Maybe it’s the way that electronic music is so diverse in how it is created, from haunting beats to humming synths. Maybe it’s the way that it has the potential to be so powerful, but yet still has a controlled, dynamic power. Or maybe it is the way that it can be simple, but captivate the listener with the intense feeling the songs aches with.This is what comes to my mind when I think about why I fell in love with this genre of music.
What people do not realize when they place all electronic music into the EDM category is that there are many different electronic music genres. They commonly have more of a groove and combine many genres of music to create a unique sound. Many people put a stereotype on electronic music as being club music, but there is a serious, soft, and sometimes dark side to this genre. Here are some of my favorite and (in my opinion) well-crafted electronic songs that you may not have heard of.
1. "Control" -- Halsey
Straight off of her new album, "Badlands," Halsey’s lyrics ache with truth and angst, and the song “Control” is no exception. The pounding beats and perfectly layered synths give this song the right amount of mystery, while still growing cinematically powerful. The grit in Halsey’s voice gives each of her songs its special flair.
2. "Echo" -- Dark Waves
The lyrics to "Echo" are laced with longing and resonate with their fluidity. “I want to feel you swimming in my veins, want to hear you calling out my name.” Something about this song is very chilling in a simple way. It is definitely a song to listen to on a chilly, windy fall evening.
3. "Retrograde" -- James Blake
British electronic producer and artist James Blake’s soft and steady repeating vocal rifts start this song off in a mystical manner. He combines elements of folk, jazz, and gospel music into his own sound.
4. "We Won’t" -- Jaymes Young Ft. Phoebe Ryan
This is a song that sounds like it is built on friction. Jaymes Young and Phoebe Ryan’s voices melt into each other’s in a sensually sweet way with soft beats in the background as their harmonies perfectly complement the ambient electronic synths. This mystical duet will leave you pressing repeat again..and again.
5. "We Keep The Lights Out" -- EZA
This recently released single by Nashville-based artist EZA is a must-listen. The sharp, pulsating beat gives this song a unique energy that carries through tastefully. With just one listen, I could tell that this song creates a mood that sparks the wild feelings of being intensely in love.
6. "Angels" -- The XX
"Angels" is a beautiful pinnacle of ambient ear candy. The silky smooth vocals and instrumentation cast a mood of sadness, although the modest repetition of phrases convey a passionate message. Echoing percussion resonates throughout and adds simple contrast.
7. "Grandma’s Hands" -- Meg Mac
This is a powerful electronic ballad with a jazzy flair. It is not lacking in the popping electronic beats that seem to sizzle underneath the strong vocals, either. The topic of this song is so different and reminiscent without being melancholy -- it is strong.
8. "#88" -- Lo-Fang
"#88" is unique in the way that it combines instruments like the acoustic guitar and cello with subtle electronic elements throughout. The mix has quiet melancholy about it, although Lo-Fang’s falsetto steals the show. I have never heard anything like this before and that's what draws me in.
9. "Drowning" -- Banks
“Drowning” makes me feel like I’m trapped in a dark forest. The gritty, haunting vocals mixed with the vocal loops cast a dark atmosphere that is the signature of Banks’ music. The brutally honest, biting lyrics do not cover up any anger or pain.
10. "Death" -- MADE IN HEIGHTS
“Sorry, I was, like, smiling too big,” Kelsey Bulkin (singer) laughs at the very start. The atmospheric synths begin and her voice takes over with clever lyrics that she raps in a soft way. Her voice floats with the words, but this song does not miss a beat. The song is a soft electronic creation with influences of rap music that makes it different. “Now I comprehend that death is not the end, and the world that we destroyed wasn’t real enough to live in.”
