From Bangers to PLUR: Master EDM’s Hottest Terms This Year. Speak EDM Like a Pro: Here are the Top Terms & Slang You Need to know!

The Ultimate Guide to EDM Terms, Slang, and Vocabulary.

For EDM fans, producers, and DJs, the electronic dance music scene is a vibrant universe of pulsating beats, electrifying drops, and a language all its own. From “Track IDs” to “wubs,” EDM’s lexicon is packed with terms, slang, and abbreviations that define its culture and fuel its creativity.

Whether you’re raving in Mykonos or producing in your bedroom, understanding this vocabulary is your ticket to connecting with the global EDM community. In this comprehensive guide, we dive into the most essential EDM terms, slang, and abbreviations, tracing their origins, meanings, and usage in 2025. Drawing from web insights, Reddit discussions, and industry trends, we’ll uncover when these terms emerged, why they matter, and how to use them like a pro.

Let’s crank up the BPM and decode the language of EDM!

Key EDM Terms, Slang, and Abbreviations

Below is a curated list of essential EDM terms, slang, and abbreviations, complete with their first known use, why they’re significant, and how they’re used in the scene.

These terms span production, DJing, and fan culture, reflecting the dynamic evolution of EDM in 2025.

Track ID

• Track ID
  First Used: Early 2000s (popularized in online forums like IDMforums and early tracklist sites)
• Meaning: A placeholder for an unknown or unreleased track’s title and artist, often listed as “ID” or “ID – ID” in setlists.
• Why It Matters: Track IDs create hype around unreleased tracks, test crowd reactions, and maintain DJ exclusivity. As a 2019 r/Beatmatch post noted, “Mystery is powerful, ‘who’s track is that? I want to buy it’”. They foster fan engagement through crowdsourcing on platforms like 1001Tracklists.
• How to Use: Ask “Track ID?” in YouTube comments or when when a DJ drops an unknown banger (e.g., “What’s the Track ID at 32:45 in This DJ set?”). DJs use “ID” in tracklists to tease upcoming releases (e.g., “Martin Garrix – ID”).
• Insider Tip: Use Shazam during clean transitions or check 1001Tracklists for fan-sourced IDs.

Drop

• First Used: Early 1990s (emerged with big beat and early EDM genres)
• Meaning: The climactic, high-energy section of an EDM track, often featuring a powerful bassline or synth lead, designed to ignite dancefloors.
• Why It Matters: The drop is the heart of EDM tracks, driving festival crowds wild. As defined by EDMProd, it’s “the main section of an EDM song which contains most of the energy and loudness”. It’s central to genres like big room and dubstep.
• How to Use: Producers craft drops with heavy kicks and sidechain compression (e.g., “This track needs a bigger drop for Tomorrowland!”). Fans describe epic moments (e.g., “Skrillex’s drop at Ultra was insane!”).

Wub / Wobble

• First Used: Late 2000s (popularized with dubstep’s rise, notably by Skrillex)
• Meaning: The distinctive, wobbly bass sound in dubstep, created by modulating low-frequency oscillators (LFOs) in synths like Serum.
• Why It Matters: Wubs define dubstep’s aggressive, gritty aesthetic, shaping artists like Excision. They’re a fan favorite for headbanging moments.
• How to Use: EDM fans could say “Those wubs at EDC were filthy!”

DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)

• First Used: 1990s (with the rise of software like Cubase and Logic)
• Meaning: Software for music production, like Ableton Live, FL Studio, or Logic Pro, used to create and mix EDM tracks.
• Why It Matters: DAWs are the backbone of modern EDM production, enabling bedroom producers to craft professional tracks. Ableton Live, used by Skrillex and Flume, is a favorite for live performance.
• How to Use: Producers discuss workflows (e.g., “I made this in FL Studio’s DAW”). Fans might ask, “Which DAW did Marshmello use for this?”

PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, Respect)

• First Used: Early 1990s (attributed to DJ Frankie Bones during NYC rave culture)
• Meaning: A core philosophy of rave culture, emphasizing community, acceptance, and positive vibes.
• Why It Matters: PLUR defines EDM’s inclusive spirit, seen in kandi trading and festival camaraderie. It’s less prominent in 2025’s mainstream scene but remains strong in underground raves.
• How to Use: Ravers say, “This festival was all about PLUR!” or trade kandi bracelets with the phrase.
• :Make kandi with PLUR beads to share at events like Electric Forest.

BPM (Beats Per Minute)

• First Used: 1960s (with early metronomes and electronic music)
• Meaning: The tempo of a track, crucial for DJ mixing and genre classification (e.g., house at 120–130 BPM, drum and bass at 160–180 BPM).
• Why It Matters: BPM guides track selection for seamless DJ transitions and sets genre boundaries. It’s a universal production term .
• How to Use: DJs say, “This track’s 128 BPM, perfect for house.” Producers adjust BPM in DAWs (e.g., “I’m bumping this to 174 BPM for DnB”).

