Trademarked by catchy synthesizers and heavy bass lines, Electronic Dance Music (EDM) has quickly stolen the hearts of Gen Y. Most summertime festivals have become pretty standard, including a stage with a DJ behind a table full of buttons, and thousands of flowery, half-naked girls jumping up and down.
This “religion,” which is a word frequently used to describe the culture, has experienced an exponential growth in popularity in the past five years, but there’s no way it can stick around. The music is mindless, the ticket prices are through the roof and too many of the supporters are teenaged girls hopping on the bandwagon (which is most likely because they get to wear minimal clothing in public).
Do you prefer a post-secondary education or an EDM festival? The money aspect of the rave culture could single-handedly support its demise, with some single-artist concerts costing over $200.00 (CAD) a ticket. The annoying part about this is that so many people who buy tickets have no idea what they’re paying for – the music? the artist? the experience? It’s become more important to take pictures in front of the DJ or on someone’s shoulders then to actually listen to the artist. Although these pictures may seem worth it at the beginning, the less committed fans will (hopefully) soon realize that their bank account is not a bottomless pit that can solely support their social calendars.
This type of music is in no way, shape or form emotionally relatable. Although this is the initial attractive aspect of the genre – to escape reality and emotions and to just “rave” – the novelty will quickly wear off and leave the listener looking for something deeper. This is not to say that there are no fans that find an emotional connection to EDM and the rave scene because there are. But the less dedicated fans will quickly find that a DJ will never step on stage and discusses emotional moments with his beats the way an acoustic artist would with his guitar. The truth is that EDM is a creation that rose from this generation’s infatuation with superficiality and a lack of maturity. When we (or most of us) snap out of it and see that reality is unavoidable, the movement will slowly die out.
I know it’s a cliché that many fight against, but the culture is dangerous and a terrible representation of our generation’s priorities. The generation before advocated for peace and love with the Beatles, and our generation is advocating for a forgotten hookup in the bathroom of a club after listening to Skrillex. The various drugs supported by the EDM scene is enough to show how desperate our generation is for attention, and to showcase the lack of respect our generation has for itself. The drug Molly has not only become a common occurrence but also is encouraged and celebrated by famous EDM artists internationally. The promotion of the drug highlights this culture’s priority of a distorted, superficial reality
I know it must seem great at first – music that can create a huge party with no emotional baggage. But doesn’t this seem kind of immature? How long can the 20-somethings of the world avoid the responsibility of adulthood? Wake up, Gen Y. Everyone’s watching – how many more years do you really want to be saying, “Just wait for the drop”?
Featured image via Hoach Le Dinh on Unsplash
You do realise there’s more to EDM than the shallow neon-infested parties you’ve been to, right? Actually I’m not even sure you’ve been to an EDM event because it seems like you base most of this article off outsider opinions you’ve read on the internet.
stupid fucking article I cant believe I read that im going to pray to the lord of trance to not let anyone else read this poorly written.
I agree you
What an idiot
ignorant
Google EDM Dark Occult Agenda
I by no means wish to suggest that the EDM genre and it’s subsequent culture are a cult or even cult-like, and I would like to say I have had some pretty authentic first-hand experiences with the culture at it’s best form. My opinion is that it is too much of a niche market, and that soon, it’s fans will grow out of the phase where this music and the lifestyle that surrounds it will no longer suit their lives. I mean, could you see your dad playing this back to you in your car? It’s just not as approachable as easy rock or any number of the other genres that have been around for decades.
Okay, yeah of course people will grow out of EDM, and more kids will grow into it… so? It’s like saying toys are doomed to fail because everyone grows up eventually and stops playing with them.