Must See EDM Films Of The 21st Century
Fans of EDM have a new film to get excited about. Vibe magazine recently reported that Diplo and partner Kevin Kusatsu are “reportedly” producing a new EDM film about a trio of teenagers setting out to reach Diplo’s EDM festival. While the details of the film have yet to be confirmed, Diplo has termed it a “Project X”/”8 Mile” mash up. While waiting for the production and film release, catch up on some of the older EDM films that have achieved cult status.
Maestro (2003)
This early film about the infamous NYC underground club scene portrays some of EDM’s legends, including DJ and producer Larry Levan, Danny Tenaglia, Walter Gibbons, Tee Scott and ‘Little Louis’ Vega. A feel-good film about a group of outcasts creating a home for themselves among the dance scene, this film doubles as a history primer on the early days of EDM.
Pump Up the Volume (2001)
This documentary film takes a global, historical look at dance music from the UK to the US. “Pump Up the Volume” include interviews with house music heavies including Armin van Helden, Paul Oakenfold, Carl Cox, Pete Tong and Leftfield. You’ll learn about the house genre as well as other styles of dance music and get a deep perspective on how styles influenced each other.
Electric Daisy Carnival Experience (2011)
Strongly recommended by Vibe, “Electric Daisy Carnival Experience” will make you feel like you are at the Electric Daisy Carnival, a popular EDM festival that is held annually in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia, Will.I.Am, and Steve Aoki are just some of the artists giving live performances in this documentary.
High Tech Soul: The Creation of Techno Music (2006)
For another look at the EDM scene — this time, Detroit’s techno music scene — you must see “High Tech Soul: The Creation of Techno Music.” This film highlights one dance music’s most popular styles, according to Vibe Magazine. The documentary shows how the dance music scene brought new life to Detroit, a city struggling to stay afloat financially. This documentary features appearances by Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Blake Baxter, Kenny Larkin, Scan 7, Keith Tucker and Neko Marks.
Party Monster (2003)
For more of a narrative take on EDM, check out this 2003 biopic starring Macauley Culkin. “Party Monster” recounts the life of club kid Michael Alig, a party organizer who was into the EDM scene. Alig was famous for bragging on television about killing his drug dealer-slash-roommate. Needless to say, things went downhill for Alig (and Culkin, incidentally) from there.
Groove (2000)
Another drama — this one on the Bay Area rave scene — “Groove” includes cameos by west coast DJs and dance artists, including Mixmaster Morris, Dean Chestnutt, N’Dea Davenport, John Digweed and Forest Green. In this film, a single email spreads the word that a huge rave is going down in an abandoned warehouse. For a nostalgic look at the way it used to be, give “Groove” a chance.
While historic documentaries offer a glimpse into EDM’s personalities, it’s also nice to see an EDM film with actors. Hopefully Diplo’s new film will feature strong actors from the Academy of Art school of acting. You’ll find most of these films on Netflix, YouTube and iTunes. You might even discover dance music artists you didn’t know before, and gain a new appreciation for the personalities behind some of your favorite tracks, parties or EDM festivals.