Build-Up

• First Used: 1980s (with early house and trance tracks)
• Meaning: The rising section of a track that creates tension before the drop, often with risers, snares, or vocal chops.
• Why It Matters: Build-ups drive anticipation, making drops more impactful. They’re key to festival anthems by artists like Martin Garrix.
• How to Use: Producers say, “This build-up needs more risers.” Fans might post, “That build-up gave me chills!”

Riser

• First Used: 1990s (with trance and big beat production)
• Meaning: A sound effect that increases in pitch or intensity, used in build-ups to create anticipation.
• Why It Matters: Risers are essential for dynamic transitions, amplifying crowd energy before a drop. They’re a staple in progressive house and big room.
• How to Use: Producers say, “I’m adding a riser to this intro.” Fans comment, “That riser was epic!”

Bassline

• First Used: 1970s (with funk and early electronic music)
• Meaning: The pattern of low-frequency notes that drives a track’s groove, often played by synths or 808s.
• Why It Matters: Basslines define genres like bass house or drum and bass, providing rhythm and energy. They’re critical for dancefloor impact.
• How to Use: Producers say, “This bassline needs more sub.” Fans might post, “That bassline shook the club!”

Kandi

• First Used: Early 1990s (rave culture in the U.S. and UK)
• Meaning: Beaded bracelets traded at raves as a symbol of PLUR, often with words or patterns.
• Why It Matters: Kandi represents community and connection, a tangible expression of rave values. It’s less common in 2025’s commercial scene but thrives at underground events.
• How to Use: Ravers trade kandi with a PLUR handshake (e.g., “I traded kandi with a new friend at EDC!”).
• Craft kandi with colorful beads and letters for festivals like Tomorrowland.

Banger

• First Used: Early 2000s (popularized in UK garage and early EDM forums)
• Meaning: A high-energy track that excites crowds, often with a massive drop.
• Why It Matters: Bangers are the lifeblood of festival sets, driving hype for DJs like Tiësto.
• How to Use: Say, “This new Garrix track is a total banger!”
• Test bangers in DJ sets to gauge crowd response before submitting to labels.

Filthy

• First Used: Late 2000s (with dubstep’s rise)
• Meaning: Describes an aggressive, gritty track, especially in dubstep or trap.
• Why It Matters: “Filthy” tracks by artists like Excision dominate bass-heavy festivals.
• How to Use: Post, “These filthy wubs at Bass Canyon were unreal!”
• Dual use as a fan, This track is filthy, or EDM producer, Use distortion and saturation plugins like FabFilter Saturn for filthy sounds.

Chops

• First Used: 2000s (with glitch and future bass)
• Meaning: Short, manipulated vocal or sample snippets used for texture or rhythm.
• Why It Matters: Vocal chops, popularized by Illenium, add emotional depth to future bass and melodic EDM.
• How to Use: Producers say, “I’m slicing these chops in Ableton.”

Sidechain

• First Used: 1980s (with early house production)
• Meaning: A compression technique where one sound (e.g., kick drum) ducks another (e.g., bass) for clarity.
• Why It Matters: Sidechaining creates the iconic “pumping” effect in house and techno, ensuring clean mixes.
• How to Use: Say, “I sidechained the bass to the kick for that pump.”

Supersaw

• First Used: 1990s (with Roland JP-8000 synth and trance)
• Meaning: A layered, detuned sawtooth wave sound, creating a lush, wide texture for leads or pads.
• Why It Matters: Supersaws define trance and progressive house, used by artists like Above & Beyond.
• How to Use: Producers say, “This supersaw lead is perfect for Anjunabeats.”

Artist Album

• First Used: 1980s (borrowed from broader music industry terminology)
• Meaning: An LP showcasing original compositions by an artist or group, distinct from compilations or DJ mixes. In EDM, it’s a cohesive project, often blending genres like Illenium’s Ascend or ODESZA’s A Moment Apart.
• Why It Matters: Artist albums are a milestone for producers, showcasing their creative vision beyond single tracks. They often signal a shift from club bangers to narrative-driven works, as discussed in r/EDMProduction. In 2025, albums remain vital for artists like Fred again.. to build legacy and fan loyalty.
• How to Use: Say, “Deadmau5’s new artist album is a game-changer!” or “I’m working on an artist album for Anjunabeats.”

