Even if you’re not into the music scene, you have undoubtedly heard of the biggest names in electronic dance music (EDM). Whether you love them or hate them, they have changed the course of dance music forever and will continue to do so. Here are our top favorite famous electronic music artists, their ages, life, and famous songs.
1. SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA.
Swedish House Mafia is the world’s biggest electronic music group with members Sebastian Ingrosso, Steve Angello, and Axwell. They are all Swedish but started in London. Their website describes their style as follows: “Swedish House Mafia is a music project from Sweden by three DJs/producers Sebastian Ingrosso, Steve Angello and Axwell. The project has turned the world of dance music on its head since their formation in 2008.” Having a unique combination of electro and progressive, Swedish House Mafia has been successful in all genres of music, including being named the number one DJ group in 2011 by the DJ Magazine. Their hits include “Save The World”, “Don’t You Worry Child”, “Antidote”, and “One (Your Name)”.
2. SKRILLEX
Skrillex is a DJ, producer, and remixer. His real name is Sonny John Moore, and he has been working with the music since he was 15 years old. In 2004, he released his first song called “Bangarang” on the mau5trap label. He also created several influential singles, including “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” which won him record DJ Mag’s “Best U.K. Breaks Producer” award in 2011. He has made his name as a DJ and producer by other artists, such as Bassnectar, who calls him “one of my greatest friends in the world.” His most characteristic songs are “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” and “Bangarang.” His most famous song is “Bangarang.”
3. ALAN WALKER.
Best known for his festival hit “Faded,” Alan Walker is a young DJ and producer who has taken the electronic music scene by storm. He was born in Oslo, Norway, and took piano lessons as a child. He had no interest in EDM until 2011, when he started to dance music on his laptop with FL Studio. It was then that Alan Walker decided to start producing his own music. He didn’t become a well-known DJ until he released his first hit single, “Faded,” in 2014. It became an instant success, making it to the top 10 of Apple’s 2012 App store. Since then, he has been one of the most popular DJs on the international dance music scene and has won awards at most major festivals. His other hits include “Sing Me To Sleep” and “Lonely.”
4. MARTIN GARRIX.
Martin Garrix is the youngest music artist on the list. He is an 18-year-old DJ, producer, and musician from Spijkenisse, Netherlands. His parents were both musicians, and he learned how to play several instruments when he was young. By age 16, Martin Garrix had already started DJing at dance clubs in his town. Shortly after that, he released his first single called “Byte,” which became an instant hit in dance clubs across Europe and the United States. He is most known for his progressive house style, similar to his role model Avicii, who has compared their music as “almost identical.” Songs like “Animals” and “Wizard” have earned Martin Garrix a top spot in all of the major dance music charts, including DJ Mag.
5. CALVIN HARRIS.
Calvin Harris is a Scottish DJ, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He has been compared to the famous Deadmau5 for his work on progressive houses and his popularity in the EDM community. He is best known for his famous songs “We Found Love” and “Sweet Nothing.” His biggest hits include “Summer,” “Feel So Close,” and “I Need Your Love.” The three years he spent in the top 1 spot on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Charts was all at the top of the Dance/Electronic chart, making him one of the most popular and successful DJs to ever come from Scotland.
6. DAVID GUETTA.
David Guetta is a famous DJ, music producer, and singer. He is most known for his famous singles “Titanium” and “What I Did For Love.” David Guetta has been producing since the early 1990s, but in the late 80s, he was better known as a disc jockey in Parisian clubs. In 1997, his remix of the song “The Girlie Song” by Dr. Alban became an instant hit in Europe. In the 2000s, David Guetta worked with other very famous singers, including Travie McCoy and Kelly Rowland. In the past decade, he became a part of the project called “Jack Back” with French singer Taio Cruz. His most famous songs are “Titanium” and “What I Did For Love.”
7. MARSHMELLO.
Marshmello is one of the many EDM artists who began his career in the video game music scene, releasing remixes of songs from a video game called “Super Smash Bros. Brawl.” When he began making electronic music on his laptop, he quickly attracted the attention of fans and other famous DJs who started to support him. He gained popularity with his song “Alone” and has been known to play at high-profile events such as Ultra Music Festival and Electric Zoo Festival. He has collaborated with famous musicians and DJs, including Omar Linx and Ookay. His most famous songs are “Colors,” “Surprise Me,” and “Alone.”
8. AVICII.
Avicii is a Swedish producer, remixer, and DJ. His real name is Tim Bergling. Avicii began playing piano at a very young age and had his first performance at the age of nine. He soon discovered electronic music, a style that he thought brought out the best in electronic musicians. After producing several tracks on his own, Avicii was recruited to work with EMI Music Publishing, where he met several music industry professionals. He began DJing under the name Tim Berg and released his first album in 2004 titled “True.” His most famous songs are “Seek Bromance,” “Wake Me Up!” and “Waiting For Love.” He was found dead in Muscat, Oman, on April 20th, 2018, following a short stay at a rehabilitation clinic for alcohol abuse.
EDM is a very different kind of electronic music. It was invented in the United States, and it is popular mostly in the US and Europe. Many EDM artists began their careers as video game music composers, but many others came from other musical backgrounds. Some were schooled, while others taught themselves how to produce their own tracks. Whatever their background is, they have become some of the most popular names in electronic dance music now.
