Avant-garde tech house and glitchy EDM have become synonymous with each other in the past few years, with the rise of Avant-Garde and its ilk becoming synonymous with modernism, avant-garde, and dance music. While there are many similarities between these two entities, there are also some key differences that make them stand out. Both of these genres have their own distinct sound and vibe, which makes it easier to understand why people like them so much.
Avant-garde and EDM have become synonymous
Avant-garde, which means “before the time,” is a term coined by artists in the 50’s and 60’s to describe their art form that has elements such as live instruments and electronic equipment, a large use of virtuoso techniques, and a usage of highly advanced technological instruments. The term has become synonymous with dance music, and acts like Autechre and Naughty by Nature are often cited as examples of avant-garde music.
Avant-garde is more accessible
Avant-garde music is, in many ways, easier to access than mainstream music because it’s often produced and distributed by independent labels and because it typically requires low-cost studio and rehearsal space. The availability of cheaper digital recording and distribution technologies has made it possible to create and share music in ways that were impossible before. With the rise of the internet, concerts, tours, and radio stations have been created and shared through social media and blogs. It has also made it possible for people to create and share music with their peers at home. This has made audience engagement and popularity for pop music skyrocket throughout the past decade, especially in the U.S., where more and more people are able to listen to albums on the go and in the shower.
Avant-garde has a different sound
The sound of traditional music, whether it be church hymns or traditional rock songs, is often compared to electronic music. This often happens because most of the people who are into avant-garde music are associated with the “new” or “new age” movements, and this may lead listeners to assume that the sounds being created by these movements are exotic or exotic, while in fact most modern composers use the same instruments and techniques as those found in traditional music. The electric guitar and its newer cousins the drum machine and the synthesizer are also common features of avant-garde music, making it seem like a hybrid of electronic and traditional music. While electronic music has become more common in recent years, the sound of traditional music is still found in many genres of popular music, especially in the vocal and instrumentals sections.
Avant-garde is faster and more slippery than EDM
EDM (electronic dance music) is a type of dance music that utilizes live instruments, electronic devices, and increasingly, multi-media, including digital recording technology, to inspire and promote a fashionable, high-intensity dance move. While dance music may not be the most dance-worthy music in general, it’s easy to see why EDMs are a good fit for some parties and for other users who want a more “fun” type of music. The main problem with EDMs is that they require a lot of practice to get good at. Try as you might, you’ll never be able to do 100 takes of “Good Riddance,” for example, so practice your patterns and just be yourself. During break times, you’re more likely to be asked to dance.
## Both are “fun”
In a world of endless computing, creative geniuses are finding ways to make their code and their results more “fun,” which can help them stand out among the crowd of computer scientists, engineers, and programmers who make up modern music production. For example, composers and songwriters can create beats that are more “twitchy” or have a “shakiness” to them that helps their work stand out among the crowd of digital engineers and producers. Similarly, DJs and music executives can create tracks that are more “chatty” or have a reggaeton or salsa beat to them to help their tracks stand out among the crowd of traditionalists. For both yourself and other users of modern music, “fun” or “twitchy” music is a huge plus and can make all the difference in making your tracks danceable.
## Avant-garde has a distinct aesthetic
The aesthetics of avant-garde and dance music are different, though not in the way that you might expect. Electronic music has a more ornate, dramatic feel to it, while dance music is more disheveled and dramatic than either style would typically associate with itself. This does not mean that one style is better than the other, but that one style has its own distinct look and feel that can help make your tracks stand out among the crowd of similar sounding tracks. Modernist and avant-garde music share similar sounds, design, and visual directions, making them easy to understand why they have such strong following. Likewise, modern composers and composers who use sound as a theme often have a distinct sound and look that helps distinguish them from their contemporaries.