B2B (Back-to-Back)

• First Used: Early 2000s (popularized in DJ culture via festival lineups)
• Meaning: When two (or more) DJs perform simultaneously, alternating tracks or collaborating live, often listed as “B2B” or “vs.” on lineups (e.g., “Skrillex b2b Diplo”).
• Why It Matters: B2B sets create dynamic, unpredictable performances, blending styles for epic crowd moments. Reddit’s r/DJs highlights their popularity at festivals like Ultra, where duos like Jack Ü deliver surprises. In 2025, B2Bs are a fan favorite for showcasing chemistry.
• How to Use: DJs can tweet something like: “Catch my B2B with [DJ] at Tomorrowland!” or cheer, “That B2B set was fire!”

Big Room

• First Used: Early 2010s (coined during the rise of festival EDM)
• Meaning: A commercial EDM subgenre with massive, anthemic drops, simple melodies, and booming kicks, designed for large venues and festivals. Think Martin Garrix’s Animals.
• Why It Matters: Big room dominated the 2010s EDM boom, filling arenas and driving label profits (e.g., Spinnin’ Records). Though less prevalent in 2025, it remains a staple for nostalgic sets, as noted in r/EDM discussions.
• How to Use: Say, “This big room track is perfect for EDC!” or “I’m producing a big room revival track.”

Bootleg

• First Used: 1990s (borrowed from hip-hop’s unauthorized remixes)
• Meaning: An unofficial remix or mashup of another artist’s track, often shared freely or played in sets without label approval.
• Why It Matters: Bootlegs let DJs and producers flex creativity, remixing pop hits or classics for club play. They’re a gray area legally, sparking debates on r/TechnoProduction about ethics. In 2025, bootlegs thrive in underground sets and SoundCloud.
• How to Use: Say, “I dropped a bootleg of Beyoncé in my set!” or “This bootleg remix slaps.”

DJ Set

• First Used: 1980s (with the rise of club DJ culture)
• Meaning: A performance where a DJ mixes pre-recorded tracks, as opposed to live production or instrumental performances, often noted on festival lineups.
• Why It Matters: DJ sets are the backbone of EDM events, showcasing curation and mixing skills. Reddit’s r/Beatmatch emphasizes their accessibility for new DJs using tools like Serato.
• How to Use: Promote with, “My DJ set at Hï Ibiza is tonight!” or comment, “Her DJ set was seamless!”

Dub Mix

• First Used: 1970s (from reggae’s instrumental “dub” versions)
• Meaning: A track version with main vocals removed, also called an instrumental, used for DJ mixing or club play.
• Why It Matters: Dub mixes offer flexibility for DJs to layer acapellas or extend transitions, a staple in house and techno. They’re prized in 2025 for creative mashups, per r/DJs.
• How to Use: Say, “I’m using the dub mix for this transition.” Fans might note, “The dub mix sounded huge on the club system!”

ID – ID (Track ID)

• First Used: Early 2000s (popularized in online forums like IDMforums)
• Meaning: A placeholder for an unknown or unreleased track’s title and artist in setlists, written as “ID” or “ID – ID” when both are undisclosed.
• Why It Matters: Track IDs fuel hype for unreleased tracks and maintain DJ exclusivity, as discussed in a 2019 r/Beatmatch post: “Mystery is powerful.” In 2025, they drive fan engagement on X and 1001Tracklists.
• How to Use: Ask, “Track ID for Peggy Gou’s set at 45:20?” or list, “ID – ID (coming soon on Mau5trap).”

Massive

• First Used: 2000s (dual use in rave culture and Native Instruments’ synth release in 2007)
• Meaning: 1) A large-scale rave or festival (e.g., “a massive”), or 2) Native Instruments’ Massive, a wavetable synth pivotal in dubstep and house.
• Why It Matters: Massive (the synth) shaped 2010s EDM with its wobbly basses, used by Skrillex. As a term, it captures EDM’s scale, per r/EDM.
• How to Use: Say, “That festival was a massive!” or “I made this bass in Massive.”

Producer

• First Used: 1970s (with electronic music’s rise)
• Meaning: An individual who creates electronic music tracks, distinct from a DJ, though many producers DJ (e.g., Calvin Harris).
• Why It Matters: Producers are the architects of EDM, crafting tracks in DAWs like Ableton Live. Reddit’s r/EDMProduction emphasizes their role in innovation. In 2025, bedroom producers drive the scene via platforms like SoundCloud.
• How to Use: Say, “I’m a producer working on a techno track.” Fans might note, “This producer’s sound is next-level.”

VIP Mix (Very Important Person Mix)

• First Used: Early 2000s (popularized with remix culture)
• Meaning: A special edit of a track, often by the original artist, tailored for DJ sets with altered drops or structures.
• Why It Matters: VIP mixes add exclusivity to sets, refreshing familiar tracks for fans. They’re common in dubstep and trap, per r/EDM discussions.
• How to Use: Say, “I dropped the VIP mix in my set!” or “This VIP mix slays.”

Did we miss one? Let us know!