub, which is a subgenre of EDM. That’s a lot of subgenres! Dub was born in London in the late 90s and is characterized by overwhelming bass, occasional vocals, clipped samples, and reverberant drums. It’s considered a fairly aggressive type of EDM, so if you’re listening to dub, you can be certain that there’s plenty of headbanging going on around you. The three subgenres of dub include dubstep, trap, and glitch-hop. Dubstep is characterized by a high number of beats per minute and rhythmic percussion patterns with huge drops. Riddim is considered the grime, swaggy side of dubstep by its enthusiasts, who view it as a simple style with its own culture. Others view it as a subgenre of dubstep that harkens back to dubstep’s early days but doesn’t create anything new. As the saying goes, “all riddim is dubstep, but not all dubstep is riddim.”

Riddim Characteristics

How you describe riddim depends a great deal on whether you love it or hate it. Riddim lovers would describe it as minimalist and focused on the flow and vibe, with the rhythm of the track being the most important characteristic. Riddim is largely built on loose drum arrangements and can sound repetitive and chaotic at times. Percussive triplets and extreme bass lines are also major hallmarks of riddim, which rarely uses any vocal overlays, heavy melodies, or crazy chord cadences. Riddim is often described as aggressive and swampy, and many people associate it with the underground dubstep scene, although it has become much more mainstream over the past few years. Riddim typically features 140 to 150 beats per minute, like dubstep, but is considered to have more space and wide delays between sounds. This is major headbanging music, and “chaotic” is definitely one way to describe the energy that builds on the dancefloor when riddim comes on. If you're attending a riddim show, you'd probably wear something more edgy than your standard rave 'fit. 

Photo Credit: atomicblonde13_

Controversy

The controversy over riddim is largely a tale as old as time - the battle between the old and the new. Primarily, the controversy surrounding riddim as a subgenre is based on the belief that it isn’t a subgenre at all, but rather, a return to earlier forms of dubstep. Much of the issue surrounds the fact that newcomers to the scene may be inclined to “find” riddim and think it’s something new because they are unfamiliar with previous sounds of the subgenre. Dubstep purists and people who do not view riddim as a subgenre believe that it should simply be called “dubstep.” Dubstep began to take off in the United States in the early 2010s with the release of Skrillex’s EP, Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites. Around this time, EDM enthusiasts noticed a split in dubstep and a new era was ushered in featuring screeching synths and long build-ups with a big drop. At this point, dubstep began to move into two different directions. The music that trended more towards the mainstream became known as, "brostep", while the music that resonated with the underground became known as riddim. Today, the sound is very different from mainstream dubstep, which often features heavy melodies and vocal tracks, but purists state that riddim is simply a return to dubstep’s roots rather than an evolution of the subgenre.

Popular Artists

Because riddim is considered underground by many, dubstep artists and riddim producers popular within the subgenre are not as well known as popular artists from other subgenres. However, riddim is currently experiencing a boom in popularity. Two of the biggest riddim artists are Subfiltronik, who is credited with establishing what we consider the riddim sound today, and Shiverz, one of the most prominent riddim DJs in the world. Other popular artists who have been making riddim since before it was cool include Megalodon, Herobust, Boogie T, Bloodthinnerz, Deemed, Juju, and Roto, along with crews like the Wizards, the Akatsuki Chop Music Crew, and the Monsters crew.

Popular Tracks

If we had to pick one quintessential riddim song that encapsulates the qualities of the subgenre, it would be “Psycho Blockz” by Subfiltronik. Other huge hits include “Yasuo” by Crowell and Bommer, which is generally regarded as the first true riddim song, with new music coming out every day. One of the best places to find new riddim music is the riddim subreddit, which features tons of new tracks and discussion about the subgenre daily. 

Where to Listen

Riddim might still be considered slightly underground, but you can hear it at many different raves and festivals. Lost Lands is a music festival known to feature riddim artists, as is the Imagine Music Festival, and other dubstep festivals are great options for hearing riddim. You can also find riddim artists on soundcloud, spotify, and other forums, including live nation radio. 

Check out this Riddim playlist, created by savormeditation! 

Whether you love it or hate it, riddim has now been around for nearly ten years and unlike other trends within the EDM genre, it appears that it’s here to stay.

