The Evolution of Indie Dance Music Through Decades and Skindred’s Failure to Secure #1 Spot in UK
Sinusoidal Weekly Highlights
Welcome to Sinusoidal Music’s weekly newsletter. Here we shall present you with the latest insights into the music business, production tips for musicians, the hottest new releases, and everything in between!
Music Buzz > What are the paparazzi after?
SKINDRED / SMILE JUST MISSES TOP SPOT ON UK ALBUM CHART BY A HAIR’S BREADTH
With Smile having topped the mid-week UK Album chart, Skindred have fallen agonisingly short of the No. 1 spot with “less than 150 chart units separating” them and Irish pop singer/songwriter Cian Ducrot, whose breakthrough was via TikTok.
“We didn’t expect our eighth studio album, Smile, to have such a high entrance in the UK National album charts,” Skindred told us. “If you told me that we would be number two in the UK national album charts a few weeks back, we would never have believed it.”
Smile is such a great album, and even at No. 2, the chart placing is so very well deserved. “Whatever your music taste, genre preference, or good time partiality, Skindreds Smile is just undeniably good,” we wrote in our album review. “It’ll leave nothing but the title on your face.”
“To all who pushed and pushed with us in the last week, I’ve got nothing but love, appreciation and sunshine for you,” said Benji. “What an amazing time to be the mighty Skindred. We are totally celebrating this win.
“Please rejoice with us – thank you to everyone who contributed to our enormous success. This is something we will never forget.”
Smile is top of this week’s Official Vinyl Albums Chart, Rock and Metal Albums Chart and is the UK’s most downloaded album of the past seven days, as well as the biggest independent release of the week.
Skindred previously reached the Top 40 with 2014’s Kill the Power (Number 28 peak), 2015’s Volume (29) and 2018’s Big Tings (26).
Music Through the Ages > Lesser known facts about how music shaped the world
From Analog Beats to Digital Grooves
Indie dance music has undergone a fascinating evolution, intertwining elements of indie rock and electronic dance music to create a unique and dynamic genre. Emerging in the late 20th century, indie dance was initially characterized by its fusion of indie's introspective, guitar-driven sound with the infectious rhythms of electronic beats. Bands like New Order and The Happy Mondays in the 1980s exemplified this blend, laying the groundwork for the genre's evolution.
As technology advanced, the 1990s witnessed a surge in electronic music production tools, enabling indie dance to explore new dimensions. The era birthed iconic tracks from The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy, blending rave sensibilities with indie aesthetics. Indie dance's evolution further accelerated in the 2000s as artists began experimenting with more diverse styles, embracing elements of disco, funk, and synth-pop.
The 2010s marked a pivotal phase as indie dance music became increasingly accessible through streaming platforms and social media. The genre's diverse range of subgenres like nu-disco, electro-pop, and chillwave found dedicated followings. Artists like LCD Soundsystem and Daft Punk achieved mainstream recognition, propelling indie dance into a global spotlight.
In the contemporary landscape, indie dance continues to push boundaries, often intertwining with other genres like future pop and alternative R&B. The genre's evolution reflects a fusion of cultural influences, technological advancements, and an ongoing desire to blend the raw emotion of indie with the infectious energy of dance music.
Sinusoidal Spotlight > Our pick of the latest indie releases
flora - Easy
Flora, with her ever-simplistic yet intriguing approach to music, has always managed to garner love and affection for her music. Her music which often ties together various motifs and a wide variety of emotional snippets provides a great soothing space for her listeners. Recently, Flora released a great pop song called ‘Easy’. A slow-paced, mellow, contemporary, pop track with a very chilled back and casual vibe. It is a song that one would listen to to lighten up their mood or to just energise their spirits.
Musician’s Toolkit > Secret production tips for pros
Software and tools for making electronic music
Whether you’re making electronic music at home or in a studio you’ll need a specific set of tools other than a computer. Let’s explore a basic list of software and equipment you’ll need to produce electronic music.
1. DAW
A Digital Audio Workstation is the primary software for making electronic music. DAWs pack the full power of a studio into your computer, with the ability to record, edit, and mix large, multi-track projects. A DAW acts as a central hub for your entire set-up, capable of processing audio recordings alongside virtual instruments and external hardware. Most producers favor DAWs for their versatility and all-in-one connectivity.
2. MIDI Controller
MIDI controllers provide a hardware interface for controlling and playing other devices, including virtual instruments. They come in all shapes and sizes—the most popular are piano keyboards, ideal for playing melodies with sensitive dynamics, or drum pads, which are more suitable for tapping in beats and rhythms or triggering samples.
3. Sound libraries
Samples and loops are the building blocks of electronic music. You can create your own from scratch, or take advantage of a wide range of genre-specific Expansions to save time or help you get started creating beats and projects as a beginner.
KONTAKT 7 is Native Instruments’ flagship sampler. As well as drum hits and synth sounds, its vast library also includes high-quality recordings of real instruments. You can even emulate the nuanced dynamics of a full symphony orchestra—virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.
4. Plugins
Plugins are software audio units that run inside your DAW environment, giving you the choice to add new sounds and features. Plugins can be divided into two main categories: instruments and effects.
Some virtual instruments are simulations of existing hardware, while others capitalize on the power of computers with an intricacy that is only possible in software form. Soft synths tend to pack in more features at a lower price point, so you can build up your own toolkit for making digital music without sacrifices in cost or space.
Effects plugins manipulate an input audio signal in myriad ways. Creative effects include distortion, filtering and EQ, delay and reverb, and modulation such as tremolo, chorus, flanger and phaser. More subtle effects are applied later in the production process for cleaning up or correcting a mix.
5. Audio Interface
An audio interface is a bridge between software and hardware, featuring numerous inputs for instruments and microphones and outputs for speakers and headphones.
6. Speakers or headphones
Along with all of the above, you will need a decent pair of headphones or speakers to listen to your electronic tracks.
Playlist of the week > Sinusoidal’s assortment of trending playlists for every mood
Indie Dancehall - Sinusoidal Music
Looking for the ultimate Indie Pop playlist to get your retro dance party started? Look no further! This handpicked selection of energetic and upbeat songs will transport you back to the era of neon leg warmers and glittery roller skates! Featuring a mix of catchy hooks, infectious rhythms, and modern twists on classic pop sounds, this playlist is perfect to get your groove on. So turn up the volume and let the music take you back to the days of big hair and even bigger dance moves!