A Grid in Flux: Sound and Timing in Electronic Dance Music

Abstract

Researchers have argued that temporal microdeviations from the metric grid, such as those produced by musicians in performance, are crucial to making a musical rhythm groovy and danceable. It is curious, then, that the music currently dominating the dance floor, “electronic dance music” or EDM, is typically characterized by grid-based rhythms. But is such a “mechanistic,” grid-based aesthetic necessarily devoid of microrhythmic nuance? In this article, we aim to show that the microrhythmic component of an engaging groove involves the manipulation of more than simply the onset locations of rhythmic events—the sonic features fundamentally contribute to shaping the groove as well. In particular, we seek to demonstrate that EDM producers, with their preference for a grid-based microtiming aesthetic, are very sensitive to and adept at manipulating such sonic features for expressive effect. Drawing on interviews with EDM producers, we show that producers are often concerned with both sonic and temporal features, as well as their interactions. We argue that sonic features are crucial to shaping groove and feel at the micro level of rhythm. Moreover, such features also tend to introduce an indirect microtiming aspect to the grid-based aesthetic of EDM through the ways in which they shape timing at the perceptual level.

Shaping rhythm: timing and sound in five groove-based genres

“…Similarly, in ethnomusicology a number of studies have explored the nature and role of microtiming in various musical cultures. Prominent examples include Alén (1995) on Tumba Francesa; Clayton (2000) on North Indian Raga; Gerischer (2006) and Haugen and Danielsen (2020) on samba; Jankowsky (2013) on Tunisian Stambeli; Johansson (2010a, b) and Kvifte (2004Kvifte ( , 2007 on Scandinavian folk music; Polak (2010) and Polak and London (2014) on Malian Jembe music; Berliner (2009), Doffman (2009), Hodson (2007), Monson (1996) and Prögler (1995) on jazz; Danielsen (2006) on funk; Stover (2009) on diasporic African music/salsa; and Bjerke (2010), Brøvig-Hanssen et al (2022), Danielsen (2010Danielsen ( , 2012Danielsen ( , 2015 and Zeiner-Henriksen (2010) on contemporary dance music. Some of these studies also address aspects of the relationship between sonic qualities such as timbre and intensity and the perception of rhythm.…”

“…For a further discussion of Seeb's use of sidechain compression, and of the rhythmic effects of dynamic manipulation more generally, seeBrøvig-Hanssen et al (2020). For further discussion of temporal and sound-related aspects of EDM grooves, seeBrøvig-Hanssen et al (2022). 8 '808 kick' refers to a software emulation of the kick drum of the Roland TR-808 drum machine.…”

An SEM Approach to Validating the Psychological Model of Musical Groove

“…-Microtiming was discussed as potentially relevant to the urge to move, but empirical results were inconsistent (Brøvig-Hanssen et al, 2021, Câmara et al, 2020a, 2020b, Cameron et al, 2019Datseris et al, 2019;Davies et al, 2013;Engel et al, 2022;Frühauf et al, 2013;Ganis et al, 2021;Hofmann et al, 2017;Keil, 1987;Kilchenmann & Senn 2015;Matsushita & Nomura, 2016;Nelias et al, 2022;Senn et al, 2016;Skaansar et al, 2019).…”

An SEM approach to validating the psychological model of musical groove.

“…• Microtiming was discussed as potentially relevant to the urge to move, but empirical results were inconsistent (Brøvig-Hanssen et al, 2021;Câmara et al, 2020aCâmara et al, , 2020bCameron et al, 2019;Datseris et al, 2019;Davies et al, 2013;Engel et al, 2022;Frühauf et al, 2013;Ganis et al, 2021;Hofmann et al, 2017;Keil, 1987;Kilchenmann & Senn 2015;Matsushita & Nomura, 2016;Nelias et al, 2022;Senn et al, 2016;Skaansar et al, 2019).…”

“…The properties of the music itself (Figure 1, left box, “Musical Properties”) have been investigated extensively in groove research as causes of the urge to move. The studies primarily address the following topics: Microtiming was discussed as potentially relevant to the urge to move, but empirical results were inconsistent (Brøvig-Hanssen et al, 2021; Câmara et al, 2020a, 2020b; Cameron et al, 2019; Datseris et al, 2019; Davies et al, 2013; Engel et al, 2022; Frühauf et al, 2013; Ganis et al, 2021; Hofmann et al, 2017; Keil, 1987; Kilchenmann & Senn 2015; Matsushita & Nomura, 2016; Nelias et al, 2022; Senn et al, 2016; Skaansar et al, 2019). Syncopated rhythm has been found to affect the urge to move.…”