Surprise to Brother and Fans

In classic Dillon Francis style, fans were surprised with an announcement for the day-ger (day rager) via Instagram post. In the video, Dillon takes viewers with him as he drops the bombshell on his brother, who lives in Seattle and inspired the name for the pop-up show. Dillon explains how he named the show, “HELLO SEATTLE, I LOVE YOU!” in honor of his brother who currently resides there. This hilarious video ends up to be an epic fail as their mom ruins the surprise (or in my opinion, made the video announcement even funnier). 

Under the Space Noodle

The Fisher Green Stage in Seattle Center is located amongst the famous Seattle Space Needle and International Fountain. This outdoor space is home to many entertainment events, including Seattle’s own Bumbershoot and The Bite of Seattle. The single-stage venue hosts a mid-sized crowd where everyone has an amazing view of both the performers and the city. And if you really know what’s up, after the concert you’ll hit Dick’s Drive-In Restaurant, an iconic and delicious burger chain, native to the Greater Seattle Area. 

The 6-Artist Lineup

In collaboration with AMFAMFAMF and Upper Left, Dillon has brought Seattleites not only himself, but six of his talented friends: What So Not, Party Favor, Wax Motif, Nitti Gritti, and Kendoll. This eclectic lineup features a variety of EDM styles, including house, dub, bass, and of course, moombahton. Although set times have not yet been released, my guess is that artists will get a timeslot of close to an hour each.

Tickets are currently on sale for both GA and VIP passes and are predicted to sell out. If you want to end the summer right, grab some friends and hit the town because with a lineup this diverse, there will be something for everyone to see. Click here to buy your tickets! And to stay in the know and share with your friends, check out the official Facebook event page. 

In the meantime, get pumped for this epic event with Dillon Francis' live stream from EDCLV 2019!

The following five DJs have really stood out and are making their name and sound heard. We’re hoping 2019 will be the year of not just new music, but tons of new rising artists.

Coming from Tampa, Florida, Lizzy Jane brings the house down every Friday at the Ritz Ybor. Her sound is heavy and deep and she brings something new to every track. If you like bass mixed with deep and dark sounds, Lizzy Jane is the one for you. Her newest track, “Bad Sound” is a brain-melting mix of deep and weird and wonky bass.

The women are rising up in the EDM scene and Whipped Cream isn’t holding back. Her dark and sultry sound is like nothing we’ve heard before. While still maintaining her sound, Whipped Cream does an exceptional job of showing her versatility from track to track.

Just listen to her most recent remix of Zhu’s “Desert Woman” and her track “Bad for Me” and watch the versatility and straight talent jump right out.

Toy Box is definitely the most different from all the other DJs on this list, but it means they’re a standout that needs to be heard. Definitely a more chill and relaxed artist, Toy Box knows how to transport us to different worlds within just a few seconds. Coming from Colorado and making music since 2015, we’re going to need more of Toy Box's laid back and groovy sounds.

1788-L

Mysterious and tech-heavy, 1788-L really blew up last year. This producer has an air of mystery to him that he keeps throughout not only his music but through his social media and live sets as well. His Daft Punk remix put him on the map, and stayed with his mindblowing original tracks and collaborations. 1788-L just had a successful run on tour with Ekali in 2018 and we can’t wait to see what is in store for 2019.

Peekaboo

Peekaboo came on the scene with an incredibly different sound. Having just released his newest EP “Wrecking Ball”, Peekaboo is definitely on top of his game. The producer has collaborated with artists like Bassnectar and remixed Zeds Dead. His sound is the perfect definition of “bass in your face” and will have you melting out of your chair.

What’s even more special about the hypnotic wubs and dubs is that age holds no immunity to its spell.  

Whether you’re five or 95, the power of EDM holds no boundaries to its listeners, and is as timeless as it is captivating.  

The fanbase of electronic music is truly ageless, and its ability to pull fans together from all stages of life is part of what makes our community so vibrant and beautiful.

A common misconception I hear about EDM is that it’s a genre that can only be enjoyed by young adults. I’ve heard everything from it’s not appropriate for children to it doesn’t resonate with older crowds. I’ve made friends of all ages since becoming a part of the electronic music community, and it’s become increasingly clear to me that EDM is truly ageless. So, I sat down with a few fans (and new friends of mine) of all ages to gain their perspective on EDM and how it has impacted their life.

“[I] listened to Daft Punk when I was six and [I’m] still listening to EDM now. EDM is an ever transforming genre, so the ability to appeal to all ages is strong,” says EDM fan, Hatim Hafid.

