Electronic music is everywhere. Wherever you look, the rapidly growing house and progressive scene inspires new fans and continues to foster new levels of infamy. Even the Grammy Awards were no stranger to this, though this was a microscopic sliver of what the EDM (electronic dance music) community represents (and according to the SPIN author of the linked article, more of a puppet show). The Valley is no different. With weekly tributes to dance music that include Sticky Fingers at Bar Smith and XO Wednesdays at Chopper John's (to name a few), local electronic aficionados are getting swept away in the lights and bass drops. So who are the faces behind this underground scene of DJs and dance parties? Countless souls yearn to be discovered and to perform at raves, clubs and concerts throughout the Valley. Websites like Don’t Stay In tell would-be ravers and electro-heads where the next great party will be happening. And promotion companies like Relentless Beats are always primed to bring the best national acts to the valley and to promote the local contenders.
Mainstream tastes of the last year show its growing presence in the public eye; Artists such as James Blake or STRBKT are redefining what has been previously established as the baseline for the EDM genre. As the scene is growing the genre itself is developing into something new and exciting. Local DJs like William “Fucking” Reed, Prince$$, Mikey Pro, and TABS are all bringing their own eccentric touches to the Valley’s electro-music scene. Each DJ concocts their own infusion of mash-ups, electro, techno, funk and new-wave disco. The purpose is to make Arizona dance, and they generally succeed. This new arena for growth within the EDM community only increases with time. More and more events are beginning to pop up with the electronic community as the primary focus. The underground community of disc jockeys spreads its musical resilience to an eager audience.
Though mainstream electronic mavens like Skrillex and Deadmau5 seem to be at the forefront of the media’s depiction of the scene, there are many DJs that are the heart of local scenes around the country. The genre of EDM is a multi-spectrum device, and there are so many different subsets within to appeal to every type of listener. The Phoenix scene in particular is a colorful array of lights and sounds that encourage all to dance the night away. So the next time you feel the inkling to get out there and groove, do it. Know that you can skip the top 40 playlists of Mill Avenue and find creative infusions of musical brilliance in many other places around the Valley. The tide of EDM is changing, but it’s comforting to know that Arizona is lucky enough to host some of the front-runners of this electro-revolution.
