EDM Music Styles

Some electronic dance music styles are very popular but some are quite unknown due to their local or underground nature. We try to gather all online radio stations that allow us to listen to any style of electronic dance music. To help you understand what you are listening we have made a list of all EDM music styles that we are aware of. If you are missing a style please let us know via the contact form.

Ambient

Ambient house music is a genre that blends the ethereal soundscapes of ambient music with the rhythmic structure of house music, creating a dreamy, atmospheric vibe. Originating in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it often features lush synthesizer pads, hypnotic loops, and subtle beats that evoke a sense of calm and introspection while maintaining a danceable quality. The tempo is generally slower compared to traditional house music, typically ranging from 90 to 120 BPM, with an emphasis on texture and mood rather than energy. Pioneered by artists like The Orb and Biosphere.

Bass

Bass house music is a high-energy subgenre of house music that fuses heavy basslines with the classic four-on-the-floor rhythm. Emerging in the mid-2010s, it incorporates elements from dubstep, UK garage, and electro house which creates a bold and aggressive sound. The genre is characterized by punchy kicks, gritty bass drops and sharp syncopated rhythms often accompanied by minimalistic melodies or vocal chops. Bass house thrives on its club-ready intensity, designed to electrify dance floors with its raw energy and dynamic drops. Popularized by artists like Jauz, Tchami, and Joyryde.

Chill (Chillwave / Chillsynth)

Chill house music is a mellow subgenre of house music that blends soothing melodies with gentle, rhythmic beats. With tempos typically ranging from 110 to 125 BPM, it prioritizes relaxation and atmosphere over intensity, featuring smooth basslines, soft percussion, and airy synths. Often infused with elements of lounge, deep house, and downtempo, it creates a laid-back yet groovy ambiance perfect for unwinding or casual social settings. Vocal samples, guitar riffs, and organic sounds like ocean waves or bird calls are frequently used to enhance its tranquil vibe. Chill house is ideal for background listening, beach parties, or creating a serene mood. While Chillwave has a bit more of a nostalgic lo-fi vibe Chillsynth focussed more on synthisizer to create the right vibe.

Chiptune

Chiptune music is a genre that uses retro video game sound chips or emulated 8-bit and 16-bit sounds to create melodic, nostalgic compositions. Originating in the 1980s with classic gaming consoles like the NES and Commodore 64, it features simple yet dynamic melodies, punchy arpeggios, and rhythmic bleeps and bloops. Chiptune often evokes a playful or adventurous mood celebrating the charm of early video game audio. Artists use trackers, MIDI software, or original hardware to produce its signature sound. While rooted in nostalgia, chiptune has evolved into a diverse genre, blending with modern styles like EDM, punk, and synthwave.

Club

Club music is an umbrella term for high-energy electronic dance music (EDM) genres designed to energize dance floors. It typically features steady four-on-the-floor beats, driving basslines, and dynamic drops, with tempos ranging from 120 to 140 BPM. Subgenres like house, techno, trance, and bass house dominate the club scene, each offering distinct vibes—from melodic and uplifting to dark and hypnotic. Vocal hooks, build-ups, and breakdowns are common, creating moments of anticipation and release. Club music thrives on its infectious rhythms and layered textures, crafted to resonate with large sound systems and keep audiences moving in vibrant, high-energy nightlife settings.

Dance

Dance music is a broad genre of music designed to get people moving, characterized by infectious rhythms, repetitive beats, and energetic tempos. It spans various styles, including electronic, pop, disco, and hip-hop, with tempos typically ranging from 110 to 140 BPM. Dance music emphasizes strong basslines, catchy melodies, and hooks that encourage physical movement, often structured with build-ups and drops for dynamic effect. While rooted in club culture, it transcends venues, thriving at festivals, parties, and mainstream radio. Iconic subgenres like house, techno, and trance showcase its versatility, appealing to diverse audiences with uplifting, hypnotic, or high-energy atmospheres.

Dark (Darksynth / Darkwave)

Dark house music is a moody and atmospheric subgenre of house music, characterized by deep basslines, haunting melodies, and shadowy textures. It often incorporates brooding synths, minimalist percussion, and hypnotic rhythms, creating an intense and immersive experience. The genre thrives on its ominous undertones, using dissonant harmonies, echoing effects, and eerie vocal samples to evoke a sense of mystery and intrigue. With tempos typically ranging from 120 to 130 BPM, dark house is designed for late-night dance floors, offering a deeper, more introspective vibe compared to mainstream house. It’s a favorite in underground clubs and for those seeking darker energy.

