Disc Jock Dictionary

Electro

A close cousin to trance, electro house music uses similar synthesizers and catchy lyrical melodies, yet the genre's DJs tend to speed up the tempo and build up songs quicker for more powerful drops. Electro house still stays away from the intense, song-altering drops more accustomed to dubstep, as the DJs aim to create clean and euphoric sound. Despite a rather small following in Europe, electro house's popularity has grown exponentially in America, as famous DJs within the genre constantly tour in the States.

Avicii

No one in DJ universe had a bigger 2011 than Tim Bergling, better known by his stage name Avicii. The 22- year-old Swedish DJ exploded onto the music scene late in 2010 with his upbeat single, "Seek Bromance." Then, spring of last year, the smash-hit "Levels" surfaced on the Internet and quickly invaded the playlists of radio stations and college parties across the country. The success of his catchy electro anthem has effectively brought the Swedish DJ and the electro house genre into the mainstream and, coupled with the popularity of fellow countrymen Swedish House Mafia, there's no signs of this being a one-year fad.

With an onslaught of popular singles and a rigorous touring schedule, Avicii is arguably the most popular DJ in America right now. Interested in seeing the electro house superstar? He will be playing the Mullins Center in Amherst on Tuesday. And it shouldn't be hard to find a ride—several of your fellow classmates have already brought their tickets.

Progressive

Considered the tamest of the electronic genres, progressive house gets its name from the slow but steady build-up of its increasingly complex melodies. While some modern progressive mixers tend to incorporate heavy electro sounds into their songs, progressive music in its purest sense consists of tame and docile melodies. The trademark long runtime of progressive house tracks allows DJs to stack up the anticipation towards an unsurprising yet pleasing drop. Unlike dubstep or techno, it's the type of electro music that you can use as a backdrop while reading a book or studying for a test.

Deadmau5

Perhaps the most visually recognizable of the DJs, sporting an unmistakable, typically red ‘mau5' head, this Canadian-born DJ released his first album Get Scraped in 2006. He blew up after three collaborations with Rob Swire, his Australian artistic counterpart and producer, had reached number-one on Billboard dance hits—the most well-known is "Ghosts n' Stuff," which was later featured on a PlayStation commercial (the mix of the same song, entitled "Moar Ghosts n' Stuff" is perhaps better than the original and worth checking out). In 2009, he was named the best selling artist on Beatport, with more than 30, 000 downloads of his singles "Not Exactly," "Ghosts n' Stuff," and "Faxing Berlin." Known for his high-energy performances, Deadmau5 seems to enjoy performing, and has no doubt widened his audience by attending music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Coachella, gaining respect from artists and fans who may not necessarily be drawn to the electro/progressive house genre.

Trance

Heavy dubstep drops and electro bass lines not your thing? Perhaps you are most suited for the trance lifestyle. While not very popular stateside, trance has been a solid cornerstone in the European music scene for almost two decades. With hypnotic synthesizers and slow buildups and breakdowns, trance music looks to lull the listener into a dreamlike state. A trademark of the trance genre is the catchy lyrical progressions that frequently accompany the docile synth melodies.

Armin Van Buuren

If you're looking to begin an exploration into the world of trance, look no further than Armin Van Buuren. Coming from the Netherlands, arguably the epicenter of trance, Van Buuren is perhaps the most popular DJ on the planet. Singers such as Sharon den Adel and Nadia Ali have become famous overnight because of their collaborations with Van Buuren. He held the top spot of DJ Magazine's infamous top 100 list from 2007-2010, and his weekly internet radio show, "A State of Trance," attracts over 15 million viewers a week. His latest show showcased his infamous year mix, Van Buuren's personal mashup of the eighty most popular trance songs of the year.

Currently touring through Latin America, Van Buuren will return to the U.S. for a spring circuit, including a headline gig at the Ultra Music Festival. Rumor has it that the Dutch DJ will debut some tracks from his upcoming album, set to be released later this year, at Miami's infamous electro festival.

Dubstep