The rise of Lorde and electronic dance music, or EDM, across the world has brought a new level of attention to music festivals in the country of New Zealand. The country is currently producing a number of leading popular musicians and acts and is the birthplace of the latest worldwide pop sensation, Lorde(1). The music scene supported the rise of acts Gotye, The Naked and Famous and Mt. Eden.

Music Festivals NZ

Music festivals have experienced the subsequent rise in attendance and prominence as well(2). They’ve been able to attract larger acts to the country both as openers for their own success stories and artists who are looking to make a wave in a new market. This has been especially prevalent in the dance music world, with prominent EDM acts such as Chet Faker, Peking Duk, Poniiboi and Hardwell headlining events in the country.

Because of this, a survey was conducted bout the various music festivals that have or are occurring in New Zealand this year and it shows that more people than ever are getting off the fence when it comes to attending the music festivals NZ throws. Over 30% of people surveyed said that they actually attend festivals, while just over 20% say that they do not normally attend, but they do check the line-ups. Those people are sure to find their way into music festivals because of the ever-larger names that New Zealand continues to attract!

Most Popular Music Festivals

The Rhythm and Vines (2) festival continues to be the most popular of all of the music festivals NZ holds with 13% of people surveyed saying that they look forward to it every year. The BW Summer Festival comes in second on this festival survey. Over 32% of people have not chosen a favourite music festival.

Favourite Music Acts

With all of the big names that have been coming to festivals in New Zealand lately, it is also difficult for people to pick a favourite act from any of these festivals. The festival survey found that three of the top five acts at festivals in New Zealand were from the dance genre – Chet Faker(3), Peking Duk(4) and Flume(5) – indicating that EDM is perhaps the most popular genre of music when it comes to festivals. The survey also had Maxwell and Bastille as the other top two acts that people enjoy.

The post New Zealand Music Festival Survey appeared first on Radio Vida 1620 AM.

But first, a little background: I am a music festival addict to the bone. I cannot get enough. I attended Vans Warped Tour as a young punk rocker in high school and in college, along with other day-long music festivals, mostly in the punk and alternative genre. The punk scene was so attractive to me as a pre-teen and beyond because it had this amazing sense of unity and empowerment. I felt like I totally belonged. I wasn’t weird for making my own clothes or fighting for my rights and the rights of others. I truly felt like I could make a positive difference in the world. And I wasn’t alone. Punk wasn’t about lying down and taking it just because bad things are “going to happen anyway.” For me, and others, it was about standing up, fighting back, and bringing people together, no matter how different.

Punk rock eventually led me to having a more of an indie-punk fashion sense and to listening to post-hardcore. These post-hardcore bands started to use synths more and more as years went on. Although synths had been used in hardcore and similar genre since the early 90’s, the first albums I came across with a heavy synth presence were between 2006 and 2008. It sounded more like electro-hardcore to me. And I loved it, a lot! So more and more I developed a love for bands with electronic elements. Electro-pop, electro-core, and so on.

Then Bonnaroo happened. I had heard rumours of the modern-Woodstock and I knew I had to check it out. A couple of my close guy friends were going and I quickly claimed a spot in their car for the 17+ hour drive to Manchester, TN in the summer of 2011.

The post Music Festivals and Why You Should Care appeared first on Radio Vida 1620 AM.

Techno music, which some say, came out of Detroit in the early 90’s, may have begun through the evolutionary progress of various new textures, patterns and sounds which were emerging from all over the world.

New electronic music devices were being created while electronic sounds were coming into their own. The kick and snare became the heartbeat of the song. The bass became the backbone driving force. The synthesizer was the melody which brought people into the nightclub doors, and kept them dancing from dusk to dawn.

Over the years, some of the different genres and sub styles which have emerged with this new sound have been called: Deep House, House, Techo, Megabeat, Electro House, Disco House, Funky House, Garage, Techno, Industrial, Electronica, Breakcore, Micro-house, Underground, Trance, Ambient, Breaks, Minimal Techno, and many more.