Datawave

Datawave music is an emerging electronic subgenre that combines retrofuturistic aesthetics with intricate, data-inspired soundscapes. It is heavily influenced by vaporwave and cyberpunk styles, featuring glitchy textures, digital bleeps, and synthetic melodies that evoke the ambiance of early computer systems and futuristic tech. The music often incorporates rhythmic sequences, minimalistic beats, and ambient layers to create an otherworldly, immersive atmosphere. Datawave thrives on its conceptual focus, using sound design to explore themes of technology, networks, and digital realms. It appeals to fans of experimental and atmospheric music, offering a reflective yet futuristic journey through the sonic landscape of the digital age.

Deep house

Deep house music is a subgenre of house music known for its soulful, mellow, and atmospheric qualities. Originating in the 1980s, it blends smooth basslines, lush chords, and subtle percussion with influences from jazz, funk, and soul. Typically slower-paced than mainstream house, with tempos around 120-125 BPM, deep house emphasizes groove and emotional depth. Warm, melodic synths and reverb-drenched vocal samples often feature, creating a hypnotic and immersive vibe. The genre thrives in both relaxed and club environments, appealing to listeners seeking a refined and introspective musical experience. Artists like Larry Heard and Kerri Chandler helped pioneer its enduring sound.

Demoscene

Demoscene music is a digital genre created for the demoscene subculture, where artists and programmers craft audiovisual showcases that push the technical limits of computer hardware. This music emphasizes creativity and technical ingenuity, often composed using trackers and designed for compact file sizes with high-quality sound. Drawing from chiptune, electronic, and ambient styles, it features intricate melodies, rhythmic patterns, and layered sound effects. Demoscene music is typically synchronized with visually impressive demos, creating an immersive experience. Rooted in the 1980s and 1990s, it celebrates retro computing, with a focus on innovation, artistry, and nostalgia within a tech-driven, underground community.

Disco

Disco house music is a vibrant subgenre that fuses the infectious grooves of disco with the rhythmic structure of house music. It features uplifting melodies, funky basslines, and shimmering strings, often incorporating samples or elements from classic disco tracks. With a steady four-on-the-floor beat and tempos around 120-130 BPM, it creates a feel-good, danceable energy. Disco house emphasizes soulful vocals, brass sections, and lush instrumentation, blending retro aesthetics with modern production techniques. Popularized by artists like Daft Punk and Purple Disco Machine, the genre thrives in both clubs and casual settings, offering a nostalgic yet contemporary vibe for music lovers.

Downtempo

Downtempo house music is a relaxed and melodic subgenre of house music that combines the steady rhythms of house with the laid-back, atmospheric qualities of downtempo. With tempos ranging from 100 to 115 BPM, it features smooth basslines, gentle percussion, and airy synths, creating a tranquil yet groovy vibe. Often incorporating elements of jazz, ambient, or world music, downtempo house thrives on its emotional depth and reflective mood. Vocals, if used, are soft and soothing, complementing the genre’s introspective nature. Ideal for chillout settings, it offers a harmonious blend of rhythm and ambiance for unwinding or creating a calming atmosphere.

Drum & bass

Drum and bass house music is a fusion genre that blends the fast-paced rhythms of drum and bass with the melodic and rhythmic elements of house music. It features the signature breakbeat patterns and rapid tempos of drum and bass, often ranging from 160 to 180 BPM, layered with house-style grooves, basslines, and atmospheric textures. The result is a dynamic, high-energy sound that balances intensity with danceable, melodic elements. This genre often incorporates lush pads, vocal samples, and deep bass drops, creating a hybrid style perfect for both clubs and experimental music lovers. It appeals to fans of innovative electronic fusions.

Dub

Dub house music is a subgenre that combines the rhythmic foundation of house music with the deep, echoing textures of dub. It features steady four-on-the-floor beats typical of house, enriched with spacious reverb, delay effects, and minimalist basslines inspired by dub reggae. The genre emphasizes atmosphere and groove, often layering subtle percussion, ethereal synths, and fragmented vocal samples to create a hypnotic, immersive sound. With tempos around 115-125 BPM, dub house thrives in both chillout and club settings, offering a balance of danceability and introspection. It appeals to listeners seeking a deep, soulful, and rhythmically captivating musical experience.

Dubstep

Dubstep house music is a hybrid genre that merges the rhythmic patterns of house music with the heavy basslines and wobbling synths of dubstep. It combines house’s steady four-on-the-floor beats with the intense energy and dramatic drops characteristic of dubstep. Typically featuring tempos around 125-135 BPM, it incorporates elements like distorted bass, syncopated rhythms, and glitchy effects, while maintaining a danceable, groove-oriented structure. The fusion creates a dynamic soundscape, balancing dubstep’s aggression with house’s smoother, more melodic qualities. This genre is popular in clubs and festivals, appealing to fans of high-energy music with both rhythmic consistency and powerful bass drops.