Electronic music lover, Dennis Little, has been an avid fan since the 80s. Now at the age of 53, Little continues to attend and enjoy as many EDM shows as possible.

“I can say for certain that the community has accepted me very well. In particular, the Cult of Rezz, but I have a couple friends outside of the Cult as well,” Little says. “I think the community in general has very happily accepted that music has no age.”

The Cult of Rezz is a fanbase for electronic music producer, REZZ, that prides themselves on welcoming all members with open arms.

Little is an active member of the EDM community, and engages with the scene by making and trading kandi, interacting with the local scene online and volunteering with harm reduction teams.

“The more involved I get in the community, the more I feel like I am accepted as a music fan,” he says. “The acceptance and the non-judgemental attitude almost everyone has makes my age just go away.”

Photo Provided by Dennis Little

Little encourages fans of all ages to enjoy festivals, and states that while, “The crowds at shows are pretty accepting,” not everyone understands that being PLUR means understanding that music has no boundaries.

“Once in a while I get some unusual looks, but I feel like it may just be because I am not your average raver! My advice? Go, have fun. Enjoy the music!” Little adds.

Like Little, Shelby Heaton believes that the agelessness of EDM doesn’t just stem from the crowds, but from the music itself.  

“Some of the best artists in the business are over 50 and still making music,” Heaton says. “One of the things that I appreciate about the EDM scene is that it is so diverse (people and music wise) and it allows for the older generations to continue to be involved in the scene. Additionally, I love seeing parents bring their children to shows and introduce them to electronic music. As long as you're responsible, they are never too young.”

Listeners like Amy Gee, who is the proud parent of five-year-old EDM fan, Lee, agree that you are never too young to enjoy the music you love.

Gee writes on the Cult of REZZ Facebook page:

“[Lee] sort of grew up with EDM, especially ODESZA,” Gee says. “It’s the main genre of music I listen to. He actually sings all the words to Falls by ODESZA. He’s gotten into Bassnectar, REZZ and Boombox Cartel with me lately. He likes the drums and bass, and of course, the drop.”

Whether you’re a trance lover, hard style fanatic, bass head or anything in-between, the consensus among electronic-lovers is that there are no restrictions to who can appreciate and enjoy EDM.

“I think that electronic music is absolutely timeless,” Gee adds.

In a world structured around so many societal confinements, electronic music provides a magical escape without judgment or limitations. The only requirements for joining the EDM community are good vibes, PLUR and a love for the music.

The Best Bass Drops of All Time: Older Bangers

• Skrillex – Scary Monsters and Kyoto
• Birdy Nam Nam - Goin’ in (Skrillex Remix)
• Fedde Le Grand & DI-Rect – Where We Belong (Zomboy Remix)
• Dream – Go Hard (Crizzly Remix)
• Zomboy – Terror Squad
• Doctor P – Champagne Bop*
• Excision – X-Rated or Live Wire
• Figure – The Werewolf
• Skism – Like This
• Crizzly & AFK – Chain Hang Low
• Emalkay – Fabrication
• The Marvelettes – Mr. Postman (Cragga remix)*
• Borgore – Kiss My Lips or Decisions or Ice Cream
• Rusko – Woo Boost
• Knife Party – Bonfire or Internet Friends*
• Zeds Dead - Rude Boy ft. Omar Linx*
• Bassnectar - Basshead*
• NYMZ -Bingbong
• Modestep - Sunlight or Feel Good or Another Day*
• Flux Pavilion – I Can’t Stop
• DJ Fresh - Gold Dust (Flux Pavilion Remix)
• Benny Benassi - Cinema (Skrillex Remix)

