Christian Electronic Dance Music (also known as CEDM, Christian EDM, Christian Dance Music, CDM, or Christian electronic music) is as the name suggests a fusion of electronic dance and Christian music. Its musical styles closely mirrors non-Christian EDM; however, the CEDM culture’s lack of drug use and emphasis of positive lyrics (often focused on Christian principles) distinguish it from non-religious counterparts.
EDM.com wrote “the [CEDM] culture can feel quite welcoming.” Many different Groups such as Christian Electro Spot, Found Beats, God’s DJs, and CEDM Radio have been created to support and foster the CEDM genre. Many live concerts and events have been held in Christian churches, in addition to traditional venues such as Lumination, Creation Festival and the LifeLight Music Festival. CEDM has also been incorporated into some Christian worship routines.
Capital Kings, Matthew Parker, Bryson Price are some of the most popular Christian electronic music figures. Other artists have entered the genre too, such as Transform DJs, Re5a, The Loyalist, Oiwolf, Tony Foxx, DJ Flubbel, Red Letter Hymnal, Hillsong Young & Free, Reyer, Andy Hunter and more.
Christian electronic artists such as Owl City and Kye Kye have more of a pop sound. A significant number of artists from this genre tend not to take kindly to the Christian music label, similar to Christian rappers Andy Mineo and Lecrae. There also is a perception of genre-blending between CEDM and Contemporary Christian music. CEDM also includes other subgenres included in EDM, such as dubstep, techno, deep house and trance.
In September 2014, Hallels.com conducted an interview with CEDM artist Matthew Parker, and claimed that some in the Christian community deem dance music as, “music of the devil”, to which Parker replied, “I don’t believe any rhythms, melodies, chords, or harmonies are inherently evil and belong to the devil. Frankly, I think that’s stupid.” Zurich Lewis of the Biola University Chimes wrote an article aimed at Christians distinguishing the harmful elements of the EDM culture (such as drug use) from the musical style of the genre itself.
Multiple Internet radio stations broadcast CEDM, such as Radio U Fusion: EDM, NRT Radio Remix, God’s DJs, URLive, and GLOW. NRT Radio and David Thulin partnered to create a CEDM radio show, The Reconstruction, which seeks to promote Christian EDM.
