| Electro | |
| Stylistic origins | Synth-Pop, Funk, Boogie, Hip Hop, Disco |
|---|---|
| Cultural origins | Early 1980s Tokyo (Japan) New York (US) |
| Typical instruments | TR-808, Analog synthesizer |
| Derivative forms | House, Techno, Miami Bass, Skweee, Breakbeat, Breakbeat Hardcore, Electroclash, Electro House |
| Subgenres | |
| Freestyle, Minimal Electro | |
| Fusion genres | |
| Electro Breaks, Electro Hop, Electrostep | |
| Regional scenes | |
| Bronx, Detroit Electro, Tokyo | |
Electro, also known as electro-funk, is a genre of electronic dance music (EDM) that emerged in the early 1980s and has had a huge influence on many other electronic music genres that came out after it such as techno, Miami bass, and freestyle. It is made primarily with Roland's TR-808 drum machine along with analog synthesizers.
Characteristics[]
Electro is a style born from the decline of disco and is a fusion of funk, early hip hop and synth-pop from acts like Kraftwerk and Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). The presence of the TR-808 cannot be understated. Nearly every electro song uses it or samples from it. It is an integral part of the rhythm of electro and made the drum machine incredibly popular not just with electro but with all of electronic music. The rhythm is a syncopated pattern made to emulate a hip hop or funk beat but much more mechanical and staggered. It is debatable if the beat is a breakbeat as it is similar to many breakbeat patterns but while breakbeat tries to sample or emulate real drumming electro intentionally tries to sound artificial and programmed. The snare or clap can often not be on any dominant beat and the bass drum punctuates heavily with toms frequently used too. Analog synthesizers create warm and pleasant melodies that emulate early synth-pop or funk. Not all tracks use vocals but if there are any rapping in the style of early hip hop and deadpan vocals through vocoders or a talkbox to emulate a robotic sound are used. Electro's themes are seen as sci-fi and futuristic but through an urban and grounded angle. This specific theme is called Afrofuturism by the artists that make it.
History[]
Beginnings and Rise of Rapid Popularity[]
The first electro track is "Riot in Lagos" by Ryuichi Sakamoto, then a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). It was released in 1980; the same year the TR-808 was released. Along with its early use of the TR-808, the track had a strong funk element, which was previously lacking in earlier electronic music. It was a window for what's to come. Sakamoto went on to use the 808 to produce several more electro tracks with his band YMO, such as "Music Plans" from their album BGM (1981). The genre eventually came into its full-fledged form when American hip hop artists further defined the genre between 1982 and 1983.
As 1980 rolled around disco, the most popular form of American music, sharply declined. After this many artists continued to make it but with far less capital to spend on lavish string and horn sections having to instead use synthesizers. This became boogie which was a huge influence on the funk portions that electro would often use. During that same time hip hop was just beginning to also come into its own also emerging from disco. Electro would combine many emerging techniques hip hop would use and incorporate them into itself. The true catalyst that would launch electro into popularity was Afrika Bambaataa and The Soul Sonic Force's song "Planet Rock" (1982), which combined 808 beats (inspired by YMO and Sakamoto) with a sample from a Kraftwerk song. The track was released in 1982 and was a smash hit. Electro after this was so popular most hip hop acts moved to electro. Artists well known in the hip hop scene today got their start in electro such as Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Ice-T, Eazy-E, and MC Ren just to name a few. Notable electro artists during this time also include Warp 9, Newcleus, Mantronix, and many others. The New York scene, which is where many electro artists were from, was particularly lively and spread electro to nearby large cities like Detroit. Juan Atkins, known as the father of techno, even started making electro with his short-lived project with Richard Davis Cybotron. Cybotron released mainly electro and had a big influence on the emerging techno scene in Detroit.
Decline and the Detroit Electro Scene[]
Electro did not last very long however, by 1985 the genre began to decline and by the late 1980s, the genre had all but fizzled out. Electro would never reach this height of popularity again. Many artists were moving on to harder and grittier forms of hip hop that were being pushed by artists like Run DMC. The more danceable and party-like atmosphere electro gave off was seen as antiquated and immature. The genres electro helped to create also drew many of electro's crowds away from itself. Many artists moved to making techno, Miami bass, or acid house. During the 1990s the genre entered a dark period where very few artists were making any electro with three notable exceptions. Aux 88, Drexciya, and Dopplereffekt, all of whom were from Detroit, continued the sound of electro and took a much more mature and nuanced take on the genre. They combined techno with electro and forgoed most hip hop elements to bring out the sci-fi and futuristic themes. Detroit during this time was an incubator of sorts with a few smaller artists also dipping into electro during this time. Anthony Rother and Dave Clarke as well as a few other scattered artists in Europe also embraced the sound of electro in their projects. While Europe did not make much electro it was somewhat popular during the 90s in countries like the UK and most prominent in the Netherlands. This gradual movement culminated in a resurgence of the genre around 1997-1998 until the genre once again declined.
Contemporary Electro[]
After the 1990s electro has had a resurgence and decline in every decade after. The genre continues to be a huge influence on other genres of electronic music and many artists continue to dip back into it. During the 2000s the Netherlands expanded electro production with artists like Unit Moebius, I-F, Legowelt and Orgue Electronique. All were inspired by Drexciya but took to a darker more experimental angle taking more inspiration from dark ambient, IDM, and other more experimental sounds. Moving into the 2010s you get entire labels in the UK, Netherlands, Finland, and America that have been releasing electro to this day. Right now electro is in another decline but it's probably just a matter of time before the 2020s get a resurgence once again.
Influences and Misnomers[]
Outside of the influences already mentioned like techno and Miami bass electro has also influenced electroclash, electro house , and electrostep (which is both a drum and bass and electro house subgenre). These genres despite electro in their name are debated back and forth with many people saying they are or are not subgenres to electro. Some consider the connection to electro extremely minor even. Electro swing is considered completely house and the electro part of the name is a misnomer. Dark electro early on was influenced by electro but has since been a majority industrial genre.