The Best Bass Drops of All Time: Newer Bangers

• Svdden Death – Take Ya Head Off or Prismatic*
• Zomboy – Biterz (Svdden Death Remix)*
• Hekler & Gladez – Error 404*
• Mastadon – Caskets or RIP or Twin Turbo*
• Trolley Snatcha – Back2Front*
• Krimer – Die
• 4B & AAZAR - Pop Dat
• RL Grime - Core*
• Boombox Cartel - Jefe or B2U*
• Phaseone - Welcome to Mayhem*
• MONXX & Walter Wilde  - Wonky
• ARYAY - Lawnmower*
• Funtcase – Scary Yikes Grzz*
• Barely Alive – C$sh
• Riot Ten & Sullivan King - Fuck it*
• Herobust - Dirt Heater Tea
• Loudpvck & Nghtmre - Click Clack
• EPTIC - The End (Carnage & Breaux Festival Trap Remix)
• Eliminate - Snakebite VIP
• Badklaat – Knuckle Sandwich*
• Ecraze & Oddprophet – Spread Like
• DJ Snake - Propaganda
• Midnight Tyrannosaurus & EH!DE – Planet Purge*
• Spag Heddy & F3TCH – Spooks VIP
• Megladon & Gentlemen’s Club – Feel It
• Trampa – Runners or Rocket Fuel*
• Zomboy – Invaders (Spag Remix)
• Megladon & Midnight Tyrannosaurus – Jurassic VIP
• Zomboy – Like a Bitch*
• UZ & ATLiens - Cavern (UNKWN Remix)
• Riot Ten - Rail Breaker

Everyday bass music is changing. Yet we still should appreciate the old songs as much as the new ones because without all these songs we wouldn’t have the music we do now. Constant change is a good thing and your taste in music might have shifted like mine did a little with every rave I go to. I say to always remember the songs that got you into EDM. Happy raving and appreciate all music. 

Check out this super awesome playlist featuring the tracks listed above!

[Disclaimer Note: There is more than one genre of bass and some of your favorites might not be on here. That doesn’t mean they aren’t the best of all time to you! There are a few remixes and to some bassheads those are better than the original but everyone is allowed to have their own opinion. If I missed your favorite track, drop it in the comments below! Also, some would be considered more popular than better bass drops.]

Photo Cover Credit: INTO THE AM. Buy the design on a flag, bodysuit, or tank top.

Das Energi is a two-day event with three stages, taking place August 17th & 18th. The event takes place at the Great Saltair - a local Salt Lake venue. In addition to the incredible stage production that is expected to take place, there will also be art installations hosted in the breathtaking Salt Flats - a beautiful, natural landscape that Utah proudly boats. Das Energi is hosting an incredible lineup including tons of popular names such as Kaskade, Deadmau5, Rezz, Snails, Rusko, Nghtmre and more! 

Along with visiting Salt Lake City for the first time and adding a new festival under my raving resume, I’ll even have the opportunity to check out some artists I’ve never seen! So, who am I most excited to dance to at Das Energi?! 

K?D

I’ve seen K?D once at Phoenix Lights 2017, but I can’t judge an artist based on only one show. My boyfriend first introduced me to his music a couple of months prior to Phoenix Lights and my first thought was, “Wow, this guy sounds like a mix of Porter and Madeon.” After seeing him at Phoenix Lights and listening to his latest singles, I’ve grown more intrigued by his unique sound and need to see him again!

JOYRYDE

As a known trance lover, so you might be wondering why I would want to see JOYRYDE. Let’s just say that I’m trying to expand my horizons and I have no idea what to expect. This track is the only single from JOYRYDE that I know because I’ve heard it mixed in during other’s sets, so we’ll see how my first experience will be.

Sam Feldt

I have been listening to Sam Feldt’s podcast, HeartFeldt Radio, for a couple months now and I have to recommend it to everyone who is searching for some good vibe music. His live sets are full of energy and even incorporates live music into his festival sets to add a bit of flare. Sam Feldt is one not to miss out on if you’re looking to have a good time to some great music!

What So Not

Half of my friends are still wanting to see mainstage artists, so I’m extremely stoked to be able to have the freedom to go see artists I would normally skip because my friends hyped me up to see the artist they want to see. What So Not has been on my list of artists to see for a while now and I was bummed when I had to miss his tour stop in Oakland because it was on a work night. I highly recommend listening to his latest album!

Dillon Francis

I may have heard Dillon Francis while passing by one of the stages at EDC, but I have not ventured off to specifically see him. The only thing I actually know about Dillon Francis is that he is a funny guy that trolls everyone, but I can’t merely judge a music producer based on what other people say. Das Energi will definitely be an interesting experience!

This year has been a tough year trying to balance my Master’s program, work, and personal life, but since I have finally completed school I am able to fully enjoy life and begin festival season! Das Energi will be an entirely new experience for me; I have never traveled to Salt Lake City, I don’t have any friends that live in the area, and this is one of the few festivals that I am not attending with my usual rave family. I’m extremely nervous to embark on this unknown journey, but I’m excited to create new experiences and memories with new friends and music! I can’t wait to meet so many new friends and check out all of the artists I have been dying to see!