EBM (Electronic Body Music)

EBM house music is a fusion genre that blends the mechanical intensity of Electronic Body Music (EBM) with the rhythmic and melodic structures of house music. It combines EBM’s driving, industrial-inspired beats, heavy basslines, and raw synth textures with house’s four-on-the-floor rhythm and danceable grooves. Typically dark and energetic, it features pulsating bass, repetitive, hypnotic patterns, and gritty, atmospheric effects. Vocals, if present, are often processed or minimalist, enhancing the genre’s raw, futuristic vibe. EBM house thrives in underground club settings, appealing to fans of both industrial and electronic music who seek a powerful, rhythm-driven experience with a darker edge.

EDM (Electronic Dance Music

EDM house music is a high-energy fusion of house music’s rhythmic foundation with the dynamic and festival-ready sound of Electronic Dance Music (EDM). It features steady four-on-the-floor beats, uplifting melodies, and powerful drops, often designed for large-scale performances. This genre incorporates bold synths, vibrant chord progressions, and layered effects to create a euphoric and anthemic atmosphere. Vocals are common, delivering catchy hooks or emotional lyrics. With tempos typically ranging from 120-130 BPM, EDM house thrives on its polished production and wide appeal, making it a staple of dance floors, festivals, and mainstream charts, blending accessibility with explosive, high-impact energy.

Electro

Electro house music is a high-energy subgenre of house music characterized by its punchy basslines, heavy synth leads, and energetic drops. With tempos typically ranging from 125 to 135 BPM, it features a four-on-the-floor beat complemented by sharp, distorted bass sounds and dynamic, glitchy effects. Electro house often incorporates minimalistic melodies and build-ups leading to explosive, crowd-pleasing climaxes. Its polished production and powerful sound make it a favorite in clubs and festivals. Popularized by artists like Deadmau5 and David Guetta, the genre’s fusion of house rhythm with electro intensity offers a vibrant and electrifying experience for dance music enthusiasts.

Electronic

Electronic house music is a broad subgenre of house music that emphasizes modern, synthesized sounds and digital production techniques. It blends the steady four-on-the-floor rhythm of house with electronic elements like pulsating basslines, layered synths, and crisp drum patterns. With tempos around 120-130 BPM, it creates a groovy yet futuristic vibe, often featuring atmospheric effects, vocal samples, and intricate melodies. Electronic house spans various moods, from chilled and melodic to high-energy and club-focused. Its versatility and polished production make it a staple in dance clubs and festivals, appealing to fans who enjoy both classic house rhythms and innovative electronic soundscapes.

Electronica

Electronica house music is a genre that fuses the rhythmic grooves of house music with the experimental and melodic elements of electronica. It blends house’s steady four-on-the-floor beats with intricate soundscapes, glitchy effects, and layered synths, creating a textured and immersive listening experience. With tempos around 120-130 BPM, electronica house often incorporates atmospheric pads, ethereal melodies, and organic elements, such as vocal samples or acoustic instrumentation. The result is a versatile genre, suitable for both dance floors and introspective settings. It appeals to listeners who enjoy the danceable energy of house combined with the artistic depth and innovation of electronica.

Eurobeat

Eurobeat house music is a vibrant and high-energy fusion of Eurobeat’s fast-paced melodies and the rhythmic structure of house music. It features the steady four-on-the-floor beat of house, combined with upbeat tempos (usually around 120-140 BPM) and catchy, synth-driven melodies characteristic of Eurobeat. The genre often incorporates bright, layered synths, dramatic chord progressions, and dynamic vocal hooks, creating an exhilarating and danceable sound. Eurobeat house thrives on its uplifting energy and infectious grooves, making it a favorite for dance floors and energetic settings. Its fusion of retro Eurobeat elements with modern house production adds a nostalgic yet contemporary vibe.

Eurodance

Eurodance music is a high-energy electronic dance genre that emerged in Europe in the early 1990s, blending elements of techno, house, hi-NRG, and pop. It is characterized by upbeat tempos (typically 130–145 BPM), catchy synthesizer riffs, strong basslines, and a mix of rap verses with powerful female vocals in the chorus. Eurodance tracks often feature uplifting lyrics, anthemic hooks, and vibrant melodies designed to energize dance floors. With its glossy production and infectious rhythms, the genre gained massive popularity across clubs and radio stations, driven by acts like 2 Unlimited, Haddaway, and Culture Beat. It remains iconic for its feel-good vibe.

