Electronic music explodes

Let's get one thing straight: This is not about techno music, warehouse raves, or ecstasy-inspired glowsticking. Today's electronic music doesn't resemble what you may think of when you hear the name. The truth is, electronic music has come to be one of the strongest influences on popular music in the 21st century: From rap to alternative rock to dance music, technological improvements have ensured that practically all of today's popular music is electronic to some degree.

Walking around the fraternities during any weekend, the influence becomes clear. While party staples such as "Sweet Caroline," "Wagon Wheel," and "Don't Stop Believin'" still hold a place in our Vanderbilt weekend scene, at some houses you're just as likely to hear electronic dance music. And there's one song you can't avoid hearing, no matter where you go: Kanye West's remake of house music sensation Daft Punk's "Stronger."

Electronic music, however, isn't just for fist-pumping on Saturday nights. Although most of it will make you want to dance, the genre has a following throughout many different types of music. Pop-punk band Hellogoodbye, for example, has made a name for itself using synthesizers and electro-pop in the rock scene. Likewise, "harder" rock bands such as Linkin Park have become known for electronic influences. And while rap artists have always used one important technique of electronic music - sampling - hip-hop and rap artists such as Kanye West and Timbaland are increasing the digitalization and electronic sound of their tracks.

At the heart of electronic music's new explosion, however, are new indie-electronic dance artists, a subgenre nearly as diverse as electronic music itself. On one side of the spectrum lie Simian Mobile Disco, an English duo whose music features looped vocals and heavy techno influences. A more poppy alternative is Chromeo, whose sound is described as "electrofunk." The group's humorous titles ("Tenderoni," anyone?) and upbeat, catchy pop sound have made Chromeo one of the most commercially appealing of this genre, as evidenced by the group's tour in support of Bloc Party during 2007. Between these two extremes lies Justice, another popular artist of the indie-electronic dance genre. Party favorites such as "D.A.N.C.E." and "We Are Your Friends" have made Justice a weekend staple at dance parties nationwide.

And for those of us who like to sing along as well as dance, there's mash-up artist Girl Talk (mix master Gregg Gillis), who samples well-known songs (from Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" to The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Juicy") and lays them over one another electronically. Good luck laying your hands on one of Girl Talk's releases, however - he's not on iTunes, and his albums have been pulled from the shelves due to copyright infringement.

Electronic music, once the sound of the underground, has staged a takeover of today's popular and dance music. With technology's improvements and our culture's love of music to move to, the style has shot to the forefront of the industry and taken over our airwaves, our minds and our dancing feet.