But in looking at where we are now, it was the music groups from as far back as the 60’s that were the veterans of this new sound. Bands like “The Tornados” created one of the first techno-pop songs entitled Telstar in 1962, which became a Billboard number one hit for the band. The song featured a Clavioline, an instrument like a keyboard with a very distinctive electronic sound. Telstar was the first U.S. number one hit by a British group. The song was originally thought to be just a novelty record intended to make people think about the dawn of the space age. Little did they know at the time how evolutionary their record would become.

Since then, DJ’s and Re-mixers (both male and female) have come on the dance music scene, creating an entirely new sound of the future. With their flair for remixing different sounds, cuts and beats, many DJ’s have created number one dance singles. In doing so, they have developed a new artistry and way for them to be heard by music industry power players. Further, they continue to compete at becoming the best mixers and most popular DJ’s in the clubs. In their own right, they have become the celebrities.

With respect to all forms of music and genres introduced, there is no one sound or genre which now stands alone. Music is as diverse as the creators’ imagination. But groundbreakers, such as The Tornados and Kraftwerk have helped to pave the way.

Stay tuned, because the next groundbreakers are sitting in their studios (or sound proofed bedroom closets) right now creating the hottest ‘new sound’ as we speak. And moving forward toward the future, who knows what those sounds will be entitled. Perhaps you will come up with the next new style yourself. If so, what will it be coined? The world’s audience will definitely be listening.

The post The Past & Future of Dance Music Styles appeared first on Radio Vida 1620 AM.

Lady Gaga has really revolutionized pop music at the end of decade with her perfect timing and the Fame really brings disco-pop and yes, even electro pop to life. While Pink, Christina, Beyonce and company are releasing their albums and singles, Gaga has already cemented herself as not only one of the fastest emerging female artists in history, but also as a pop culture icon and one of the biggest favorites of disc jockeys.

She is a staple of pop culture continuing come up with new concepts. Gaga sings (live too!), dances, combines music and fashion, designs her own stage, plays an actual instrument (true musician), and most of all, actually writes her own material. Her strengths have produced a million wannabe’s that want to dance like Gaga or sing like Gaga. She’s such incredible entertainer that disc jockeys can’t wait to see what she gives next.

Gaga can tear the house down sitting on a stool with a mic in her hand or do a full out dance routine and knock others dead. What Alexander McQueen did for fashion, Gaga is doing to dance music. The most amazing with Lady Gaga is that she can change style, whether ballad or pop dance which makes her the new Queen Of Pop. Gaga will continue her career the same way Madonna has. She is a marketing machine for her amazing concerts and the disc jockey who need danceable hits to play.

One thing you all have to admit finally is that Lady Gaga really shook up Top 40 into liking electronic/dance music and abandoning the aggressive sounds of hip-hop in the early and mid 2000s.

The post Has Lady Gaga Brought Back Dance Music appeared first on Radio Vida 1620 AM.

Did you ever wonder why your gym work out isn’t cutting it right now? Is the thought of seeing that gray old building discouraging you? What about the cost? Well, there is new work out craze that is fun and cost effective. Yet, it isn’t that new. It’s a workout you use to do as a kid. Yet, back then you called it fun. What is this “new” exercise? Roller skating. Roller skating is coming back as a HUGE hit! Why? The 80’s dance music is blaring out the speakers people are enjoying themselves and the cost is so much lower than any gym membership.

80’s dance music is secretly loved by all generation X. And instead of singing off key in your car go sing out load at your local rink You will find more and more 80’s children are flocking back to “Xanadu” experience and you can’t beat your $9 cover charge.

More and more Skating Rinks are opening up “80’s Dance Music” theme nights for adults where you can find everyone young and old coming out and enjoying this favorite pass time of decades gone by. You will find all sorts of characters, with hot pants and retro hello kitty gear. Madonna will be buzzing by you, while Prince and Micheal Jackson are doing there own moves in the middle of the rink.

More and more adults are going out with their kids on church events, birthday parties and get together at the roller skating rinks with 80’s dance music themes surrounding the area.

So, what are you waiting for? Lace up those neon skate laces and head down to your locale Roller Skating rink with your family and get a fantastic workout while doing it! It is so much better than paying those ridiculous prices at the gym!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2774222

The post Roller Skate to 80’s Dance Music For a Fun Exercise Alternative appeared first on Radio Vida 1620 AM.

