Culture Incite reveals the structural and cultural sources influencing trends in EDM album artwork styles and aesthetics. www.cultureincite.com

1. ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC
ALBUM ARTWORK
By Culture Incite
CASE STUDY

2. For over the past decade, the single most contributing factor to music
style and aesthetics has been Electronic Dance Music (EDM).

3. This isn’t the first time Electronic Dance Music has had a broad-
sweeping impact on music and culture; influencing existing and
creating new genres.

4. THE HALCYON
During the late 70’s and 80’s, consumers and musicians gained
greater access to music creation through electronic music tools, such
as synthesizers, drum machines and samplers.
With these new technologies, the sonic impact was visible through
music genres, such as Funk, Rock, Hip Hop and Pop, as well as
birthing new genre’s, such as Electo, Techno, and more.

5. THE RISE OF CONTEMPORARY EDM
Fast forwarding to the early aughts, we saw a significant rise in EDM
and its influence across music genres similar to EDM’s Halcyon. This
time, the technological source stemmed from one key component- The
personal computer.

6. Why the Proliferation?
The computer, combined with software, moved us away from the old
paradigm of large, hardware-based studios and production equipment,
and instead democratized music production and process. With
computer and software technology, expensive hardware equipment,
such as recording studios and instruments are digital and available at
a fraction of the costs or illegally pirated off of bittorrents.
Similar to the influence of new technology on music during the
halcyon, new instruments and new sounds led to new genres and
pushing the boundaries of new music. Contemporary EDM takes
inspiration from two camps.

7. CONTEMPORARY EDM: Two Camps
Contemporary EDM is substantially influenced culturally and
technologically by two sources and thus two camps- one being styles
and aesthetics that takes inspiration from the past. The other being
technological advancement and creativity to push the boundaries taking
inspiration from the future.
In other words, we see inspiration coming from two underlying themes-
nostalgia and unhinged.

8. As a result, music album artwork, especially
when influenced by EDM, is inspired by
nostalgia or being unhinged

9. What Does This Mean?
Artwork that reflects a nostalgic aesthetic-
new music contributes to historic bodies of work by emulating,
interpreting, and/or replicating
19862009

10. What Does This Mean?
Artwork that is unhinged:
new music acknowledges historic bodies of work yet strives to push the
boundaries of creativity, which includes artwork dislocated from 70’s/80’s
aesthetics
Record Label Modern Love Artwork

11. Why The Division?
Musical trends have fallen into two camps:
Nostalgia: contemporary producers interest in referencing and replicating or
taking inspiration from the 70’s and 80’s halcyon.
Unhinged: contemporary producers that see the present and the future as an
extension of the past they are striving to move away from. new producers
young enough that they are completely disconnected and detached from the
era of the 80’s

12. HALLMARKS: Nostalgia
Punk Rock 80’s Digital80’s Funk/Disco 80’s Glam
The artwork below reflects EDM or EDM inspired music and their album covers released since
2008, and their 70’s/80’s nostalgic inspiration

13. HALLMARKS: Unhinged
Electronic
Technical
Future DreamsMinimal/Texture/A
mbient
Witch House
The artwork below reflects EDM or EDM inspired music and their album covers released since
2008, and their future and unhinged inspiration

14. OPPORTUNITIES
● Leverage nostalgic iconography when trying to generate
visceral or emotive responses to music and branding
reminiscent of EDM’s Halcyon
● Leverage unhinged imagery when trying to signal new,
expansive, experimental music and branding
● Propagate uncommon or unexpected collaborations between
unhinged and nostalgic artists and designs in order to
complicate contemporary EDM music, design and aesthetics

15. ARTWORK CASE STUDY
DAMIAN ASHTON | DAMIAN.ASHTON@GMAIL.COM | 831.588.7086