There's a phenomenon in popular music, one that listeners in their 20s may not be aware of, but those who were teens in the late '90s are definitely noticing: Electronic dance music has gone mainstream.
Nearly two decades ago, the outpouring of music produced by DJs and spun at clubs was categorized into subgenres such as house, techno drum and bass, trance, trip-hop — to name a few. Los Angeles-based DJ Dillon Francis couldn't be happier about EDM's emergence into the mainstream.
"I was there when the culture was crossing over. It's been on this really slow, gradual ride for dance music, where I think rock music ran its course," said Francis in a phone interview from New York.
The 27-year-old DJ has embarked on a nationwide tour that has him playing in what he dubs "rock venues" around the country. He stops in Salt Lake City on Saturday for nearly six hours of spinning pop-infused dance music at In The Venue.
A DJ Francis show means an experience akin to a house party, only in much larger venues. Since his increase in popularity, Francis has enjoyed incorporating bigger and better production pieces into his sets.
"I have a huge set piece called 'The Gary,' where we took the idea from Frank Gehry's architecture. We put content in these little blocks with the songs that I have in my album and we have certain visuals that go along with it," he said.
The visual elements of a Francis show may be similar from venue to venue, but the musical content is subject to change based on his mood.
"I don't play the big sets every night because I get pretty bored playing the same thing over and over," he said. This requires the addition of a DJ and lighting person to engage in on-the-spot freestyling during a show.
Francis has built quite the following in the world of electronic dance music, pretty impressive for someone who grew up listening to punk and metal music. It wasn't until his friend played him a remix of Metallica's "Seek and Destroy" by Bloody Beetroots that Francis said his curiosity was piqued.
"I had never heard any music like that. It was so provocative. Once I heard that, I asked him to show me more and he did," Francis said.
The style he became hooked on is known as Blog House music, which Francis says was a style of dance music being played at Cinespace, a popular club in L.A. that is known for featuring iconic DJs including Steve Aoki and the late DJ AM.
"I really wanted to play at Cinespace, but I didn't know anybody. I was just one of the kids that attended and drank the free vodka from 10-11 p.m.," said Francis. "I knew that in order to play there I needed to either know them or make my own music."
This realization had Francis packing and moving in with a friend in Atlanta, who taught him the ropes of mix-mastering. From there, Francis moved back to L.A. and lived in his parents' backhouse for a year, working on music every day with his computer.
"After making tons of shitty music, it clicked," said Francis, who had grown up playing instruments like guitar, bass and saxophone. He recorded eight EPs, created an alter ego he calls DJ Hanzel — whom fans cannot get enough of — performed at festivals including Coachella, and developed friendships with DJs he once looked up to from afar.
He is now on his Friends Rule Tour in support of his debut full-length album, "Money Sucks, Friends Rule," which was released in October.
Francis credits his success to the technologies available to artists and the way in which the Internet can generate awareness.
"It's amazing that one person can listen to your song, love it and share it with another person. It becomes a domino effect. It's pretty amazing what people can do nowadays," he said.
Long tours for DJs mean late nights, something Francis has been adjusting to since his four-week nationwide tour began. The secret to his keeping up his stamina? Caffeine.
"I drink a lot of coffee, a lot of cold brew and a lot of Red Bull," said Francis, who has abstained from alcohol since the tour began. "I would have to keep up with myself at every show to nurse the hangover."
When the national tour concludes, Francis heads overseas for gigs in Australia and India. After that, it's back to the computer to work on music for another EP, which will emphasize what he has coined "Moombahton," which he described as sexy tropical vibes.
"It's not too reggaetony because I'm super white and can't really get into that too much. It's mostly down-tempo fun, sexy music to dance to," Francis said.
For his Salt Lake City show, Francis said concertgoers can look forward to escaping the mundane. "If you like fun house-style parties, that's kind of what it embodies," he said. "It's a way for people to forget about their troubles for 4-5 hours and be with people who really enjoy listening."
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Dillon Francis
Dillon Francis is on his headlining Friends Rule Tour in support of his new album, "Money Sucks, Friends Rule." Must be 16 or older to attend.
When • Saturday, Dec. 13, 8 p.m.-2 a.m.
Where • In The Venue, 219 S. 600 West, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $20; Smiths Tix
| Courtesy photo Dillon Francis, on his headlining Friends Rule Tour in support of his new album, “Money Sucks, Friends Rule,” performs Saturday, Dec. 13, at In The Venue in Salt Lake City.
| Courtesy photo Dillon Francis, on his headlining Friends Rule Tour in support of his new album, “Money Sucks, Friends Rule,” performs Saturday, Dec. 13, at In The Venue in Salt Lake City.