EDM.com proudly publishes four installments of annual year-end coverage: Industry Leaders, Performances, Music Producers, and Songs.
With so much new music offered by EDM's artist community, it would be unfair to its diverse range of creators to publish a nebulous blanket list of the year's top songs. So to highlight the best songs of the year, we've chosen 10 popular sub-genres of dance music and recognized five tracks, each chosen by members of EDM.com 's staff.
Check out a playlist below, followed by a breakdown of each individual song from each genre.
House Qrion - Your Love Nostalgic and wistful, Qrion’s "Your Love" leaves listeners yearning for nights in the big city. Delicate but moving, the track's soundscapes leave listeners with an optimistic warmth. - Nick Yopko
ACRAZE - Do It To It ACRAZE’s imminent rise to superstardom began here. Arguably dance music’s record of the year, “Do It To It,“ a tech house anthem s ampling vocals from Cherish's 2006 single of the same name, has helped propel the producer to international stardom while solidifying his transition from bass musi c to house. "It feels good to put out more house music because I feel more alive," ACRAZE told EDM.com in an exclusive interview. "As a musician, it's all a feeling." - Carlie Belbin & Konstantinos Karakolis
Dom Dolla - Pump the Brakes The ingenious Dom Dolla managed to craft a club banger revolving around the adoration of his old Toyota Camry. The apparent successor to his runaway hit, “Take It," "Pump the Brakes" is a whimsical concoction of catchy hooks, car alarms and engine revs that erupts on the dancefloor. The accompanying music video is also a sight to behold with the aforementioned Camry making a glorious cameo. - Ulises Vargas
Enamour & Hydrah - Hypertrophy of Heart The ebb and flow of "Hypertrophy of Heart" is magnetic. Floaty, mesmeric vocals, deep bass and melodic stabs come together to smash the dancefloor. - Saad Masood
LP Giobbi & hermixalot - Move Your Body LP Giobbi has had her biggest year yet and “Move Your Body” is one of the most notable highlights from it. The "Piano House Queen" tapped longtime collaborator hermixalot to help cook up a funky, four-on-the-floor beat, and a surefire dancefloor filler. - Niko Sani
Dubstep Virtual Riot - Redline Virtual Riot’s Simulation album is the most progressive dubstep album of the year. “Redline” stands tall amongst the other tracks on the record with sinister production and virtuosic bass syncopation . - Lennon Cihak
Leotrix - Tins 2021 was a banner year for Leotrix, who burst onto the radar in the bass music scene with a sound all his known. "Tins" is an immaculate example, and an inventive dubstep anthem oozing with the ferocity of a young gun with big plans in the electronic music scene—a scary thought considering he's only 22. - Jason Heffler
GRiZ & Subtronics - Griztronics II (Another Level) GRiZ and Subtronics minted one of the biggest standout singles of 2019 with the wonky and unearthly “Griztronics.” Taking another stab at greatness, the two landed a momentous sequel in “Griztronics II (Another Level),” which stands up to the hype of its predecessor. The track consists of three “acts” with each bass beatdown more mind-blowing than the last. The collaboration feels as though the two top-notch producers are pushing each other to their limits, making for an entertaining and unpredictable listen throughout. - Cameron Sunkel
Kayzo, Sullivan King & Papa Roach - Domination Kayzo, Sullivan King and Papa Roach’s “DOMINATION” perfectly combines their respective styles into a ruthless dubstep-metal hybrid. Kayzo and King have each been bridging the worlds of rock and bass music for years, while Papa Roach have been actively incorporating electronic music elements in their music throughout their storied history. So it’s safe to say that “DOMINATION” is a true gem within its genre, and makes for one of the hardest-hitting dubstep cuts of the year. - Konstantinos Karakolis
Vampa & ZÍA - New Levels There’s a new class of bass music producers on the rise, and for the first time, a wave of women is leading the pack. GRVDNCR labelmates Vampa & ZÍA released their face-melting collaboration, “New Levels,” earlier this year. The track is a killer combination of ominous chord progressions and breakneck dubstep synths, while bone-rattling trap production and a sinister vocal sample round out its darkly cinematic listening experience. Yes, the spooky aural aesthetic of “New Levels” is definitely trendy. But with their song's carefully crafted drops and wobbly sound design, Vampa & ZÍA have managed to bring the style to—excuse the pun—a new level. - Rachel Kupfer
Trap RL Grime & ISOxo - Stinger RL Grime’s releases were few and far between in 2021, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t manage to shake up the scene in true trap don fashion. Produced alongside his Sable Valley protégée ISOxo, "Stinger" is as blistering as its title would suggest. With a harrowing chord progression and dark brass, the track sets a distinctly ominous tone. Helped along by the rallying, war-like cry of the track’s vocals, “Stinger” builds up to a cathartic apex before taking the firepower up a notch with a descending flurry of bass-heavy synths. It represents a groundbreaking release for ISOxo, and so far he’s parlayed the momentum into a series of equally refreshing trap bangers in its wake. - Cameron Sunkel
