Electronic Music - Kraftwerk

Kraftwerk are the originators of electronic music. They created a futuristic, unusual new style of music, much ahead of their time. They were fascinated with sounds, and melting them together to create a musical piece of artwork, and they were not worried about what people thought. Kraftwerk paved the ways for electronic music entirely. Weather it was Punk, Pop, Rock, R&B (basically every genre), Kraftwerk and their electronic sound changed music. If it weren’t for Kraftwerk, no electronic music would exist today.

From 1974-1981, they ditched their more experimental style of creating sounds, and started making their music and albums with a theme. Kraftwerk employed classically trained musicians to help perfect the ideas and concepts to their themed albums. They were now putting more thought into their art, and more aware of their influence.

Creating themed albums, and pioneering electronic music are two of Kraftwerk’s most notable accomplishments, but not the only. Kraftwerk were such interesting artists, that they influenced an entire era. David Bowie, Brian Eno, and Gary Numan are amongst the huge array of artists that crafted their sounds from the influence of Kraftwerk’s electronic art. Kraftwerk also influenced other countries with their unique style, and even were the first to release albums in other languages. Overall, Kraftwerk has influenced music as a whole, and without them, music would be boring.

As a Music Producer, I believe that Kraftwerk has influenced me more than I will ever know. After learning about their music more in depth, I have a greater appreciation for them. In fact, I feel more connected to the group entirely, because I too like to create things that sound different and interesting, that are influenced by electronics and sounds, even everyday sounds. Many things outside of the box sound like music to me. I had always been fascinated with Trans-Euro-Express, and how they emulated the European Transportation into a song. Conceptually, Kraftwerk are true pioneers, not only just of electronic music, but the imagination of music, and the endless possibilities. Ralph and Florian are truly idols.