While Coachella 2015 includes standard bearers of rock such as AC/DC, for fresher, innovative sounds the tents offer artists influenced by, rather than just derivative of, the bigger genres.
Freak folk, chillwave, grime, and trap step are part of a large batch of new musical subgenres invented during the new millennium.
In the last decade, electronic dance music (EDM) and hip hop have spurred the new trends akin to the way rock and the blues helped inspire punk, grunge, R&B, and hip-hop in the late 20th century. A leading taxonomist of musical genres, Glenn McDonald, pegs the number of subgenres at 1, 358. Take a listen.
Which subgenres are hugely popular in your world of late? Why have those been better at catching on? What influence does the Net/social media have? Are dance trends still influential on music? How does one create a new subgenre?
Check out some examples of the emerging music subgenres we discussed on the show:
Trap Music (or Trap Step) - "Original Don (Remix)" by Flosstradamus
Freak Folk - "Two Weeks" by Grizzly Bear
Chillwave - "New Theory" by Washed Out
Footwork, a.k.a. Chicago Juke - "Bangs and Works" by DJ Trouble
Future Garage - "Sleep Sound" by Jamie xx
Djent - Periphery by Alpha
Guest:
Robert Fink, Professor of Musicology, UCLA