1. Keep an open mind – This is by far one of the most idiotic mistakes we all make unconsciously if we’re not careful. Remember any music that you’re not enjoying all that much can be attributed to many things, but most importantly: remember that one bad song does not define the genre or sub-genre.

2. Don’t listen to cheese – Yes this means YOU, yes YOU sitting there wondering if you really have to put down your DJ Sammy, your Ian Van Dahl, your DJ Encore, your Darude – Sandstorm, and the list goes on. I am not going to sit here and tell you which artist to listen to or what not to, but there is DEFINITELY a world of a difference between eating McDonalds every day and having a rotation of quality foods like Japanese-grown Kobe Beef Filet Mignon every night. They may both be loosely labeled “beef” but there is a world of difference in difference in texture, taste, flavors, aromas and such that the person who has never had either will not be able to immediately appreciate on first taste. Remember my fundamental first point? Don’t be one of those people who think it’s cool to go against mainstream music just because it is mainstream. Have your own thought and opinion. Don’t fall victim and prey to social conditioning. I personally love what DJ’s like Armin van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Ferry Corsten, etc. are doing for the EDM and Trance world. Are they mainstream? Yes. Are they utterly good at what they do to promote the genre, contribute POSITIVELY to it, and at the end of the day make millions of people around the world let go of their problems and burdens for the brief time they’re listening to them? That is the ultimate delimiter and deciding factor in a question of this scale. To wrap this point up, I believe a quote by one of the most genius and talented producers of our era Brian Transeau (aka BT) says it all:

“I love what guys like Oliver Lieb and Paul van Dyk do. I hate that ATB and those sorts of people have prostituted this stuff. You listen to an ATB track and then you listen to Sasha, and the difference is as obvious as listening to Led Zeppelin and Rachmaninoff.” – Brian Transeau

3. Don’t listen to low bitrate music – Now we’re starting to get to the heart of how to actually enjoy the music once we have little nuances like ignorance and stereotyping of a genre of music out of the way. Please do yourself a favor and refuse to listen to anything that is at the VERY least 128 kbps when you first start out, and then 192 kbps when you find that your brain and ears can hear the difference in them. The jump from 192 kbps and 320 kbps takes a bit longer to bridge, but I wholly encourage everyone who has the ability to get a 320 rip of whatever their tunes to do so. If you have no idea what bitrate means, in a nutshell the numbers denote how much information is coming through when you are listening. The less information that comes through, the more muffled, low quality, and ultimately un-lifelike the sound will sound.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1994734

The post Rookie Mistakes That Prevent Enjoying Trance Dance Music appeared first on Radio Vida 1620 AM.

Although it is beneficial if you have a recording studio and many years of background experience in music production, the truth is that it is not the only way to make dance music. There are other options available that allow you to make amazing dance tracks just like the stuff you hear on the television and radio which have been made by professionals.

The way to make this happen is through the use of a brand new groundbreaking piece of software that can aid you in the creative process of making your own dance beats easily and quickly.

Be aware that if your background is not in this genre, it can be difficult to make music that sounds good or to even learn the software in general.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though, because that is not the case with this software…

One piece of software that was recently made available shows you step by step how to make your own dance music with ease. The best part is that both professionals and absolute beginners can benefit from this unique program.

A lot of people are even making there own professional music beats with this software and selling them online, which is also perfectly legal as though they were the ones that created the music, so there is no copyright worries etc.

The post The Answer to Making Your Own Professional Dance Music – Create Your Own Beats appeared first on Radio Vida 1620 AM.

The most enjoyable part of the wedding reception is the dance music. When choosing dance music for your wedding, you need to decide if you want the services of a DJ or a band for your wedding.

For a church wedding, you could sit with the minister to decide on the music for each of the four sections of the wedding ceremony: The Prelude, The Processional, The Signing of the Register and The Recessional.

When you choose music for your wedding, you could decide the choice of music depending on the guests for your wedding and the trend for music. One option is to have an interesting mix of romantic melodies and party numbers as dance music for your wedding.

First the bride and bridegroom traditionally take the dance floor to a waltz. Then they take turns as the bride groom dances with his mother-in-law and then with his mother. The bride dances with her father-in-law and then with her father. The best man dances with the chief bridesmaid. The other bridesmaids join hands with the ushers. They are soon followed by the other guests.

