Music Genre Glossary

A glossary of music genres and scenes — clear definitions and side-by-side comparisons, each linked to curated music videos on Videojam.

Afrobeat

What is Amapiano?Amapiano is a South African dance style that emerged in the mid-2010s, built on deep, jazzy chords, airy synth pads, and the signature log-drum bassline that drives its bouncing, mid-tempo groove. Less frantic than house and more spacious than gqom, it foregrounds rhythm and atmosphere over melody, soundtracking township parties before going global.

Afro & Latin House

What is Afro House?Afro house fuses the four-on-the-floor pulse of house music with African percussion, tribal drum patterns, chant-style vocals, and organic instrumentation. Warmer and more rhythmic than Western house, it ranges from spiritual, melodic productions to peak-time floor tools, and has become a defining sound of festivals and beach clubs from Cape Town to Ibiza.

Techno & Trance

What is Melodic Techno?Melodic techno pairs the driving, hypnotic rhythm of techno with emotive, harmonically rich melodies and long, cinematic builds. Darker and more propulsive than melodic house but more song-like than peak-time techno, it favours minor-key arpeggios, evolving pads, and sunset-to-sunrise energy — the sound associated with after-hours rooms and open-air festival main stages.

Deep House

What is Deep House?Deep house is a subdued, soulful strain of house music defined by lush chords, warm basslines, muted percussion, and an unhurried, late-night feel. Rooted in the genre's Chicago origins and its jazz and soul influences, it trades peak-time intensity for atmosphere and groove, equally suited to home listening and to the early hours of a DJ set.

House

What is Tech House?Tech house blends the groove and warmth of house with the stripped-back, percussive precision of techno. Built around tight, rolling basslines, crisp hi-hats, and minimal arrangements, it favours hypnotic repetition and DJ-friendly functionality over big melodies — a club staple that bridges the soulful and mechanical ends of electronic dance music.

Melodic & Progressive

What is Progressive House?Progressive house is a melodic strain of house defined by gradually evolving, layered arrangements that build and release tension over several minutes. Smoother and more song-structured than tech house, it emphasises atmosphere, sweeping pads, and emotional payoff, and has shaped both underground and festival-scale electronic music since the early 1990s.

Downtempo

What is Downtempo?Downtempo is a broad category of slower, atmospheric electronic music made for listening rather than the dancefloor. Spanning trip-hop, chillout, and organic, world-influenced productions, it pairs relaxed beats with rich textures and ambient detail. Typically below 110 BPM, it prioritises mood and immersion, soundtracking lounges, late nights, and focused listening.

Disco & Funk

What is Disco?Disco is a dance-music style that emerged in the early 1970s, built on a steady four-on-the-floor beat, lush orchestration, syncopated basslines, and soaring vocals. Born in nightclubs and rooted in soul and funk, it defined an era of dancefloor culture and remains the foundational DNA of house, nu-disco, and much of modern electronic dance music.

Comparisons