Many fans of electronic dance music (EDM) love the energy, the rhythm, and the uplifting sound of the genre (often generalized as “techno”). Some of them, however, also hold Christian beliefs. Rock music highly populates the Christian music scene, and there are also many Christian rap artists making names for themselves among believers everywhere. It is a rarity, however, to find Christian EDM.
It Exists!
Fans of both traditional EDM and Christian contemporary music are not often aware of it, but Christian EDM does exist. A rapidly-growing online community called GodsDJs is quickly becoming an epicenter for fans of Christian electronica. They provide users with knowledge of Christian DJs and producers and where to find Christian music. They also connect users with many of these DJs and producers, many of whom are community members themselves, via the site forums.
These resident producers and jockeys will often post previews of their songs and remixes in the forums. Community members may purchase these tracks (or on rarer occasions, download them for free), and often remix them and repost them to the forums. They also will remix songs from the mainstream Christian music genre. The site also offers a live radio stream of Christian EDM for all to access.
Community Inside and Out
GodsDJs had their first event earlier this year in Detroit, MI. The event, held in May, was called Movement Festival 2009. GodsDJs.com proudly reports that almost 1,000 event flyers were passed out to city residents, who allegedly displayed very positive reactions to the event. Many came back to ask about GodsDJs and the event—an opportunity that GodsDJs took to witness about God, who He is, and what they do (several event pictures are available at the GodsDJs.com Forum).
GodsDJs.com proudly displays that GodsDJs is “a group or network of Christians who enjoy electronic dance music and feel strongly that it can and is being used as a form of worship that brings glory to the Lord. [They] live in locations that span the globe, from the US to the UK, from South America to Africa… [representing] the world’s finest Christian electronic dance music.”
They, like the mainstream EDM scene, enjoy dancing, and they dance without the sex, drugs, and alcohol that often themes dance music. Rather, they use their love for electronica and their dancing to honor God.
Why Christian EDM?
Christian EDM DJ/Producer DJ Tony Foxx elaborates on this concept on the “About” page of his website, djtonyfoxx.com. “The dance music that you are prone to hear in clubs worldwide comes regular by themes like sex, drugs, alcohol abuse and violence,” he writes. “The use of ‘party drugs’... is rampant and is often stimulated by the lyrics. As much as the musical style reflects appealing good and happy times, its content all too often reflects or results in despair, hopelessness, and loneliness.”
The bio later states that DJ Tony Foxx’s album Faithfulness is not only an “eclectic collection of songs, mixes, and sonic stories that move both your feet and your heart,” but also a “powerful answer to the shallowness found in dance music today.”
GodsDJs’ friendly, uplifting community welcomes all new members and is growing very quickly. Users can talk with DJs and producers like Tony Foxx, Prodigal Sons, and DJ Rodimus. They can learn more about what they do and why they do it, and find remixes to some popular mainstream Christian music songs. GodsDJs has a message that they intend to spread to the world, and welcomes all to come in and see what they have to offer.
Sources:
GodsDJs.com (accessed 29 September 2009). Who Are We and What Do We Believe? Retrieved from http://www.godsdjs.com/?page_id=35
Vos, Anthonie (accessed 29 September 2009). DJ Tony Foxx Bio Retrieved from http://www.djtonyfoxx.com
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