I used to remember my brother hating EDM because he literally thought it was all just loud noise. For someone who doesn’t enjoy this kind of music, I know that it’s kind of challenging to appreciate the art. But the first time I showed him a documentary about the early days of the scene, he actually started to understand it. That’s the thing about EDM documentaries that I’ve always loved watching. It goes beyond the beats that we hear. It shows the people, the history, culture, and everything in between.
So if you’re looking for EDM documentaries that will help you understand the genre from a different lens, I have handpicked the best ones that I think every raver should watch on streaming platforms or cable or satellite TV. Let’s begin!
American Massive
If you want a glimpse of the ‘90s rave scene, American Massive is a good documentary to watch. You’ll see how the community was built from scratch, like those underground festivals and even DIY parties. There was so much passion and creativity that went into creating a scene where people could just come together for music, so it gave me a new appreciation for how EDM started. Of course, you wouldn’t hear the hits that we love today, but you’ll see where it really started.
Pump Up the Volume
I really found this movie eye-opening. Pump Up the Volume is also similar to American Massive in a way because it looks at how electronic music grew from small, underground scenes into something much bigger. What I really liked is that it doesn’t rush through the history. It takes time to show how different sounds, cities, and communities all played a role in shaping the genre. I keep watching this documentary if I want to be reminded to slow down and really appreciate where EDM came from. This is available on several streaming services if you want to watch it.
This Was Tomorrow
If you attend Tomorrowland, you’ll LOVE this documentary. This Was Tomorrow is entirely about Tomorrowland. It showed the behind-the-scenes so that ravers can see how much planning and effort go into creating the entire experience. Since I personally attended Tomorrowland, watching this documentary brought back so many memories.
What We Started
This documentary is literally all about the story of how EDM grew over time and the early pioneers of the scene, and the newer DJs who helped bring electronic music to a much bigger audience. I really loved how the movie goes back and forth between the past and the present, which really shows how everything started and where it is now. You can’t miss this documentary if you want to see how EDM changed over time. It’s really a must add to your next TV streaming session.
How Clubbing Changed the World
I’m not really into clubbing, but I know it’s played a big role in music and culture. Watching this documentary made me see that clubs aren’t just for dancing. It became a space where people could be themselves, enjoy EDM music, meet new people, and have the time of their lives. It gave a voice to communities that didn’t always have one.
The Stories Behind the Music You Love
Watching these documentaries made me realize that EDM isn’t just about the songs we dance to. That’s why if you love EDM, I highly recommend you check out these documentaries and take a look at the history, people, and culture that shaped the music we all enjoy today. I hope you enjoy these documentaries!