@aliciahernandance and @villahilario 

"Our journey all started at EDC 2016, which was originally supposed to be Hilario @villahilario's (Hilario) bachelor party (haha!) Then a few months prior things fell through and it was no longer a bachelor party, so a mutual friend of ours invited me to go. Back then, we shared the same rave family but lived in different states. Our friendship grew quickly [over the weekend] through set after set and found small moments to have conversations filled with laughs to ourselves. After we left Vegas we knew we left with something special. Through 6 months of long distance, he either came to California, or I visited Washington for visits and more music adventures. It was so great to have an equal counterpart that loved to travel and go to music events as much as I did. Since EDC 2016, we have done 13 small and 21 major events around the country and overseas. Going to music festivals together has changed our lives. As we’ve grown closer with each trip we have also met people near and far that we now consider some of our bests friends. We are so happy and humbled to consider those people family.

To say we love dressing up and creating costumes is an understatement. I even taught him how to sew, so we do everything from kandi and perlers to making actual costumes together. This person not only has the title o f#festiebestie and #ravebae, he most importantly has the title #bestfriend. Going to the number of shows we have together is one thing, but going through life is a totally different scenario. 

People seem to be surprised when we tell them that we’ve only been together a year and a half. What keeps us strong and so close it that we’re each others best friend. Yes, we’re in a relationship, but our friendship comes before anything else. In a year and a half we have gone through long distance, moving in together, moving 3 times, career changes, and recently losing one of our dogs. I honestly can say that not only music festivals but life would not be the same without our this man by my side. Thank you @villahilario for every moment we’ve shared, a little family I live and die for, and all the moments in life yet to come." 

Be sure to say hi if you see them at an event! They are always excited to make new friends and trade kandi or create memories with others.

@plur_kitten and @_raveunicorn 

"I heard there is this #IHeartRaveBae thing going on right now and of course I instantly knew @_raveunicorn (Roan) was the one I’d brag about.

We met through an online FB group but never made the effort to actually meet even though we lived an hour apart from each other. We basically made excuses and didn’t even try. Fast forward to the week before Hardfest 2017 and she told me I can join her. We met at the Emazinglights store on a Tuesday afternoon and planned out our matching outfits. We hadn’t ever met in person before that moment and I was actually nervous because I wasn’t sure if we would even click well together. We had a small lunch after and parted ways. The day of the event, I drove to her place and we met with the crew and raged the night away.

Sometime after, she had a hard time and I drove over to her place at 1 am with Taco Bell in hand and we watched a movie with her cat. Our temporary goodbye to each other was spent on (yet again) a spontaneous night to nocturnal wonderland 2017 where we connected on an even deeper level talking on the hill above the stages. During Nocturnal, Roan gave me a special piece of kandi. See, we both are huge animal people and have a love for cats. She knows how much my cat means to me, so she made a kandi of my cats “toebeans” aka his little footprint. I gave it to her at nocturnal before I moved and said we will always be friends and the beans will keep you safe. I have taken the kandi to every rave since including EDC Orlando and soon to EDC Las Vegas! 

It was just the beginning of a friendship I know will never die. I don’t think I’ve ever connected with someone in the way I do with you, Chelsey. You’re my best friend and I would do anything for you. It doesn’t matter how long we’ve known each other or how many miles apart we are. You’re going to be in my life forever  Love you twinny. "

@cossethmc & @blaabri

Did you meet your soulmate after getting separated from your squad? Attend a show as your first official "date"? There are so many amazing and powerful stories of love and friendship at raves and we want to hear them! Whether you met your EDM soulmate at a festival or got married at EDC Las Vegas, your story is impactful and part of the greater power of PLUR. 

In honor of Valentine's Day, savormeditation is giving away TWO Valentine's Day swag packs and a guest feature on our Blog! Entering is as easy as 1, 2, 3:

1. Post a picture of you and your Rave Bae or Festie Bestie

2. Caption your photo and tell us how you met or a cute story from your time together (the more details, the better!) 

3. Use the hashtag #iHeartRaveBae

@blissful.owl & @dir_t_mike

All profiles must be public to win. Winners will be chosen Monday, February 12th. Good luck, ravers! <3

Got a creative side? Channel your creativity by becoming a photographer or videographer! Imagine how fun it would be to get a photo pass and attend festivals and document the experience? You’ll get special access to the photo pit and enjoy the festival from the best spots at the entire festival while capturing the festival’s best moments. Not only will you get all those perks, you’ll get to meet amazing people including your favorite DJs. 