Moore Kismet & WYN - Rumor “Rumor” perfectly summarizes the signature sound we’ve come to associate with Moore Kismet, one of the electronic music scene's brightest artists. WYN’s immaculate vocals perfectly synchronize with Kismet's haunting production, cultivating a beautifully eerie arrangement and one of their most impressive tracks to date. - Niko Sani
TroyBoi - Bellz Sampling Anita Ward and Frederick Knight’s 1979 disco classic “Ring My Bell,” TroyBoi transformed the timeless track into a hard-hitting and danceable trap anthem. Not that fans needed one, but “Bellz” was an appropriate reminder that TroyBoi is one of the genre’s greats. - Nick Yopko
MEMBA & vōx - Trenches MEMBA and vōx’s “Trenches” is a beautiful amalgamation of trap and future bass, showcasing the former's refined music production chops and the latter's empowering voice. The track’s impeccable tonality highlights both artists as forces to be reckoned with in electronic music. - Lennon Cihak
CloZee & Jead - Please Come Home CloZee's hypnotic bass music took another leap forward in 2021 and her melodic trap jam, "Please Come Home," is nothing short of a stroke of genius. Here she flexes a spine-chilling arrangement, which bursts at its seams with the organic percussion and nuanced sound design that only the "world bass" pioneer can produce. - Jason Heffler
Drum & Bass Fox Stevenson - Ether Fox Stevenson has always been a go-to name in the drum & bass genre. His aching 2021 single “Ether” highlights his versatility in the studio and easily takes the cake as one of the genre's best of the year. - Lennon Cihak
Rusko - Mac 19 If you’ve ever seen Rusko perform, you know there’s never a lack of energy when he’s onstage. In "Mac 19," classic Rusko wobbles fashioned into a high-speed drum & bass arrangement made for one of the most exciting tracks of the year from the iconic producer. - Nick Yopko
Etherwood & Zara Kershaw - Lighthouse Etherwood and Zara Kershaw's lit up the hearts of the drum & bass community with their liquid ballad, “Lighthouse.” The de facto follow-up to their powerhouse 2015 collab “Souvenirs,” the track oozes with euphoria and soul. Smooth breaks and Kershaw's enchanting vocals come together to create an uplifting drum & bass masterwork. - Carlie Belbin
Delta Heavy & Koven - Feel For fans of melodic drum & bass, “Feel” has been a dream collaboration years in the making. With two of the genre's most impactful artists of the moment joining forces—for a release on the legendary UKF label, no less—one could immediately tell this was going to be something special. With a commanding vocal presence from Koven combined with frenetic drums and stentorian leads courtesy of Delta Heavy, “Feel” sees both artists leading with their strengths. - Cameron Sunkel
Keys N Krates feat. Ambré Perkins - Glitter (Netsky Remix) Taking on Keys N Krates and Ambré’s R&B-influenced single "Glitter," which was released back in 2017 and featured on the trio's debut album Cura, Netsky managed to craft a sublime drum & bass remix. Infusing the original with brisk drums and ethereal sound design, the Belgian producer once again proved why he is regarded one of the most influential drum & bass artists of the past decade. - Konstantinos Karakolis
Future Bass ILLENIUM, Nurko & Valerie Broussard - Sideways While Fallen Embers showcases the evolution of ILLENIUM’s sound, “Sideways” is his signature sound in its purest form. Nurko and Valerie Broussard’s contributions to the single only bolster its flawless quality, as the former's soaring synths match the energy of the latter's captivating vocals. - Niko Sani
Dabin & Mokita - Drown We all know that when emotions come to play in an electronic music producer’s studio, there are bound to be a bevy of festival-ready tearjerkers in the release pipeline. Dabin’s third studio album, Between Broken, is our most notable use case this year, particularly its future bass standout, “Drown” (with Mokita). This track goes straight into its feels with tender, stripped back vocals and a bright and beautiful guitar riff. “When the waves start crashing down and the world just gets too loud; When you're reaching out, I'll never let you drown,” Mokita belts over a drop of power chords and rallying rave claps. Find your festival family, because this one will have you giving out all the hugs. - Rachel Kupfer
Tisoki & Charity Vance - SENSITIVE The growth of Tisoki has been a treat to watch unfurl. The British electronic music virtuoso, long revered as one of the most gifted producers in the dubstep world, released his debut album 01953 back in July. Largely eschewing the screeching sound design of yesteryear in favor of a more nuanced approach, Tisoki dropped a magnum opus comprising tracks that slither with haunting, melodic sound design. One of the album's most impressive songs is "SENSITIVE," an eerie future bass cut that brilliantly goes against the grain of the genre's typical euphoric style. - Jason Heffler
William Black & Annie Schindel - Remedy Future bass superstar and EDM.com Class of 2021 artist William Black unveiled his sophomore album, Pieces, in November. The record is a tour de force, replete with aching production and the storytelling prowess of one of the genre's most promising artists. "Remedy" is an unquestioned highlight, featuring a killer topline from Annie Schindel that moonlights as a captivating cry for help. - Jason Heffler