When I first listened to CFUR, I fell in love. A radio station on campus at which you can volunteer? It was a dream come true for me. I have always wanted to be involved with broadcasting, and I feel like Cinderella putting on her glass slipper whenever I walk into the studio. The music here is good, the hosts and managers are great, and the whole aura of this fine radio station is awesome. But what about us young folk? I’m not going to lie; it’s a little hard to fist bump in a truck with two 12’ subs and 5 friends when only classic rock or folk are on the radio. As an 18 year old from Generation Z, I thought: “What would university students want to listen to when they’re pre-gaming on Friday nights?” After all, CFUR is for you, by you.
My name is Foster Schlienz, and I am an aspiring broadcaster and EDM enthusiast. I am a first year commerce student right here at UNBC, and my goal is to bring a new sound and a little youth to CFUR.
I know what you’re thinking. I’m probably just some Skrillex fanboy who jumped on the bandwagon when “First of the Year” came out. Don’t know who Skrillex is? Wait, I think I might be writing to an audience unfamiliar with the term “EDM”…
EDM stands for Electronic Dance Music. This genre has many, many, MANY sub genres, including trance, electro, house, electro house, progressive house, tech house, dubstep, glitch hop, and drum and bass. You may have even heard some EDM on the radio recently, without knowing it was EDM. Do you know the song “Clarity” by Zedd? It’s EDM. “I Need Your Love ft. Ellie Goudling” by Calvin Harris? 100% EDM. “Wake Me Up” by Avicii? Indubitably EDM. Even the ’00 cult classic “One More Time” by Daft Punk is an early EDM song (DP are arguably the EDM godfathers). And these are just the tip of the iceberg. Go to Beatport.com and you’ll be immersed in a world of music you didn’t even know existed.
It’s all around us, and it’s taking over the planet. And we don’t even know.
30 years from now, Generation Z is going to look back and think, “What were the classic EDM songs of our youth?” Granted, there will never be classic EDM as there is classic rock from past decades. But thinking back to my first year of high school, one song stands out. “Memories” by the ever so famous French DJ David Guetta. If you went to high school in the year 2009, you know that this was THE song of the year. Played at every school dance, heard from the Grade 12’s cars, and blasted throughout every radio station in the country at least 30 times a day. This is a classic example of those songs that are played endlessly on the radio until you don’t want to hear it anymore ("Dancing With Myself” by Billy Idol anyone?). But will songs like that last as long as classic rock songs? As Beethoven’s 7th symphony? Probably not. The world of music is ever changing; new genres are being created left, right, and center. Next thing you know, we’ll be listening to music straight out of “Bladerunner” in flying cars. But for know, let’s bathe in the warmth of EDM and all it’s soothing powers.
Ladies and gentleman, the invasion of Generation Z to your airwaves in Prince George has begun.