Experimental

Experimental dance music is a boundary-pushing genre that blends danceable rhythms with unconventional sounds, structures, and production techniques. It often defies traditional genre rules, merging elements from techno, house, IDM, ambient, and noise to create innovative, unpredictable compositions. While it retains a rhythmic core suitable for movement, it introduces atypical tempos, abstract textures, glitch effects, and non-linear arrangements. Artists may use custom-built software, modular synths, or field recordings to craft unique sonic landscapes. Experimental dance music thrives in underground and avant-garde scenes, appealing to listeners and dancers who seek immersive, thought-provoking experiences that challenge and expand the norms of electronic music.

Funk

Funk dance music is a lively, groove-driven genre that blends the rhythmic energy of funk with danceable beats, creating an infectious sound perfect for movement. Rooted in 1970s funk, it features syncopated basslines, punchy drum patterns, sharp guitar riffs, and vibrant horn sections. Vocals are often soulful and energetic, enhancing the music’s dynamic feel. Modern funk dance music incorporates elements of disco, house, and electronic music, maintaining the genre’s signature rhythm while updating its sound for contemporary audiences. It’s known for its upbeat tempo, feel-good vibe, and irresistible groove, making it a staple in clubs, parties, and live performances.

Future bass

Future bass dance music is a vibrant and emotionally charged genre that combines rich melodic elements with deep bass and modern electronic production. Characterized by lush synths, wavy chord progressions, and dynamic drops, it often features pitched vocal chops, shimmering textures, and trap-inspired percussion. With tempos typically around 130–150 BPM, future bass maintains a strong rhythmic drive suitable for dancing, while also delivering atmospheric and euphoric soundscapes. It blends the intensity of bass music with the accessibility of pop and EDM, making it popular at festivals and among mainstream audiences. Artists like Flume and San Holo helped shape its unique style.

Glitchy synthwave

Glitchy synthwave dance music is a futuristic and retro-inspired genre that merges the nostalgic textures of synthwave with the fragmented, experimental sounds of glitch music. It features vintage analog synths, 1980s-style drum machines, and cinematic melodies layered with digital distortion, stutters, and bitcrushed effects. The result is a rhythmic, danceable sound with a gritty, otherworldly edge. While maintaining a steady beat suitable for movement, the music often disrupts traditional structures with unpredictable glitches and electronic manipulations. Glitchy synthwave appeals to fans of retro aesthetics and innovative sound design, offering an energetic yet surreal dance experience steeped in digital nostalgia.

Happy hardcore

Happy hardcore is a fast-paced, energetic subgenre of hardcore electronic dance music known for its upbeat melodies and cheerful vibes. Typically clocking in at 160–180 BPM, it features rapid four-on-the-floor beats, bouncy basslines, and high-pitched vocals, often sped-up or chipmunked. The music combines elements of rave, Eurodance, and trance, creating an ecstatic and euphoric atmosphere. Synth stabs, piano riffs, and uplifting chord progressions are common, making it a favorite in rave scenes for its relentless positivity and intensity. It emerged both from the UK breakbeat hardcore rave scene, and Belgian, German and Dutch hardcore techno scenes in the early 1990s

Hard techno

Hard techno is an intense and uncompromising subgenre of techno music characterized by its fast tempos, heavy kicks, and relentless energy. Typically ranging from 135 to 150 BPM, it features pounding four-on-the-floor beats, distorted synths, and minimal melodic content. The focus is on raw, mechanical rhythms and industrial textures, often creating a dark, hypnotic atmosphere. Hard techno thrives in underground club scenes and warehouse raves, appealing to fans who crave high-energy, no-frills dance music. It emphasizes power, repetition, and sonic impact over harmony or melody, pushing the boundaries of intensity in electronic music while maintaining a strong, driving groove.

Hardcore

Hardcore music is a fast, aggressive genre that exists in both electronic and punk music scenes. In electronic music, hardcore (or hardcore techno) is characterized by high BPMs (160–200+), distorted kick drums, harsh synths, and intense, relentless energy. It’s known for its raw sound, often with dark, dystopian, or rave-inspired themes. In punk, hardcore punk is a stripped-down, more aggressive evolution of punk rock, featuring fast tempos, shouted vocals, and politically charged lyrics. Both forms share a DIY ethos and high intensity, thriving in underground scenes where raw power, rebellion, and emotional catharsis are central to the music experience.

Hardstyle


House


Ibiza


Indie


IDM (Intelligent Dance Music)


Italo


Jumpstyle


Lo-fi


Lounge


Melodic house


Minimalsynth


Nu-jazz


Progressive


Psychedelic


Psytrance


Raw


Sightwave


Soulful house


Spacesynth


Synthwave


Tech house


Techno


Trance


Trap


Tropical house


Underground


Vaporwave


Vocal house