If you have a way with words, you could become a writer! Usually when you think of a writer you think of someone who writes a book, but there are so many fun writing options that are EDM related. You can write for a music magazine or an EDM blog. The reason I became a blogger is because I knew I loved to write and I was so passionate about EDM! That’s why I write for savormeditation and I also made my own blog called EDMoholics. You can combine your love for music and express it through your words by writing. There are an endless amount of music blogs, websites and magazines out there that you can strive for! Do it well enough and you could get press passes to all the festivals you want!

Be part of the show and become a dancer or performer! If you are someone who loves to dance then this is the perfect career choice for you! If you love expressing yourself through dancing then being able to get up on stage or walk around the event would be a dream come true! Seeing all the amazing performers is one of my favorite things about going to festivals. They always add such a fun aspect to the experience. Not only will you get to move to your favorite music and have all eyes on you, but you get to wear the coolest costumes and have so many other passionate dancers up there with you who you can share this experience with together!

Be hands on with stage design and stage production! All the lights, sound system, and decorations are made possible because of everyone involved in stage design! You can look and see how to be part of a stage production team or even be an entrepreneur and work on starting your own company! Without the production, these festivals wouldn’t even be possible, so it’s cool to know that you would be working as such an important part of the rave and festival puzzle. Also seeing the crowd have an amazing time and in awe of all your hard work would feel so rewarding!

These are only a few jobs that have to do with the EDM and rave lifestyle but there are so many more career paths out there that are also involved with this culture! Raving and EDM is your passion so you should really look into doing something where you can get paid to do what you love. Combining your skills with your passion is a match made in career heaven! If you are doing what you love, you will never feel like you are working because you will be getting paid to do what you love. When looking at your future career, think outside of the box and look into work that involves your love for EDM.

5 years ago this month, the man known as Skrillex unleashed the “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” EP onto an unsuspecting public, and the world hasn’t been the same since. This EP introduced many people to the musical genius that is Sonny Moore and for the first time introduced dubstep to the masses. 

To many before this EP, dubstep was not enjoyable and too intense on the eardrums. However, this historic EP brought a new relatable, enjoyable, and magnificent dubstep style to the table. This EP was also the first major release for Skrillex and subsequently started a meteoric ascent to the top of the EDM universe.

The title track, “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites”, has become a classic amongst most all EDM followers. It is one of the most recognizable tracks ever released, due in most part to the infamous “yes, oh my god!” line, and is not only still dropped regularly at many shows and festivals, but is also still revered and loved all across the globe despite so much play time. This track is legendary and is a true summarization of Skrillex’s musical genius from the melodic opening to the face-melting drop, it shows the infinite range he possesses.

The following tracks are equally as impressive as the title track. “Rock and Roll” is a fun upbeat track that is equal parts melodic and hard hitting as well, with a repeated phrase of “hello again, to all my friends, together we can play some rock and roll” that sticks with you hours after hearing it. There’s the song “Kill Everybody” which features eerie and spine-chilling vocals that transition into what has become Skrillex’s signature sounds in the drop.

Rounding out the original tracks on this EP are the rap-infused “Scatta”, the light and airy “All I Ask Of You”, and “With You, Friends”, which seems to borrow a page out of Deadmau5’s playbook with an epic lengthy and soothing buildup to a fun drop toward the end.

The EP also features a few remixes from then-up-and-coming names. There’s an up-tempo and hard-hitting “Kill Everybody” remix from Bare Noize, and two “Scary Monsters” remixes; one from Noisa, and the other from a now-familiar name: Zedd. His remix truly shines on this EP and masterfully infuses some of his more house-inspired sounds to the heavy dubstep signature to create a hydrating and cleansing sound unlike anything else on the EP.

As for life after this iconic EP, the rest as they say is history. Skrillex has gone on to become one of the most well-known figures not only in EDM but in music as a whole, and continues to amaze with his unique sounds. He has since released a couple of wildly successful EP’s and albums both solo (“Bangarang” and “Recess”) and in joint efforts (Jack U), as well as a bevy of exalted tracks both on his own and producing for other acts across all genres.

