Electro House Music Guide

Electro House is one of the fastest, high-energy genres in all of electronic dance music (EDM). Born from a blend of House, electro, and techno in the late 2000s, this House music sub-genre is on an insane growth path at the moment.

We have to admit, it’s one of our favorite genres here at Bass Dust Club, so this will be a fun guide for us. We’re going to take a look under the production hood of Electro House, exploring the short history, sound design, production techniques, top artists, and how the club & festival scene works. We’ll also stack it up to genres like Progressive House, Deep House, and Tech House, so you can see how it compares to adjacent House subgenres.

Origins of Electro House Music

Electro House music has its roots in the fusion of two prominent genres: House music and Electro music. There are notes of Techno in certain tracks, but let’s focus on the first two for now.

House Music

House music originated in the early 1980s in Chicago, Illinois. It was heavily influenced by disco, funk, and soul, with DJs and producers experimenting with new electronic sounds and techniques. The term “House” is believed to have originated from the WareHouse Club in Chicago, where DJ Frankie Knuckles played a pivotal role in popularizing the genre.

House music is characterized by its four-on-the-floor beat, repetitive basslines, and soulful vocals. It quickly gained popularity within the underground club scene and soon spread to other cities across the United States and Europe.

Want to learn more? Check out our Guide to House Music.

Electro Music

Electro music emerged in the early 1980s as a fusion of funk, R&B, and electronic elements. This genre incorporated drum machines, synthesizers, and vocoders to create a futuristic and robotic sound. Artists such as Kraftwerk, Afrika Bambaataa, and Egyptian Lover were pioneers in shaping the Electro sound.

Electro music gained traction in the urban communities of New York City and Detroit, with its distinct sound and energetic beats. It laid the foundation for various electronic music genres, including Electro House.

The Birth of Electro House

The birth of Electro House can be traced back to the late 1990s and early 2000s when artists began experimenting with elements from both House and Electro music. DJs and producers started incorporating the driving beats and basslines of Electro music into the structure and arrangements of House tracks.

One of the key figures in the development of Electro House was French DJ and producer, David Guetta. His 2002 album, “Just a Little More Love,” showcased a fusion of both elements, setting the stage for the rise of Electro House as a distinct genre, with himself firmly at the forefront.

As the 2000s progressed, Electro House gained momentum, capturing the attention of both mainstream and underground audiences. Artists like Daft Punk, Justice, and Deadmau5 played a crucial role in popularizing the genre with their innovative productions and high-energy performances.

Today, Electro House continues to evolve and push boundaries, fusing elements from various electronic genres and incorporating new sounds and technologies. It has become a global phenomenon and a dominant force in the electronic music scene, with artists and producers constantly pushing the boundaries of creativity and experimentation.

Defining Features of Electro House Music

Electro House music is distinctly different from other genres of House, though the lines can get a bit blurry at times. The following elements are how you can identify an Electro House track from other subgenres.

Musical Components

• Four-on-the-Floor Beat – Like most House music subgenres, Electro House is built upon a steady and driving four-on-the-floor beat. This rhythm consists of a kick drum hitting on every quarter note, providing a strong foundation.
• Pulsating Basslines – Electro House is known for its heavy & pulsating basslines that are created using synthesizers or bass samples, providing a powerful low-end foundation and contributing to the genre’s high-energy vibe.
• Melodic Synth Hooks – Electro House incorporates catchy and melodic synth hooks that serve as the main focal point of the tracks. Again, these hooks are made using synthesizers and are characterized by their infectious and memorable melodies.
• Energetic Build-Ups & Drops – One of the hallmarks of Electro House are the build-ups. They gradually increase the energy and tension of the track, leading to an explosive drop, heavy bassline, and thundering beats.
• Vocal Samples & Chopped Vocals – The tracks are good on their own, but they’re great with vocals. Most producers use heavily processed or manipulated vocal samples, often chopped, to add a rhythmic element to the sound.

Production Techniques

• Sidechain Compression – This technique involves ducking the volume of certain elements, such as the bassline, when the kick drum hits. This creates a pumping effect, enhancing the rhythmic drive of the track and ensuring that the kick drum stands out prominently in the mix. Most Electro House tracks range between 125 BPM and 135 BPM.
• Layering & Stacking Sounds – By layering multiple synths, samples, or effects, producers can achieve a fuller and more impactful sound that fills the sonic spectrum.
• Automation & Filter Sweeps – By automating parameters such as filter cutoff, resonance, or effects, producers can create dynamic and evolving sounds that enhance the overall energy and intensity of the music.
• Creative Use of Effects – Techniques such as distortion, delay, reverb, and modulation are used to add depth, texture, and character to the tracks, further enhancing their impact on the listener.

