Electro-House

Electro-house is a house music subgenre. Its beginnings are unclear, with differing degrees of influence credited to electro, electroclash, pop, synthpop, and tech house. Around 2005, it gained global appeal. Top DJs related to the genre include Deadmau5, David Guetta, and Tiesto.

The genre has been defined as a fusion of house and electro, either in its original form or combined with synthpop and techno, as during electroclash's late-1990s rebirth. French house, particularly that of bands such as Daft Punk, has also been a significant influence on electro-house.

Electro-house occasionally incorporates aspects of tech house, such as powerful basslines, brief and high-pitched riffs, and sparse or moderate percussion. However, it may use electro-influenced harsh synthesizers and vocal or instrumental samples, unlike proper techno. Its tempo often oscillates between 128 and 130 BPM. Newer songs of this genre contain a more "dirty" bassline sound achieved by compressing and distorting saw waves.

Early electro-house tracks include Sublime's "Transamerica," Arrivers' "Dark Invader," "The Arrival," and Basement Jaxx's "Raw S*it." Mr. Oizo's 1999 chart-topping single "Flat Beat" is also regarded as an early example of the genre.

Pioneers of Electro-House

Audiences widely regard Benny Benassi as the electro-house pioneer, taking the genre to the public with his 2002 tune "Satisfaction." This track transitioned from house to electro a year later, receiving appreciation from high-profile DJs such as Carl Cox, Darren Emerson, and Roger Sanchez. It climbed to #2 on the UK Singles Chart after the Ministry of Sound replaced the original video with one of the models using power tools.

Electro-house gained further popularity in the mid-2000s when new producers like David Guetta and Yasutaka Nakata emerged. By 2004, a subgenre known as electro-tech had gained popularity in Europe, including Austria, Germany, and Italy. In November 2006, electro-house tunes such as Fedde Le Grand's "Put Your Hands Up For Detroit" and Luciana's "Yeah Yeah" topped the UK Top 40 singles chart. Since then, electro-house producers such as Avicii, Deadmau5, Knife Party, and Skrillex have become popular. By 2009, the genre had garnered a global following.

In the early 2010s, a subgenre of electro-house known as big room emerged. It gained popularity mostly through EDM-themed events and festivals. Big room tracks are similar to Dutch house in that they frequently feature drops, minimal percussion, regular rhythms, layered sub-bass kicks, basic melodies, and synth-driven breakdowns. A big room track's structure is highly similar to a typical electro-house.

Dutch house, another subgenre of electro-house, is also known as 'Dirty Dutch. ' It rose to prominence in 2009, mostly due to Vato Gonzalez, Afrojack, and DJ Chuckie. It is defined by complex rhythms built from Latin-influenced drum kits, less focus on basslines, and squeaky, high-pitched lead synthesizers.