As the yr begins to wrap up, we right here at EDM Sauce are having a look again on the moments which influenced the dance music trade essentially the most over the past yr. Over the final yr, there have been some unbelievable highs and deep lows on this planet of dance music. Let's have a look again at a few of the moments and traits which is able to dwell on in historical past as landmark moments in EDM.
Avicii Passes Away From Self Inflicted Injuries
When 2018 is introduced up sooner or later, one occasion in dance music will likely be talked about earlier than some other. On April 20, 2018, the world misplaced probably the most musically gifted people it had ever identified. After a sequence of promising comeback releases and optimistic life selections, Tim Bergling, higher referred to as Avicii appeared to be doing higher than ever.
It was inspiring to see the younger artist return to former glory after scuffling with psychological well being, dependancy, and exhaustion associated points. Then all of a sudden, and seemingly out of nowhere the information of his demise broke. Avicii took his personal life in a resort within the Middle Eastern nation of Oman. In the wake of his passing, artists created transferring tributes starting from distinctive songs to memorial companies.
Tim's passing was not in useless although. His premature demise sparked the dialog of psychological well being within the dance music trade. As time continues to go, one factor has turn into extra evident than anything – Avicii will dwell on eternally by way of his music. Rest in peace to a real icon, of not simply EDM, however music as an entire.
The #MeToo Movement Enters EDM
In March of 2018, accusations of rape towards the dubstep producer Datsik got here pouring out on social media. The sheer quantity of tales and alleged victims painted a grim image of the enduring dubstep producer. Within 24 hours of the primary accusations breaking, the artist's profession was successfully over.
An nameless supply near artist confirmed to EDM Sauce the habits that was described in lots of the sufferer's tales. As the motion grew, extra people got here ahead with accusations towards artists together with Riff Raff and Gas Lamp Killer.
While lots of the accounts weren't delivered to courtroom, 2018 marked the entry of the #MeToo motion into dance music. As extra studies proceed to floor evidently it couldn't have come quickly sufficient.
Swedish House Mafia Reunites
In March of 2018, Swedish House Mafia formally reunited on the 20th anniversary of Ultra Music Festival. The set marked the primary time the three members of the group took the stage collectively in over 5 years.
The reunion was closely anticipated. Once Ultra 2018 acquired underway, the looks was confirmed by road artwork that includes iconic manufacturers within the sample of the group's signature three horizontal dot emblem.
After Ultra 20, the group stayed comparatively quiet as rumors began to slide out that they have been planning a world tour. In October, in a press convention, Steve, Seb, and Axwell confirmed that they had formally reunited are producing new music whereas planning a world tour.
Drug Overdoses Plague Music Festivals As Fentanyl Becomes A Choice Adulterant
This development shouldn't be meant to be one among fear-mongering, however as an trade, we've got discovered ourselves at a crossroads the place motion must be taken. Throughout the pageant season, fentanyl-related deaths have been reported at Lost Lands, Firefly, Bonnaroo, and lots of extra. Several occasions noticed fentanyl-related incidents together with Electric Forest, Shambhala and Camp Bisco.
The harmful and insidious new development of utilizing the hyper-powerful opiate as an adulterant for ecstasy and pharmaceutical medication that are recurrently bought and consumed at music festivals has turn into a extreme public well being concern.
This epidemic is trying to be combatted by people like The Bunk Police or DanceSafe who tried to arrange drug testing stations at festivals. Unfortunately, because of outdated laws referred to as the RAVE act, these nonprofits are generally shut down earlier than they'll scale back hurt.
As 2019 begins, the music trade as an entire is now dealing with one of many terrifying well being crises it has ever seen. The query which stays is whether or not governing officers will do something to make it potential to assist scale back hurt.
The Music Festival Bubble Has Popped
Since about 2014, the nation has seen an enormous improve in music festivals. Small regional festivals exploded with reputation over the previous a number of years. In 2018, evidently the “music pageant bubble” has popped.
In my house state of Texas, numerous smaller festivals noticed surprising cancellations after promising prior editions. These embrace Day For Night, Free Press Houston, Euphoria Music Festival, Sun City Music Festival, Middlelands, and some extra.
In the warmth of the summer season, we reported seemingly each week on one other pageant going belly-up, typically solely days earlier than they have been slated to start out. It shouldn't be but clear if the problem is over-saturation or inexperienced occasion producers. One factor is for certain – the foremost gamers within the music pageant world: LiveNation, Insomniac Events, AEG, and C3 are making a push are shopping for up smaller occasions earlier than they'll get in the way in which of their revenue margins.
Will this development proceed as 2019 will get underway? Only time will inform, however we've got to think about the regional pageant is on its method out of favor.
An Experimentation Cycle Of EDM Has Seemingly Gone Full Circle
From about 2013 ahead, dance music noticed an explosion of authentic, new and thrilling kinds. These embrace the sound that will turn into referred to as Future Bass, in addition to genre-bending productions with rap and people vocalists.
After lots of the largest names within the trade labored tirelessly for years at creating the “scorching new sound” evidently the cycle of experimentation from big-name producers has gone full circle.
Artists like Nicky Romero and Alesso have as soon as once more begun producing progressive home.
Underground genres corresponding to techno and home are extra in demand than ever earlier than.
Swedish House Mafia is reuniting, spurring curiosity within the 2008-2012 golden period of EDM greater than ever earlier than.
I'm not saying that boundaries usually are not being pushed each single day by hundreds of artists, however as an entire, it appears the development in EDM in the meanwhile is to return to the sounds which are identified to work.