Beatport: On the Rise: Electronica @ Musique Non Stop

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On the Rise: Electronica Posted: 31 Jan 2015 12:58 PM PST Electronica, a ’90s catch-all term once used to define the music we now refer to as EDM, is now a genre identifier used in the Beatport store to refer to and collect a variety of electronic music, sans ’90s prejudice or disdain. A quick glance at the Electronica Top 10 reveals established artists, who are both critically respected and dancefloor-friendly, but one would not consider to be house or techno producers in the strictest sense, from DJ Koze to Caribou and Royksopp. For lack of a better term, and since everything in our store might qualify as electronic music: electronica. When it comes to the artists grouped in our electronica genre, there is certainly no shortage of young talent. From Alex Banks to Jamie xx, there is an emerging onslaught of fresh new producers taking the charts by storm. We’ve assembled a guide to the top five young acts to look out for. Check them out below… we have a feeling you’ll be hearing from them one for quite some time. 1.  William Arcane UK electronic pop producer/singer William Arcane represents everything that is cool about electronic music right now. His latest EP, Reckless is a warm, yet unusually melancholy collection of deep electronic song craft. Combining an effortless blend of dreamy vocals, field recordings, and warm analog percussion, Arcane’s production feels sincere, unaffected, and straight to the point, drawing deserving comparisons to Radiohead’s Thom Yorke. Having recently toured with popular act The Acid, the young British producer Arcane has already received massive props from the likes of Bonobo, Jamie xx, and Sohn, with heavy support on Radio 1. Where will he go to from here? We can’t wait to find out. 2.  Weval Dutch newcomers Weval have been making some serious noise, following the recent release of their second EP, Easier. With a unique blend of deep, organic pop, the duo combine choppy vocals with warm analog chord progressions and haunting soundscapes. Signed to the revered Kompakt Records, the pair have enjoyed a string of Beatport chart-toppers, including their most recent hit “Easier,” which shot straight to #3 on the electronica Top 100. It's no wonder they've drawn the attention of heavy-hitters like Denmark's Kasper Bjørke. 3. Monsoonsiren Based in India, Nathan Menon is a film student who produces atmospheric, sweeping soundscapes using the moniker Monsoonsiren. If you think the name sounds familiar, you’re probably correct — In 2014, Menon dropped a huge track with Seattle-based electronic duo Odesza, “Memories That You Call,” cracking the Beatport Top 50 and racking up 750,000+ YouTube plays. Currently signed to left-field imprint Project Mooncircle, the soft electronic tinkerings on Menon’s latest EP, Falstrati, land him somewhere in between SOHN and Kid Koala, exposing intimate tales of a self-confessed “musical hermit.” 4. David Douglas Dutch producer and video artist David Douglas popped up on radars across the globe last year, with his nature-inspired take on moody electronica. Experimenting with layers of ambient atmospheres and found sounds, Douglas combines his love for the natural world with a serious flair for digital manipulation and processing. The tracks on his debut LP, Moon Observations, deviate between warm, swelling synths and raw, unpolished percussion. It's these well-placed imperfections that set him apart. 5. Arca Having produced for the likes of Kanye West, FKA Twigs, and Björk, it's safe to say that 25 year old, Venezuela-born producer Arca is one of the most promising young producers of 2015. His debut LP Xen fearlessly ventures into a cold digital world of sonic exploration, where free-flowing time signatures meet walls of endless reverb. His work is abrasive, almost unashamedly digital. In a scene dominated by the warmth of analog, this intrusion is pretty gutsy, to say the least. What makes Arca truly unique, is his ability to push his sound to new dimensions – through floor-crushing kicks and skittering, starry synths. Arca is a true innovator and a producer to keep a close eye on.