Rock/EDM crossovers in the not-so-distant past

 

There was a time when it was difficult to imagine a fusion between rock and electronic music. Haidak recalls some previous attempts when artists such as David Bowie, U2, and Radiohead dipped their hands into electronica, breaking the boundaries of rock, which eventually earned for them a more profound respect to their artistry.

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'Little Wonder' by David Bowie

Haidak notes that David Bowie is no stranger to experimentation. A series of collaborations and reinvention highlight his career. In the mid-'90s, bands such as Nine Inch Nails and Prodigy were already making waves underneath the umbrella of alternative music. Upon releasing his 1997 album "Earthling," David Bowie naturally blended into the current musical climate as though one who actually invented it.

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'Discotheque' by U2

Released in the same year as David Bowie's "Earthling," the 1997 U2 album "Pop" saw the legendary Irish band donning Village People outfits in the music video for its carrier lead single. However, the music sounded nothing like "New Year's Day" or "Where The Streets Have No Name," however. This time, U2 went full-on electronic dance music (EDM), that one music writer found it hard to imagine that this is the same band that once recorded politically charged music.

'Idioteque' by Radiohead

Three years after their seminal record Ok Computer (1997), Radiohead upped the ante with their 2000 follow-up album "Kid A." According to Haidak, the lead single, "Idioteque," saw the band dabbling on found sounds and samples, while the basic rhythm was based on Jonny Greenwood's attempt at a modular synthesizer. The song was listed no. 8 by Pitchfork Media among the top 500 songs of the 2000s.

Haidak is an up-and-coming DJ and music producer heavily influenced by late '90s techno, house, and electronica music. Haidak is active online, sharing his insights on the music industry. For more on Haidak, visit this page.