You could have a live band, which are associated and favored for the ‘real music’, alternating with a disc jockey as he plays dance music for your wedding. The live band could play slow music and set the tempo for the fast paced danceable tracks, by the DJ. Hiring a DJ is less expensive than a real live band of professionals.

Listen to the tracks of the DJ or assess the live band before giving them a ‘Yes’ to perform dance music at the wedding reception. Their systems and equipment should be compatible with the venue. You could give a list of tracks which would be desired to be played and also the sequential order if you prefer.

In case the musicians or the Djs have to do an ‘encore’ you want to check to see if there will be any additional charge.

The post Dance Music For the 18th Birthday party appeared first on Radio Vida 1620 AM.

In performing arts, body posture is the medium to express the artist’s intention to the audience. When done perfectly, then this is appealing to those watching them. The posture of the dancer depends on the dance music that is playing in the background. It is a combination of executing the beat while maintaining the posture or the stance that best relays the message of the dance.

At clubs, the DJs change the beat up to respond to the interest of their listeners. When the music is unrecognized then not a lot of people will dance to the beat that is played. A good club knows the current dance music as well as the remix dance that will get the club goers to their feet the minute that the first few riffs are played from the boombox.

Therefore, DJs should be updated with the current release. They must also be aware of the club goers. It is their responsibility to make the dance floor alive and kicking. Progressive changes on the tracks that they play lead to an increase in movement of the club goers. The dance music that is available for download from various downloading sites are investments for DJs, whether they be club DJs or virtual DJs.

The large clubs encourage club DJs to play the latest dance music that they can get their hands on. As much as possible, the more remixes, the better because it gives the club goers the option. There is interaction in the club. People get to socialize in various clubs all over the country. A club that has lots of goers mean good business for both the owner and the DJ. The owners take note which DJs lure the most number of club goers and offer them more regular gigs. This is because the club goers actually take note of the club DJs that make them dance and have a good time.

Art is everywhere and it is evident in club music. Even the remix of dance music is still considered art. There are people who regard this as noise but it is an art in a different form. An art is a creative outlet that has a creative artist, an art object and an observer or an audience. In this case, in dance music, the creative artist is the DJ and the art object is the music that is remixed. The observer or the audience are the club goers. Therefore it is safe to conclude that club DJs and virtual DJs who turn up the music in the clubs create art.

Dancing is very important. It is a form of escape from a busy schedule. At least with lively dance music and the remixes tha come with it, as provided by club DJs and virtual DJs, club goers can definitely relax from their stressful lives and just dance the night away. Going to the clubs are energizing in that sense. At the same time, club DJs can get a regular gig at the clubs they are playing in – especially if they are the reasons why people check the club out on that specific night.

The post Dance Music Is Vital to Your Lifestyle appeared first on Radio Vida 1620 AM.

Our ears have the fewest sensory cells of any sensory organ–3,500 inner hair cells occupy our ears versus 100 million photoreceptors in our eyes. Yet our mental response to music is amazingly adaptable; even a little study can “retune” the way the brain handles musical inputs.
It’s a well known fact that music is good for you, as it builds neuropathways and stimulates the mind. Recently scientists discovered what makes a tune catchy, after locating the brain area where a song’s “hook” gets caught. Its in the auditory cortex,which handles information from ears.
Dance Music in particular stimulates our brains, as studies found, thus the popular demand for night clubs. An uplifting melody with an uptembo rhythm increases our stimulation in the auditory complex.

In recent times the term “dance music” is more familiarly known as club music, electronic music…techno, trance, house, eurodance, breakbeat and trance,drum and bass,hip hop,raga.
Electronic dance music evolved in the 1970s. Kraftwerk, Georgio Moroder, Donna Summer and Sylvester are just a few of the artists who started the dance music phenomenon.
From 1988, many terms of dance music evolved
From Acid House to Techno to ambient wave to trance.

Nowadays we have all sorts of dance music from all over the world. We hear it on our radios, Tvs, in our night clubs. A recent survey found dance music is the most popular genre among music tastes, and is growing in popularity even more each day.
I found this interesting web station last week with a nice mix of dance music.

The post History of Dance Music appeared first on Radio Vida 1620 AM.