5 years ago, the EDM landscape changed forever and a new king was exalted. Skrillex broke new ground with his “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” EP, and continues to do just that with everything he does. He has become an icon, an enigma, and a legend in just 5 short years, and as we have seen the best is yet to come.

“Scary Monsters” changed the game, and Skrillex has taken the reigns as the quarterback of it.

That artist is Dillon Francis. Francis, on the verge of turning just 28 in October, seems like he has done no wrong in 2015 and has gone from pleasant festival surprise to must-hear must-see performance. He has collaborated with some of the biggest name in the industry (Skrillex, Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix) as well as keeping some joint projects in a more underground tone (Brandon Urie, Lily Elise, James Hersey) to showcase his insane musical range like no one has ever seen or heard before.

The first time I had ever heard of the IDGAFOS kingpin was back in 2013 at BUKU in New Orleans. Back then the cool part about Francis was he was mostly a word-of-mouth act; as in, you heard from other people at the festival how good this guy is and you have to go see him. The exact phrase directed toward me was “dude, you have to go see this guy, his sets are insane”. So, myself and my friends stumbled over to his stage and laid witness to what was indeed an insane set that not only captivated us but had us yearning for more from this mystery mastermind.

Fast-forward to late 2014 and the man put out his first full length album, Money Sucks Friends Rule, that at one point perched itself high up as the #1 dance album in the U.S. on iTunes (just the title alone speaks to the pure nature of Francis). And that recognition has been well-deserved. Francis, despite a newfound mainstream success and rapidly growing popularity, has stuck to his guns and is still holding true to what made him one of the most beloved acts not only amongst the EDM community, but amongst the DJ community as well. Anyone who has followed him on SnapChat or Instagram over the years has become familiar with his hilarious antics (drunk cooking, “I’m a DJ”, cribs) as well as his plethora of alter egos (Hanzel, Becky, Greg) and his lighthearted way of looking at life as a DJ and in general. Plain and simple, the guy loves what he does and has a lot of fun doing it, and you can tell it is a genuine and pure love he has for the music, his fellow producers, and his increasingly loyal fan base.

The success of the debut album trickled into 2015 as the popularity grew with each week and with each set and more recognition to his unique blend of sounds and genres became more apparent. His style has been quite all over the place since I first saw him over two years ago, ranging from trap-centric songs such as “Bootleg Fireworks”, to house anthems such as “When We Were Young”, to multi-genre songs like “Love In The Middle of A Firefight”, but this year the mainstream world finally got a strong taste of his bread and butter and where he got his start: moombahton. This style, described as a fusion of house and reggaeton, is where Dillon is most comfortable and possibly most successful. Moombahton stayed primarily underground for a while, but Francis took a risk (like more aspiring artists should do) and unleashed a pure moombahton EP beast on the world simply titled “This Mixtape Is Fire”. This EP, mirroring his debut album, skyrocketed to number one on the iTunes dance charts and still hangs around in that area to this very day. He successfully brought one of the coolest sounds in dance music to the forefront, and is now playing moombahton on main stages at some of the biggest festivals in the world.

However, beyond his recorded music, Dillon Francis is one of the strongest live performers going today. My fandom for him grew not with each song release, but with each performance I got to see live (now totaling 5 times). I have never seen someone not only crush a live performance time and time again without fail, but to do it with a wildly different set each time. Nor have I ever seen someone with the cojones to end his set with a Whitney Houston song or throw in some Backstreet Boys for good measure. His sets are always electric, high energy, and get you moving and your heart pumping like you just ran the Boston Marathon. His song choice, mixes, and interaction with the crowd is incredible, and it seems he is really coming into his own and honing his craft with each show or festival he plays.

2015 has been all about the 27-year old fun-loving producer from California. You can hear his music in the mainstream light of TV commercials, on the radio, at sporting events; you name it, Dillon Francis can be heard at it. Yet astonishingly, he is still somewhat of a word of mouth underground festival all-star that everyone loves. There are some artists in the world that do not let you in on anything personal, or any of their musical processes, or any sort of insight on their daily lives. Dillon is not that artist; he lets you hear new songs as they’re being made, shows his random shenanigans with some stars that make you star struck just watching as he messes around with them naturally and comfortably, and even takes time to thank his followers and fans for their undying support. How can you not love a guy who shows so much love for what he does? You can just tell he loves what he does and genuinely appreciates everything he is earning right now and is living it up to the fullest. And who can blame him. This is your year Dillon, enjoy it. I know we surely will.