Deadmau5 and the Rise of House Music
Music has been present in the world ever since human beings populated the earth centauries ago. Musicians such as Mozart, Elvis, and the Beatles have all attained everlasting fame for becoming the symbol of their respective musical generations. In the present day, there are so many different artists and genres that no one specific person or category can gain distinction over the rest. With this in mind, a new genre of music has been gaining attention. House music is taking the industry by storm. With a rapidly expanding following it will soon become the dominant genre for listeners, and will eventually represent the new generation of music.
House music is still perceived by many as underground music that has only established a cult following. Twenty-six years ago when House music appeared, this was correct. Chicago and New York were the first two cities that played the new sound. This remained true for a few years. Despite growing popularity within the cities, House was unable to establish a foothold on the radio or in the clubs. It wasn’t until the early nineties when House spread to Europe, that it quickly became famous, due to the pirate radio stations and the upbeat clubs. Since then, House has spread throughout the world, and attracted a much more diverse following than it originally had.
With the rapid worldwide spread of House music it is surprising to note that none of the producers or DJ’s pioneering the movement have generated enough of a following to reach celebrity. Recently, this has changed. Joel Zimmerman, a DJ/Computer programmer from Canada has become the first House artist to earn widespread fame. People all around the world know him as Deadmau5 (pronounced Dead-Mouse) and recognize him for his signature outfit.
Deadmau5 at the 2009 Grammy Awards.
Zimmerman rejects the notion that he is a DJ. Instead he explains that he is a performer who pieces together tracks and sounds with computer technology to create his music. Zimmerman began experimenting with sounds on computers before he entered high school. He explains his first attempts at creating music by saying “They’re musical compositions made using the chips from old computers”. Before long his unique sounding tracks drew attention from artists across the industry, and he soon began to produce beats and tracks for a variety of different musicians. Because of this he was offered a job on a radio station, where he was able to play some of his own. He gained enough of a following to begin touring and finally reached the top of the music charts when Beatport named him the ‘Best Electro House Artist’.
The recognition from Beatport was only the beginning for Zimmerman. One year later he was nominated for the highest of all musical honors, a Grammy Award. Deadmau5 would win the Grammy for his remix of ‘The Longest Road’ by Morgan Page. He has won 3 consecutive Best Dance Recording’s of the Year, as well as being named the best American DJ at The International Dance Music Awards.
People wonder why House music has become so popular. If you ask any listener, you would get similar answers. House music has much high BPM (beats pre minute) than most other music genres typically have. Because of this it energizes the listener, whether at a concert or playing through an iPod. House music has become most popular with people between the ages of 17-25, who make up the majority of the club going population where house music is played.
Deadmau5's famous 'cube'.
House music concerts are another aspect of the genre that is unique. They no longer feature the traditional bands that have been staples at these events. In some instances vocalists are not even showcased. Tickets are mostly general admission, and only rarely will house venues have seats. This gives the concert more of the feel of a party, where people are jumping, dancing, and having a good time. In addition to audio, lights are becoming increasingly more integral in the concertgoers experience. Deadmau5 features one of the most famous lighting displays during his shows. Zimmerman sits in a cube like perch, with his controls in front of him. He is able to create and play any song he chooses, and is also able to control the light display from his control board. Even Zimmerman’s Mau5head has lights that are controlled through the panels. The combination of audio and visual stimulation is most likely the main reason for the rapid growth in popularity House music is undergoing.
With international hits, Ghosts N Stuff, I Remember, and Raise your Weapons, it is no surprise that Deadmau5 has attained a celebrity that has so far been elusive to other house artists. During his U.K tour last year, Deadmau5’s show at London’s Earls Court filled a venue that has a 17,000 capacity. This was the first time an electronic/house artist had accomplished this feet. Earlier this month, Deadmau5 became the first artist in any genre to sell out six consecutive shows at New York City’s iconic Roseland Ballroom.
Other House artists such as Kaskade, Avicii, Daft Punk, and Benny Benassi have shared in Deadmau5’s success, all selling out multiple shows around the world in the past year. Swedish House Mafia, the ‘super group’ of House music, along with Deadmau5 is the most successful. Swedish House Mafia is comprised of three DJ’s, and although they rarely release songs, they sell out almost every show they have. Swedish House Mafia’s latest conquest was their December 16th show at Madison Square Garden. The tickets for this concert were in such demand that the servers selling tickets crashed as soon as the sale began. The show sold out before most people were able to refresh their browser, making them the first House group to sell out Madison Square Garden.
Over recent years the concerts in highest demand are the House music concerts. The genre is becoming increasingly popular, and so are its artists. While Deadmau5 has reached a level of popularity others have not, more artists will certainly begin to gain global renown. The genre of House is reinventing the music world, and listeners are happy to watch and listen.
