What's the Difference Between the EDM Scene and the Beat Scene?

By Katie Bain Tue., Nov. 6 2012 at 8:58 AM

Jena Ardell

Pick your poison

Dance music is all the rage these days. That time you thought giant robots were battling at your recent family reunion? Nope, that was just your 12-year-old niece listening to dubstep.

But not all electronic dance music was created equal. There's EDM, which, you aging out-of-touch rockist, stands for electronic dance music. Nowadays often associated with giant clubs and festivals full of pacifier-toting ravers who wear electrical tape on their boobs, it's not always the most contemplative or adventurous music. That's more the domain of L.A.'s beat scene, which happens in smaller clubs before folks who wouldn't want you to call them hipsters.

Confused? Peep our illustrated guide, below.

Jena Ardell

Flying Lotus

EDM: With relentless builds and drops fused into a sonically aggressive foundation of beats and beeps that play like a soundtrack to intergalactic warfare, some critics have labeled mainstream EDM a cheap thrill. It is thrilling though. Especially in a live show context when one is fist-pumping along with thousands of other fans and soaking in the vibrations of deep bass whomp that one can't help but feel in their core. Acts like Swedish House Mafia and Avicii whip up the same frenzy with a more pop-oriented sound based on huge hooks, singalong lyrics and samples from other artists in and beyond the genre. Herd mentality, perhaps. Group ecstatic experience, quite often.

The Beat Scene: The beat scene cultivates experimental soundscapes more focused on expertly and unusually arranged syncopated beats and samples that are often rooted in hip hop. The sound is typically subtler and less in your face than that of EDM, (think art school vs frat house), although big bass beats play a major role in the output of this art for artists salon-style community of producers.

Scene God
EDM: Skrillex
The Beat Scene: Flying Lotus

Love or hate him, (we kinda love him), Skrillex shifted the electro game by bringing dubstep to the masses, and was nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy in the process. He leads the youth brigade of ultra-loud DJ/producers including Zedd, Knife Party and Tommy Trash. Flying Lotus is a beat scene hero on the power of lush, sophisticated compositions that engage brains without blowing ear drums.

Scene Nexus
EDM: Avalon/Palladium
The Beat Scene: Low End Theory

With residents including Daddy Kev, FlyLo, Gaslamp Killer, Nobody and D-Styles, Wednesday nights at Low End are a weekly ritual that beat scene devotees speak of with religious conviction. Club nights Control and Avaland at the Avalon feature EDM up-and-comers who often graduate to gigs at the higher capacity Hollywood Palladium after they blow up.

Below: But, what do they wear?

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The Avalon

1735 Vine St., Los Angeles, CA

Category: Music

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tundradubs

Katie Bain wins "Word Vomit of the Year 2012."

yummyummgood

It's interesting how House (cough cough EDM) has come full circle but not in a good way. It was was the pop culture mainstream music movement that killed an American Original Artform. The Europeans adopted it as their own back in the late 80's-90's and would nurture it and grow it then export back out. This is a good history lesson and a meaningful one cuz it demonstrates the ebb and flow of its roots. Having a writer not give true honest perspective of music; especially one that is the ultimate influence and foundation of most of today's commercial dance and hip hop, lessens the writers credibility as a responsible source.

"Well, the people, corporate structure, labels, R&B artists, and clubs are all in collusion...and they all want a piece of the franchise action. They see an easy customer who just wants it fast, cheap and easy. They're not interested in educating. So that's why you have us and you have them. It's always been that way. " -Dennis Ferrer

Zenyatta

1 Like

There was a time when the Electronic Music Scene stood for something. It wasn't characterized by young women with tape on their breasts and it was far from being "cool" or considered mainstream. Events were held in warehouses and the audience was typically in their 20s. PLUR wasn't a term used loosly as it is today. It was literally a code to live by and raves were the escape from reality that outsiders longed to have. It was definitely a culture for those that didn't fit in. It's a shame to see what it has become, but not altogether a surprise. I will always hold on to the memories of when it was about respecting one another and dancing the night away because these people were your friends, your family and people that wouldn't judge you for being different.

tarder

u tink u no, buh u iz tarded

mikeahuja

good read

anon2

it makes so much sense that a girl wrote this

anon2

2 Like

this is the most ignorant article ever i've ever read on LA weekly.

"There's EDM, which, you aging out-of-touch rockist, stands for electronic dance music. Played in giant clubs and festivals to ravers with pacifiers who wear electrical tape on their boobs, it's perhaps not the most contemplative or adventurous music."

is this a joke?

EDM was around long before the mainstream absorbed it into its terrible festival culture. couldn't even read past this first paragraph seeing as the author clearly knows nothing about EDM

kb1908

@anon2 I agree with you but to be honest I equate EDM w/the newer electropop stuff. So in sense it is an accurate representation of newer music. I reserve the term dance music what we use to call it before it went mainstream , for the non commercial parts of the music.