Here Are 10 EDM Genres In K-Pop You Might Not Have Noticed Were There

K-Pop has really started to hop onto the EDM bandwagon lately, which isn’t a bad thing! The songs that include these genres can be really fun to listen to. Did you know, though, that there are many different types of EDM that exist? While they all have a similar sort of vibe, the intricacies of each can be very different! Here are 10 different genres of EDM music that have been showcased in K-Pop, and some examples and descriptions of each.

1. Deep House

Examples: “Dejavu” by NU’EST, “View” by SHINee, “4 Walls” by f(x)

This genre of music is identified by its muted basslines, spacious use of percussion instruments, soft keyboard sounds, and soulful vocals, oftentimes creating a sort of “dark” sound.

2. Future Bass

Examples: “Thanks” by SEVENTEEN, “Singing in the Rain” by Jinsoul, “Don’t Leave Me” by BTS

Future bass is a type of bass music that has less intense drops than other bass genres, but includes characteristics such as exotic percussion sounds and pulsating synth chords.

3. Moombahton

Examples: “Bomb Bomb” by KARD, “Follow” by MONSTA X, “Blood Sweat & Tears” by BTS

Moombahton is actually a blend of two types of music — house music and reggaeton — that generally include dramatic build-ups and spread out bass lines. Sometimes it contains rave music-esque synthesizers as well.

4. Tropical House

Examples: “Really Really” by WINNER, “Violeta” by IZ*ONE, “Why” by Taeyeon

Tropical house is a sub-genre of deep house music, but also includes notes of dancehall and Balaeric house genres as well. Typical characteristics include the use of synthesizers and a 4/4 kick drum pattern, and what differentiates it from deep house is that it tends to be more relaxed and uplifting.

5. Trap

Examples: “Say My Name” by ATEEZ, “Me” by CLC, “Kill This Love” by BLACKPINK

Trap is a type of hip-hop music that is multi-layered with monophonic drones and often includes the use of synthesizers, snares, hi-hats, and sometimes brass, string, and woodwind instruments. The word “trap” actually comes from the term used to describe a place where drug deals go down!

6. Psytrance

Examples: “Side Effects” by Stray Kids, “Silent Night” by Dreamcatcher

Short for “psychedelic trance”, psytrance is a sub-genre of trance music that has a specific energetic sound with rapid tempos and a distinct bass beat through the song. New layers are often added throughout the song until it reaches a climax, where it breaks down and starts over again.

7. Electro Swing

Examples: “I’m So Hot” by MOMOLAND, “Woowa” by DIA

Also called swing house music, electro swing combines sounds from vintage or modern-style jazz music and mixes it with house, hip-hop, and/or EDM.

8. Big Room

Examples: “Adios” by EVERGLOW, “Sugar Free” by T-ARA

A sub-genre of electro house music, the big room genre typically includes a 4/4 hardtechno kick with long build-ups up to an electro-style drop, heavy bass kick drums, and minimal actual musical elements.

9. Synthpop

Examples: “I Feel You” by Wonder Girls, “Oh! My Mistake” by APRIL

This music style is dominated by synthesizers as the main instrument used in these types of songs.

10. Bounce

Examples: “Bboom Bboom” by MOMOLAND, “Baam” by MOMOLAND

Bounce music is a type of hip-hop music that originated in New Orleans and is recognized for its energetic style, use of whistling as an element, and repetitive melodies with quick beats.