What is electronica music?
While electronica is technically a genre, it has a broad spectrum of subgenres within it. That makes its hard-to-define sound more of a creative philosophy than a genre. Electronica emerged around the 1990s. Its move from the dancefloor gave producers space to break away from traditional structures of electronic music and experiment with sound design, textures, and rhythm.
Its influences are wide-ranging, pulling from ambient, downtempo, glitch, and even classical music. This experimental nature makes electronica an evolving genre that continues to transform through producers’ innovations.
To get a better sense of electronica’s breadth, let’s explore three standout tracks:
“Cirrus” by Bonobo is a classic that displays the ability of a producer to combine organic and electronic elements. Bonobo’s use of layered percussion and melodic hooks shows electronica in full form: