Dance Music: A Renaissance in Rhythm
By Katie Asha, First Year English
Festival lineups brim with DJs, pop stars borrow rave aesthetics, and tours like Charli XCX and Troye Sivan’s SWEAT transform arenas into something resembling a warehouse at 2 AM. This begs the question: what is propelling this renaissance of dance music right now, and how does it entwine with our current political climate?
Defining Dance Music
At its core, dance music is simply music made for the dance floor. It serves as an umbrella term that encompasses a variety of genres, each contributing to the vibrant tapestry of the dance scene. The defining features of dance music include:
- Tempo: Typically ranging from 110–130 beats per minute, creating a lively, danceable pace.
- Rhythm: Characterized by a consistent 4/4 beat, known as the ‘four-on-the-floor.’
- Hooks: Simple, repetitive lyrics often evoke feelings of happiness or escapism.
- Electronic Production: Crafted using digital instruments and electronic techniques, giving it a unique sound.
Dance Music and Economic Cycles
Historically, the popularity of dance music correlates with economic hardship. Take, for example, the 2007-2009 global financial crisis when club music exploded as a popular genre. During this period, dance music transformed into what’s now referred to as ‘recession pop.’ As Vice articulates, “a recession banger means to offer your listeners a place of escape within your music, turning every party into an extravagant, maximalist club experience even if you’re broke.”
The notion that music emerges in response to economic duress isn’t new. Looking back, jazz gained traction as a response to the Great Depression in the 1930s; disco thrived in the 1970s amid civil rights struggles; and synth pop found its voice during the 1980s amidst the AIDS crisis and economic inequality. Each genre served as a form of escapism during darker times, providing both rhythm and solace.
The Current Dance Music Dominion
Dance music currently reigns supreme on the global musical landscape. Festivals are saturated with DJs, while pop’s leading figures—Dua Lipa, Beyoncé—incorporate dance and club sounds into their works. Notably, the 2024 SWEAT tour, spearheaded by Charli XCX and Troye Sivan, turned arenas into rave-like environments, becoming the most Googled tour in the U.S. that year. The tempo of the top songs is reflective of this shift; for instance, the average tempo of 2020’s best-selling songs hit 122 beats per minute, the highest number since 2009.
Though the UK isn’t experiencing a full-blown recession, it is grappling with a polycrisis—multiple societal instabilities manifesting simultaneously. This includes inflation, job insecurity linked to AI, political uncertainty, and the lingering effects of the pandemic. In contrast, during the economically stable late 2010s when growth was consistent, slower, more reflective songs gained prominence, exemplified by the introspective hits from artists like Billie Eilish and Harry Styles.
The Dancefloor and Its Political Roots
Dance music’s evolution is deeply intertwined with marginalized communities. Originating from genres such as disco, house, and techno, dance music developed within queer, Black, and working-class environments—spaces offering refuge where mainstream society often failed to do so. Disco, for instance, provided a safe haven for LGBTQ+ individuals in 1970s New York, with clubs like The Stonewall Inn being pivotal in that community’s fabric. House music arose from Chicago’s Black nightlife, and jazz has roots in African American history.
In cities like Bristol, dance music is a vital cultural force, championed by many Black British artists. While its current mainstream acceptance may seem like a trend, the depth of its history continues to resonate through various spheres, enriching the clubs and festivals of today.
The Undying Presence of Dance Music in Bristol
Despite the narrative that dance music is “back,” it has consistently held a vital place, particularly in Bristol, since its inception. This newfound validation from mainstream, predominantly white pop artists doesn’t diminish its historical significance; instead, it highlights the music’s ongoing relevance.
As this genre finds its way into the airwaves and our Spotify Wrapped playlists, it presents a compelling invitation to understand why so many are turning toward dance music for a daily dose of joy. As Amanda Kiefer aptly notes in The Current, “one way to investigate the state of society is by turning on the radio.”
Are you in favor of a Harry Styles-inspired dance revival?
