How Skrillex’ New Albums Will Shape the Future of Dance Music

Skrillex’ latest back-to-back albums are expected to have a significant influence on the next wave of electronic dance music.

After a nearly a decade, Skrillex has returned to the electronic music scene with not one, but two albums: Quest for Fire and Don’t Get Too Close. In time we will see how these albums have a lasting effect on what trend will arise next electronic music.

Over the past five years, EDM’s popularity has grown substantially, attracting a new set of listeners to the overarching genre. For veteran ravers, this resurgence of sounds reminiscent of when they first started their journey into electronic music feels very full circle. Skrillex’s latest releases capture this sentiment by serving different purposes and with his first album providing a refreshing take on dubstep.

Quest for Fire pays homage to Skrillex’ older fans by demonstrating that not all dubstep has to be aggressive or headbangers. Songs like “Hydrate,” “Inhale Exhale,” and “Rumble” offer a breath of fresh air in the scene and are sure to inspire a new wave of artists and producers to experiment similarly. It’s worth noting that some listeners who are not familiar with certain sounds may dismiss new tracks with negative sentiment, but this often stems from their lack of familiarity or relatability with the vibe.

Different but related, when Drake released his album Honestly Nevermind last year, the internet was quick to criticize it because it deviated from his usual body of work with house music being the core influence. Released strategically just before the start of summer and following Bad Bunny’s Sin Verano a Ti album, it was rare not to hear songs from both albums mixed at the club. Even Beyoncé took her piece of the pie when creating her album, Renaissance, and was awarded a Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album.

It’s essential to note that electronic music taste is a muscle that needs to be strengthened and developed. The growing acceptance of dance music has refreshed the public’s palates, paving the way for electronic music to take center stage.

Despite mixed reviews of Quest for Fire, Skrillex’ focus on reinvention over repetition is apparent in his incorporation of UK influences like grime, rap, and garage. The rise of UK vocalists in western electronic music, like Flowdan, is a growing trend that is being utilized more frequently.

On the other hand, Don’t Get Too Close may appeal more to Skrillex’ newer audience of mainstream late adopters of EDM. The album features a lineup of popular artists such as Justin Bieber, Don Toliver, Swae Lee, and Kid Cudi, but also newer artists like Yung Lean and Pinkpantress, whom Gen Z can easily identify with from trending TikTok sounds.

Timing and understanding people’s readiness to digest different musical sounds is crucial for artists when trying to captivate a large-scale audience. You don’t want to be ahead of your time, you want to be at the forefront of when it’s happening.

Skrillex’s return to the scene has been a carefully calculated and intentional endeavor. By riding on the coattails of Fred Again… who first teased their collaboration for the first time during his London Boiler Room set, has created a trail of breadcrumbs that has led to the most widespread excitement ever generated for an electronic music album.

Earlier this month, Skrillex, Fred Again, and Four Tet hosted a series of pop-up shows in New York City that culminated in a sold-out, five-hour set at Madison Square Garden. While amid the unforgettable performance, Skrillex released Don’t Get Too Close. An iconic move. Practically every millennial and Gen Z individual with an interest in EDM and a TikTok account has seen clips from their set.

Skrillex’ come back to the electronic music scene symbolizes the genre’s evolution and its impact on the mainstream music industry. In time we will see how these albums will inspire the next wave of electronic music with more artists in the game now than ever before. Our crystal ball predicts we will witness the growth of other exciting genres such as Grime, Drum & bass, and Latin house in the coming year.