It has come to the mind of every EDM fan I know, and it is natural. We all covet the idea of being the next great DJ getting paid to go to the shows we love, and all the glamour of being the DJ that just walks out and sends the crowd into a frenzy. It is a lot of hard work though to learn, and if you have no musical background it is even more difficult. The basic tools and software to start making EDM are also very expensive. I recommend researching EDM production, and also starting to learn to read music, and researching music theory.
Intimidated?
(Photo Credits: Image-Line)
You should, and should not be. When you start learning music production and have your own DAW(Digital Audio Workshop) you will know what all those buttons and knobs do.
There is a Youtube series (many infact) that will teach you the basics to music production. This is their first video installment of the series. Watch it see if this interests you, if it does pursue it. Who knows in the next few years you could be the biggest DJ on the scene performing at festivals all over the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=457tWi-QxjM
So you found some music you like, you've been listening to EDM for a sort time, seen some footage from shows and festivals and you think you are ready to hit the scene and go to your first show. Slow down eager beaver! A common misconception is that EDM and raves are a package deal. In many ways they are but the two are not completely co-dependent. There are still some pieces of informations and features of the culture you want to be familiar with before you dive in to your first show.
Dancing, activity of choice for fans of EDM and also a necessity for ravers. "But what if I am a bad dancer?" Let me say now, no one cares. Literally no one, no matter how off beat awkward, or physically incapable you seem out there on the dance floor. EDM has a very liberal culture to it, everything is generally accepted. So when we dance in this culture, we leave it all out on the dance floor. Admittedly dancing was not my favorite activity when I first started with EDM, but it grew on me. Before you go to your first show it is greatly advised that you check out the music they will be playing and experiment dancing to it. Just let the music guide your movement and pretty soon you will start to feel comfortable and confident dancing in public.
If you have a severe rhythmic disability use the video below, and others like it on youtube to inspire your moves:
The first step of joining the EDM/rave culture is to identify which sub genre's of EDM you prefer. This is especially important in EDM. There are approximately 12 sub-genre's of EDM and those have 6-12 sub genre's of their own. Though many songs and mixes fall into multiple sub genres and the "sub-sub-genre's" in many cases are difficult to distinguish from each other. There are distinct pillars though in the EDM genre in which. Below are my three favorite sub genre's that also serve a great inductions into the EDM music scene.
1. House
House is one of the most popular genre's in EDM. House Music was born in the backyard of the midwest in chicago. Heavy use of 4/4 beats and drum machines. House, in the simplest terms, is dance music. It has a lot of disco and pop influences and the samples used in house music draw from any generation of music; from old school big band swing music, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Paula Abdul, etc. I always recommend House to newcomers asking about EDM, it has a wide variety and is probably the best representation for EDM.
Recommended DJ's
Avicii
Daft Punk
Kaskade
David Guetta
Dimitri & Vegas
Examples of House
2. Dubstep
Dubstep is not one of my favorite sub genre's I actually do not like majority of the genre's music. It is however, an excellent genre for those new to EDM and there are admittedly quite a few musical gems in the genre. It incorporates a lot of other genre's into its style; break beats, and drum & bass styles. I joke about it being the "gateway genre" because a lot of my friends into the EDM scene started by listening to Dubstep.
Recommended Dj's
Skrillex
Adventure Club
Flux Pavilion
Zeds Dead
BassNectar
Examples of Dubstep
3. Trap
Trap is my favorite form of EDM, it is not a genre for the faint of heart. The drum and bass kits are very heavy, and the vocals in the songs are often aggressive. . It originated as a form of southern hip hop that was extremely violent. As EDM Dj's moved into the genre it's focus shifted. It still incorporates many hip hop influences. If you like it loud and in your face this genre is definitely the one for you.
