Electronic Dance Music (EDM) Artwork Case Study

ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC ALBUM ARTWORKBy Culture Incite

CASE STUDY

For over the past decade, the single most contributing factor to music style and aesthetics has been Electronic Dance Music (EDM).

This isn’t the first time Electronic Dance Music has had a broad-sweeping impact on music and culture; influencing existing and creating new genres.

THE HALCYONDuring the late 70’s and 80’s, consumers and musicians gained greater access to music creation through electronic music tools, such as synthesizers, drum machines and samplers.

With these new technologies, the sonic impact was visible through music genres, such as Funk, Rock, Hip Hop and Pop, as well as birthing new genre’s, such as Electo, Techno, and more.

THE RISE OF CONTEMPORARY EDM

Fast forwarding to the early aughts, we saw a significant rise in EDM and its influence across music genres similar to EDM’s Halcyon. This time, the technological source stemmed from one key component- The personal computer.

Why the Proliferation?The computer, combined with software, moved us away from the old paradigm of large, hardware-based studios and production equipment, and instead democratized music production and process. With computer and software technology, expensive hardware equipment, such as recording studios and instruments are digital and available at a fraction of the costs or illegally pirated off of bittorrents.

Similar to the influence of new technology on music during the halcyon, new instruments and new sounds led to new genres and pushing the boundaries of new music. Contemporary EDM takes inspiration from two camps.

CONTEMPORARY EDM: Two Camps

Contemporary EDM is substantially influenced culturally and technologically by two sources and thus two camps- one being styles and aesthetics that takes inspiration from the past. The other being technological advancement and creativity to push the boundaries taking inspiration from the future.

In other words, we see inspiration coming from two underlying themes- nostalgia and unhinged.

As a result, music album artwork, especially when influenced by EDM, is inspired by nostalgia or being unhinged

What Does This Mean?Artwork that reflects a nostalgic aesthetic-new music contributes to historic bodies of work by emulating, interpreting, and/or replicating

19862009

What Does This Mean?Artwork that is unhinged:new music acknowledges historic bodies of work yet strives to push the boundaries of creativity, which includes artwork dislocated from 70’s/80’s aesthetics

Record Label Modern Love Artwork

Why The Division?

Musical trends have fallen into two camps:

Nostalgia: contemporary producers interest in referencing and replicating or taking inspiration from the 70’s and 80’s halcyon.

Unhinged: contemporary producers that see the present and the future as an extension of the past they are striving to move away from. new producers young enough that they are completely disconnected and detached from the era of the 80’s

HALLMARKS: Nostalgia

Punk Rock 80’s Digital80’s Funk/Disco 80’s Glam

The artwork below reflects EDM or EDM inspired music and their album covers released since 2008, and their 70’s/80’s nostalgic inspiration

HALLMARKS: Unhinged

Electronic Technical

Future DreamsMinimal/Texture/Ambient Witch House

The artwork below reflects EDM or EDM inspired music and their album covers released since 2008, and their future and unhinged inspiration

OPPORTUNITIES

● Leverage nostalgic iconography when trying to generate visceral or emotive responses to music and branding reminiscent of EDM’s Halcyon

● Leverage unhinged imagery when trying to signal new, expansive, experimental music and branding

● Propagate uncommon or unexpected collaborations between unhinged and nostalgic artists and designs in order to complicate contemporary EDM music, design and aesthetics

ARTWORK CASE STUDY

DAMIAN ASHTON | DAMIAN.ASHTON@GMAIL.COM | 831.588.7086