The Secret Sauce of Dance/House Music

Hey Y'all!

Many many moons ago, when I was a young and spry student in audio school (okay, it was more like a year ago, but I liked the dramatic effect), I took a class in Synthesis and Sound Design. We also learned about House and Dance music in general, and it really made me fall in love with the genre.

A few weeks ago, as many young and spry producers do, I went out to a bar where a DJ was playing a Dance/House set. I observed that some tracks had the dance floor grooving, while others left people standing still. I felt compelled to deep dive into what makes a Dance/House track GREAT. So, this week I asked a question to Producer and DJ, Dan Orbach, who is also my former Synthesis/Sound Design Teacher.

What Makes a Dance/House Track Great?

I asked him: In your opinion as both Producer and a DJ, what separates a mediocre Dance/House track from a GREAT Dance/House track?

He said: “Well, the tracks that really get me going or sometimes hypnotize me are the ones with some kind of texture that sets the atmosphere and the vibe in the background. Most of the time, it can be a drone, pad, or string sound really far in the background. In electronic and especially dance music, too much air between one drum to another can expose the synthetic and robotic elements without compensating with some organic musical elements.”

Unlocking the Secret of Dance/House Vibes

After reading Dan's answer, I was like: 😱🤯 It really changed my perspective on Dance/House music production. As the wise philosopher Princess Jasmine once said, "It's a whole new world."

Maybe the key to keeping people on the dance floor isn't what we typically think—like the kick and bass relationship, swing, or sidechaining every element to the kick. Perhaps it's the vibe created by the background elements that really sets the tone. I'm definitely going to put more thought into incorporating less obvious elements like drones, pads, and strings into my Dance/House productions.

Practical Takeaways for Producers

1. Texture and Atmosphere: Incorporate background elements like drones, pads, and strings to set the vibe.
2. Balance Synthetic and Organic: Ensure that there isn't too much air between drums by adding organic musical elements.
3. Focus on the Vibe: Remember that the overall atmosphere can be just as important as the technical elements like kick and bass.

Thanks Dan!

Catch y’all next week!