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The Journal

New music, production, electronic music culture and the experiences behind Eddie Zar.

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The Beat Goes On: How EDM Is Shaping Pop Culture in 2026

How dance music's production habits, short-form discovery and live shows have moved into the middle of pop culture in 2026.

Sep 9, 2026

What an extended mix is for: DJ intros, phrase structure, a groove that develops over time, and an outro that leaves room…

Sep 7, 2026

Trance never really disappeared. Here's why its melodies, emotional builds and euphoric energy feel newly visible in electronic music in 2026.

Sep 4, 2026

How I build an EDM track, from the first musical idea through arrangement and mixing to knowing when to stop, after producing…

Sep 2, 2026

Getting kick and bass to sit together in an EDM mix: compatible sounds, note length, sidechain movement and how the low end…

Aug 31, 2026

A vocal can give an electronic track its emotional center. How to shape the arrangement, preserve expressive details, and use effects without…

Aug 28, 2026

Groove comes from the relationship between sounds. Explore how accents, note lengths, timing, and bass placement can bring a programmed EDM beat…

Aug 26, 2026

A memorable EDM melody needs more than a huge synth sound. A closer look at rhythm, repetition, emotional movement, and writing a…

Mar 31, 2025

My recap of Ultra Music Festival 2025 at Bayfront Park: the Sunday rain delay, the sets people talked about, and the new…

Mar 25, 2025

I've just released Turn On Love, a single about love arriving when you don't expect it. Here's what went into it and…