History of electronic dance music documentary. House music is one of the few forms of music that has developed tremendously from its initial roots in the late sixties. Over the past decade a variety of new styles of electronic dance music have emerged, including hard house and techno. Many of these newer genres continue to evolve with each new season. As the musical tastes of listeners continue to change, the genres continue to expand and become more innovative.
A great example of an electronic dance music documentary is “Tribal Master Class.” This film follows a group of young British DJs as they travel across the country performing at clubs. The core band consists of five members. They include the aforementioned “Warp Core” consisting of Emile for vocals and rhythm, Carl Cox on bass and organizer, along with Joe Massey on guitar and vocals, Mark King Edge on drums, and Steve Hurst on keyboards. These five DJs come from the underground circuit of London. Their journey begins at “EDC,” where they learn from a series of workshops and performances before going on to take part in “Camping,” “Street Beats,” “Drift Rock,” “Free Mix Radio,” “LP Party,” and “EDC Vegas.”
After their initial performances at various nightclubs and parties, this crew soon starts working out of their homes. They start producing their own tracks and work out composing and arranging the songs themselves. The documentary was filmed in a variety of locations, including their home in south London, their native Bristol, and their hotel rooms in Miami. They were also able to travel to other places in the United States and Canada. This documentary ultimately was released in late March, 2021.
“EDM: An Electronic Documentary” is the second installment in a triumvirate of documentaries focusing on electronic dance music. The first one was “EDM: House Music Confessions,” which was released in early 2021. The second installment features the crew from Los Angeles, California, at the conclusion of their stay in the United Kingdom, traveling to Ibiza, Spain. The third one features contributors from Holland, consisting of Fazer, Cut Chemist, and others.
The purpose behind the creation of this electronic dance music documentary was to provide perspective on the art form and discuss its influences. The film shows the journey of a band from its inception, working with producers, artists, and DJs, to touring the globe and encountering resistance from both industry insiders and local dance festivals. The documentary explores the many forms of electronic dance music, such as progressive house, pop, electro, and noise, and provides an overview of the growth of the genre worldwide.
The themes explored in the film are diverse, as the producers attempt to capture the essence of each artist. Some featured in the documentary include Waxahatchee, Calvin Klein, and Cashmere. The producers attempt to make an educational film, while also attempting to draw attention to each artist’s voice and personality. One of the main characters, Waxahatchee, provides some background information and takes viewers on a tour through her home life before she started making music. Additionally, Calvin Klein speaks briefly in the electronic dance music documentary, sharing stories about his upbringing and how he decided to pursue a music career.
Part of what makes a documentary interesting is the perspectives of those who are either participants or mere observers. In the case of Waxahatchee, she interacts with the audience in a way that most artists would not. Calvin Klein, on the other hand, gives an inside look at the electronic dance music industry. The documentary also includes some profiles of local DJ’s from various genres and provides background for some artists. While some of these videos are more than a little awkward, they are worth watching just to hear how the different artists present themselves.
Watching the documentary marks a unique opportunity for anyone interested in electronic dance music. However, it is not necessarily a flawless performance. As someone who has been following the evolution of House music since its beginnings, I can say that the documentary does make some mistakes, such as including songs that were not present at the time or songs that are inappropriate for a music festival. However, the overall production is quite good and entertaining. For a casual viewer, it provides an in depth look into the world of house music without going into too much detail. For a more technical audience, it provides information on the history of electronic dance and provides some great visuals for those interested in the genre.