Electronic music: it’s the unoriginal soundtrack of raves, the pulsing heartbeat of those hedonistic brain-cell annihilation-fests, the stuff of naive candy kids strung out on ecstasy, right?  

Well, in all honesty, yes, it sometimes is. But don’t all music genres have to put up with a few cheesy, embarrassing members the way pop music does with, say, Britney Spears?  Most believe that a typical “techno” song consists of a variation of an “unts-unts” bass beat over the top of a Sarah McLaughlin remix, something that took about as much thought and creativity to produce as the “tracks” my hamster, Chuckles, “laid down” when she escaped her cage and walked across the piano keyboard.  

And, these cynics, aka haters, will tell you with a sarcastic smirk that if you’re really lucky, you’ll be hearing this scintillating combination of sounds while dancing among sweaty teens in some old bowling alley, chewing a candy necklace and waving a glow stick around like it’s your job. (Hey, don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it.) Above, on a faraway stage, the solitary, uncharismatic DJ stares at his computer screen instead of connecting with the crowd, an image that causes Beatles-loving Baby Boomers to shudder. Where are the screaming girls? Where are the matching outfits? Most importantly, where are the instruments? The lyrics? These are all questions that my very own mother has asked me, along with some of the aforementioned cynics. (Mom’s too sweet to be cynical.)  

The fact is, I just so happen to be a proud lover of electronic music. That’s right, I actually think the stuff is good, especially some homegrown beats produced here in Boulder. So listen up kids, I’m about to, um, rave about some electronic music that comes right from your own backyard.  

Zilla: Just Like Goin’ To A Rock Show 

Remember when mom asked where all the instruments went? Well, they’re not completely gone. Zilla is a Boulder-based “organic” electronic band, meaning the musicians play acoustic instruments, the sounds from which they then feed though electronic processors. The result is a band-like feel with the energy of a rock show and the improvisation of jazz music.  

Zilla spawned from the jam band scene—Michael Travis of String Cheese Incident co-founded the group, making it at least partly responsible for exposing self-proclaimed Phish-heads and jam band fans to electronica. Taking it one step further is Vibesquad, the DJ moniker of Zilla member Aaron Holstein, whose only instrument is, you guessed it, a laptop.

Jantsen: Would You Like Some Womp With That? 

Aggressive grind-stomp glitch-hop womptronica—a mouthful, sure, but that’s the only way to describe this solo artist DJ, whose sound combines hip hop beats and cutting edge techno tracks. During a set, Jantsen showcases his uncanny ability to build tension and excitement in the audience through dramatic crescendos and crushing bass lines. Following in the footsteps of artists like Bassnectar, a San Francisco-based DJ who pioneered this uncompromising, no-holds-barred style, Jantsen is also creating his own distinct sound by mixing sampled tracks with homemade, hard-hitting rhythms.  

Jantsen is affiliated with Family Productions, a volunteer-based group of artists who sponsor what they call “Tribal Dance Collectives,” music and art events that emphasize community, eco/political involvement, attendee participation/interaction and a leave-no-trace policy. And you wondered where all the hippies went... 

Communikey: Das Guten Techno

Not a single artist, but rather a collective of DJs, musicians, producers, promoters and multi-media artists, Communikey puts on shows that feature local and international electronic musicians. Going to a Communikey event will give you a feel for both the minimal, sometimes dark sound of European-inspired beats, which fall into the aptly named genre of IDM (intelligent dance music), as well as the bouncier, easy-to-dance to house music. If you’re looking for a sound that falls anywhere between neo-postmodern and industrial, this is the troupe for you.

Green Spirit Productions: Jazz Club Meets Hip-Hop Funk

A member of GSP: The Mechanik

Again, not a lone musician, or even a “band” in the traditional sense of the word, GSP is a collaboration of like-minded producers, musicians and artists who have come together with the intention of creating art in an encouraging, open atmosphere, not to get all touchy-feely on you or anything. Founded by east-coasters who moved to Boulder for less distraction, the group’s sound is sultry and smooth, part New York soul, part booty-shakin’ hip-hop.  

In the words of Ryan Nelli, co-founder of GSP, “The mission of GSP is to create albums and live music experiences that enrich our communities. We are trying to create a 3D living, breathing multimedia experience that at times can push towards a dance party; at other times, perhaps, inspire an inner dialog within the listener, prompting reflections/revelations that may truly ignite the listener into making a change in their life.” GSP also works with Caitlin Demuth, aka Lynx, whose folksy singing and unique beat-boxing is bringing a whole new sound to the genre.   

And that’s the beauty of techno. It’s not just one sound and it’s not just one style. It can be many things—in fact, the next time Chuckle walks across the keyboard, I’ll be sure to record the sound she makes and sample it in my next song. Now that’s something rock n’ roll can’t do.