Without You (the Story Behind my First EDM Song)
Going Back to my 90s Hip-Hop Roots
Simply stated, the influence and story behind my first EDM song, Without You, comes from a collaboration of my diverse life experiences.
Drawing from my deep love of 90s Hip-Hop and my recently discovered desire to get people moving their bodies to the beat, Without You was born. Without You is actually an EDM/Hip-Hop hybrid song. It has a catchy EDM chorus with a hard-hitting Hip-Hop intro and Hip-Hop verses.
I’ve been told this song has a Tiësto meets Missy Elliott feel to it. The vibe of this song is high. So high that I couldn’t stop dancing in my producer chair as I was composing the tracks to this upbeat, high-energy cut.
This Hip-Hop EDM song will make you get up and dance while bobbing your head to the beat at the same time.
My First EDM Song!
Without You started out as a hip-hop remix to one of my previous songs, Garza Beat. But after a couple experimental sessions in my bedroom studio, the song took an unexpected turn. A turn that effectively fused Hip-Hop with EDM.
For the chorus, I sampled some of the elements from my song, StarDust, and expanded on those elements significantly. One of the samples was a euro dance club sound that you can hear when Natalie Nokomis sings her parts in StarDust.
I based the entire chorus of Without You on the euro dance club sound from StarDust. Then I added some European female vocal samples.
I also added other electronic elements to give it a vibe more conducive to a traditional EDM song.
Old-School Influence
For the Hip-Hop influence on the intro, verses, and the end, I sampled a sound from an upcoming release that I’m producing for Natalie Nokomis.
The sound is a Hip-Hop horn and has a 50 Cent, in the club vibe to it. I also inserted some old-school DJ scratch effects with several other cool sounding elements to infuse it with 90s Hip-Hop energy. Then I added more female vocal samples.
Most of the vocal samples in the Hip-Hop parts sound like Missy Elliott from her song, Work It.
Experimental Hybrid Genre or New Style?
This is my first time experimenting with an EDM song, and I had a lot of fun recording and producing this track.
Depending on the feedback I receive for my first song in the EDM genre, I may record and release another EDM song and/or EP. And if I do, the song or EP will feature vocals from the amazingly talented Natalie Nokomis.
If you have any feedback (whether positive, negative, or neutral), please leave a comment below.
That said, I’m super excited for you to listen! If you dig what you hear, please share the love.
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