A recent trend DJs are participating in is remixing classic 90s songs. These remixes updated the tracks using the latest technology and musical theories to give them a modern spin. The 90s music scene was a mix of emerging styles and mainstream pop music.
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Follow the Playlist on SpotifyArtists such as Michael Jackson and Madonna ruled the top 100 charts, while groups like Nirvana and Pearl Jam were emerging as influential bands in the punk grunge scene.
Today, some of the youth who grew up with Madonna and Nirvana are emerging artists and are starting to experiment with remixing the sounds they remember from their youths.
History of 90s
The 90s music scene was large and diverse. Boy bands and girl groups such as NSYNC and the Spice Girls rose in the 90s pop scene. Meanwhile, alternative punk and grunge bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam created an angsty and disenchanted sound. Pop punk also began to gain recognition with bands like Green Day and Blink-182.
Rap and Hip Hop began with the gangsta rap of N.W.A. and grew into the famous East vs West Coast rivalry of Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. R&B was also beginning to gain traction at this time with groups like Boys to Men and TLC.
“Nostalgia is the name of the game, of course…” says MC Mario.
Finally, electronic music was also beginning to change into a new genre – rave and techno music. Daft Punk and Crazy Frog were some early adopters and their music filled dance halls in the 90s. A lot of new music grew out of the 90s and it has given DJs today a large collection of samples to modernize.
Nostalgia
90s music has resurged because of today’s up-and-coming DJs who grew up in the 80s and 90s and are now at the period in their lives when they are expressing their music and experimenting with those that influenced them.
Jamie C, a Canadian club and radio DJ, producer and remixer, says DJ remixes blend nostalgia with modern techniques. “This mix of old and new helps the remixes appeal to both longtime fans and younger listeners who prefer contemporary music,” Jamie C says. “[These] remixes can connect different generations and keep the music timeless.”
“Nostalgia is the name of the game, of course, and people, producers and remixers are going deeper and deeper,” says MC Mario. As a veteran radio host and DJ who has sold over 3.5 million albums in Canada, MC Mario knows the industry.
DJs sometimes want to create a remix to turn a song that was originally obscure into a big hit. MC Mario mentions “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65, which was remixed and expanded upon by David Guetta and Beb Rexha in “I’m Good (Blue).”
“It will come back again, as it has many times since the 90’s,” Stonebridge says.
Some like Grammy-nominated DJ, StoneBridge (Sten Hallström), believe that a strong remix can become more popular and in some cases even be mistaken for an original. For example, Stonebridge says his remix of the 90s hit “Show Me Love” by Robin Stone has become the de facto track when a person thinks of “Show Me Love.” “The original is a different story altogether,” says Stonebridge.
Technology
The art of DJing and remixing, which originated in the 90s, has evolved. Producers can incorporate and rework original tracks using digital audio workstations like Ableton Live and FL Studio. Jamie C notes the techniques used: “They keep signature elements like memorable melodies or vocals, but enhance the track with deeper basslines, updated tempos, and electronic effects.”
Jamie C and StoneBridge both agree that AI is pushing creativity. “Being a vocal producer I need clean, separate vocals, but AI can now get vocals out of a full track and this is the biggest advancement in music production ever,” says StoneBridge.
The Digital Age
Streaming platforms and social media play a powerful role in the revival of 90s music. YouTube, for instance, allows young listeners to search for 90s classics after listening to their remixed versions. It would be amiss to overlook TikTok’s role in all of this. It has given artists a platform to spread the word about new releases. Guetta and Rexha’s “I’m Good (Blue)” first went viral on the app before topping the chart.
In today’s day and age, the work doesn’t stop at production. DJs need to promote their releases, which can be a tough job. MC Mario says, “You have to be out there. If it goes viral then it’s going to catch on fire and everything’s going to be perfect. But, you have to be out there and social media is the key.”
90s Revival is Here to Stay.
Remixes help introduce younger audiences to classic hits and evoke nostalgia among those who grew up in this era. Producers get to showcase their creativity and use modern technology while maintaining the original essence that made these songs iconic.
Iconic music is always influential to successive generations of artists looking for inspiration. “It will come back again, as it has many times since the 90’s,” Stonebridge says. “It’s a phase and hopefully new songs are written that will hit along with chosen remixes.”
Looking ahead, it’s likely we’ll see an increase in remixes of tracks from other decades, too, as artists continue to look for the sound that will make them the next big hit.