Music, being such a powerful tool of expression has always had a strong link with identity. While it has long since been proven by Simon Frith and the likes that music is shaped by the identity of those who produce it, it can also be said that music made is able to represent the identity of the musical producers to those who engage with it.
This is clearly most evident with the various hip hop producers in the world who often use their music in order to express the aspects of their daily life and lifestyle. Indeed with success this can often lead to the creation of sub genres based loosely along geographical lines.
This is definitely the case within the Australian electronic music scene which saw a massive international growth explosion in mid to late 2008 amidst a wave of popularity that is still being rode.
Groups who had already previously garnered international attention such as the Bag Raiders, Presets, Cut Copy, Midnight Juggernaughts and Van She all seemed to band together and release hit after hit, as well as remix after remix which received international acclaim and prompted popular online music website such as itunes to register the genre ‘Australian Electro’.
As a result of this, many other bands came out of the wood works with a similar style that also received massive credit from overseas audiences such as Empire of the Sun, PNAU, Ladyhawke and Miami Horror. The Australian electronic sound can be described as dreamy-electronic-positive-pop, a sound that having travelled the world over now seems to create an incredible reputation for the Australian music scene that reaches as far as the music travels.
Miami Horror – Don’t be on with her ... a classic example of the Australian Electro Sound
Bag Raiders – Shooting Stars ... Without a doubt one of the most popular dance tracks of the last 9 months.
The Australian Electronic sound can also be described as having a very strong 80s influence. The positive energy, the major chords used on the synths is very similar to the same uplifting and slightly ‘camp’ feel that has forever been attributed alongside the disco movement. It is for these reasons that the ‘Nu Disco’ genre has also been able to sit comfortably alongside the Australian Electro tag.
Specifically within the dance music world there has also been two new Australian music labels which have been able to help develop the local talent across Sydney, Melbourne as well as Perth. The Bang Gang 12 inches label, a sub label within the larger Modular label, and Sweat it Out! label started by prominent Sydney DJ Ajax are helping to pave the way for the upcoming producers of tomorrows dance music today. Recently, the Bang Gang 12 inches label has just released a two-cd collection of tracks from artists signed to their label. Scheduled for worldwide distribution thanks to the modular label, the album is bound to bring further attention to the booming Australian Electro scene.
In all, nu-disco and the Australian electro sound has done a fantastic job of helping to promote the musical identity that exist down under, being fun filled and high on energy. This music is free of pretention, and its uplifting nature is completely inline with the Australian spirit and image that exists worldwide. I hope that in years to come, this fact will remain true and the nu-disco style continues to go from strength to strength.
No comments:
Post a Comment