By combining these musical components and production techniques, Electro House music creates a high-energy and infectious sound that is perfect for the dance floor. Speaking of, let’s take a look at what those dance floors look like.

Cultural Significance of Electro House Music

Even though it was born at the turn of the century, Electro House has had a huge impact on the EDM industry, shaping the club & festival scene and influencing fashion and lifestyle trends.

The Club & Festival Scene

Electro House is known for its high-energy beats and infectious melodies – truly, these are an energetic combination on the dance floor. More so than other EDM genres, Electro House shows are full of people jumping, pumping their fist, and all kinds of positive energy.

Electro House is a staple genre on the world stage, with top Electro House artists headlining stages at Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival, Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), and Electrobeach Festival. These top EDM festivals attract thousands of fans from around the world, especially Electro fans.

In our opinion, visual effects are an overlooked component of EDM. In some genres, you could argue that these components aren’t as essential – fine. But in Electro House, the energy of the sound is amplified by strobes, lasers, moving lights, and LED boards that tie everything together.

Fashion & Lifestyle

Just like the rest of the music of the early 2000s, Electro House is representative of a counter culture. And this is no more apparent than in the fashion & style associated with the genre. The genre’s high-energy and rebellious nature have inspired edgy and bold fashion choices. Dark, futuristic designs, and avant-garde fashion statements are often associated with Electro House culture. Most of the genre’s artists are rocking limited-edition streetwear and are very much on the “stick it to the man” train.

Electro House has influenced and spawned various subcultures, each with its own unique style and identity. From the “plur” (peace, love, unity, respect) ethos of the rave culture to the fashion-forward and avant-garde styles of the electro-pop scene, Electro House has nurtured the growth of diverse subcultures that celebrate individuality and self-expression. Even so, I challenge you to find a subgenre with so much collective energy at shows.

Comparison with Other House Sub-Genres

Electro House is just one of many sub-genres within the broader House music genre. Here’s how it compares to other subgenres.

• Deep House – Compared to Electro House, Deep House is a bit slower and less “in your face.” Electro House also tends to have harder-hitting basslines and overall, more energy.
• Progressive House – Electro & Progressive House are both high-energy, fast-paced genres. In our opinion, the easiest way to tell the difference is by imagining yourself hearing each live. If you immediately think of an open-air festival with hundreds of thousands of people screaming the lyrics, it’s probably Progressive House. If it’s an underground venue with tons of lights & synths, it’s Electro House.
• Tech House – Tech House is Techno + House, whereas Electro House is Electro + House. Tech House features stripped-down arrangements and repetitive loops and in contrast, Electro House features simpler beats with complex synths. For an easy reference, John Summit makes Tech House and Habstrakt makes Electro House – the two sound completely different.
• Tropical House – Trop House is groovy, soulful, and makes you feel like you should be lying on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean. Electro House is loud & bass-y, with no Reggae sounds to be found. While you’re relaxing by the beach, the Electro House fans are raging at an underground venue a few miles inland.

These are just a few examples of the House sub-genres that coexist alongside Electro House. Each sub-genre brings its own unique flavor and caters to different moods and preferences. And to each their own, we love all of them.

Top Electro House Artists & Tracks

There are tons of talented Electro House artists, each producing revolutionary tracks. Here are a few of our personal favorites, based on thousands of hours of listening.

Top Electro House Artists

• Habstrakt – A French DJ & producer, Habstrakt seems to weave in & out of the House genres. Though many liken his sound to Bass House, I think he has more Electro in him than anything. One of our favorite artists, his new album “Heritage” is a masterpiece.
• Jauz – Jauz has been crushing the Electro House scene for a few years now, leading with tracks like “Feel the Volume” and “Rock the Party.” His sound has changed a lot over the years, and “knows no bounds” according to him, but his first pieces were genuine Electro House, infused with a ton of bass.
• Valentino Khan – Valentino Khan is known for his eclectic blend of house, trap, and bass genres. But these energetic tracks & unique soundscapes have one thing in common, they’re a force to be reckoned with in the Electro House scene.
• Wax Motif – The Australian DJ & Producer has been making waves in the Electro & G-House genres for a few years now. His unique blend of sharp beats and infectious rhythms have put him on a warpath to one of the top producers in the scene.
• Dr. Fresch – Dr. Fresch is one of the most exciting artists to watch live, he always looks like he’s having a blast on stage. He’s known for his fusing Electro House elements with hip-hop and gritty basslines, collaborating with a handful of talented vocalists to bring tracks to life.

Top Electro House Songs

• “Animals” by Martin Garrix
• “Spaceman” by Hardwell
• “Clarity” by Zedd ft. Foxes
• “Feel So Close” by Calvin Harris
• “Adagio for Strings” by Tiesto

If you want to check out these top Electro House artists and their tracks, check out our Official Electro House Music Playlist, full of our favorites.