Electronic & Dance Music Quiz

Question 1

Kraftwerk, widely considered the founders of electronic music, are from which country?

Accepted Answer

Germany

Answer

Sweden

Answer

USA

Answer

Japan

Question 2

House music originated in which US city in the early 1980s?

Accepted Answer

Chicago

Answer

New York

Answer

Detroit

Answer

Los Angeles

Question 3

Daft Punk's 'Random Access Memories' (2013) won Album of the Year at the Grammys. The duo are from which country?

Accepted Answer

France

Answer

UK

Answer

USA

Answer

Sweden

Question 4

What is a 'BPM' in music production and dance music culture?

Accepted Answer

Beats Per Minute — the tempo of a track

Answer

Bass Per Minute — measure of bass frequency

Answer

Bars Per Measure — a unit of song structure

Answer

Breakdown Per Mix — a DJ technique

Question 5

Techno music originated in which US city in the mid-1980s?

Accepted Answer

Detroit

Answer

Chicago

Answer

New York

Answer

Atlanta

Question 6

The Roland TR-808 drum machine, released in 1980, became foundational to multiple genres. Why was it initially considered a commercial failure?

Accepted Answer

Its synthetic drum sounds were considered unrealistic compared to real drums

Answer

It was too expensive for most studios

Answer

It had too many programming errors

Answer

It was only compatible with certain synthesisers

Question 7

Which Swedish DJ and producer, who rose to global fame with 'Levels' (2011), died in 2018 at age 28?

Accepted Answer

Avicii

Answer

Swedish House Mafia

Answer

Deadmau5

Answer

Zedd

Question 8

What is a 'drop' in EDM (Electronic Dance Music)?

Accepted Answer

The moment in a track where the beat and bass re-enter at maximum intensity after a build-up

Answer

When a DJ accidentally drops their headphones

Answer

A slow, quiet section in the middle of a dance track

Answer

When a producer releases a surprise single without promotion

Question 9

Drum and bass emerged in the UK in the early 1990s, evolving from which genre?

Accepted Answer

Jungle / hardcore rave music

Answer

Techno

Answer

Reggae and dub

Answer

Soul and funk

Question 10

The Prodigy's 'Firestarter' (1996) caused controversy in the UK. Why?

Accepted Answer

The BBC banned the music video from daytime TV, fearing it would frighten children

Answer

It contained offensive lyrics deemed inappropriate for radio

Answer

It was accused of plagiarising an American band

Answer

The band refused to perform it on TV shows that required lip-syncing

Question 11

What is 'beatmatching' — the fundamental skill of DJing?

Accepted Answer

Synchronising the tempo of two tracks so they play in time, allowing a smooth transition between them

Answer

Matching the lyrics of one song to the music of another

Answer

Finding songs with similar chord structures for a playlist

Answer

Timing the exact moment to play a track to match a crowd's energy

Question 12

The 'Summer of Love' in 1988 brought house and acid music to the UK. What was 'acid house'?

Accepted Answer

House music characterised by squelching, wobbly synth sounds from the Roland TB-303 bass synthesiser

Answer

House music influenced by the genre of acid rock

Answer

House music played under the influence of psychedelic drugs

Answer

A sub-genre of house mixing elements of acid jazz

Question 13

Ibiza is famous as a global hub for electronic music. Which two clubs are most historically associated with its DJ culture?

Accepted Answer

All of the above have been central to Ibiza's club scene

Answer

Amnesia and Pacha

Answer

DC-10 and Privilege

Answer

Space and Es Paradis

Question 14

Aphex Twin is considered one of the most influential electronic artists. What is his real name?

Accepted Answer

Richard D. James

Answer

James Richard Davis

Answer

David Aphex Richards

Answer

Robert Jenkins

Question 15

Ambient music as a genre was pioneered by which artist with the 1978 album 'Ambient 1: Music for Airports'?

Accepted Answer

Brian Eno

Answer

Klaus Schulze

Answer

Harold Budd

Answer

Tangerine Dream

Question 16

What is a 'synthesiser' in music production?

Accepted Answer

An electronic instrument that generates and manipulates sound through analogue circuits or digital processing

Answer

A device that combines live instruments digitally

Answer

Software that writes music automatically

Answer

A device for recording and editing existing sounds

Question 17

Calvin Harris has produced more UK #1 singles than any other solo artist. He is from which country?

Accepted Answer

Scotland

Answer

England

Answer

Australia

Answer

USA

Question 18

The Roland TB-303 and TR-808 are legendary electronic instruments. What type of instruments are they?

Accepted Answer

A bass synthesiser (303) and a drum machine (808)

Answer

Guitar and bass synthesisers respectively

Answer

Two different types of drum machine

Answer

A sequencer and a sampler

Question 19

Which annual Dutch electronic music festival has become one of the world's largest, held in Amsterdam?

Accepted Answer

Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE)

Answer

Tomorrowland

Answer

Ultra Europe

Answer

Mysteryland

Question 20

What is 'lo-fi hip-hop' and how did it become a YouTube phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

A relaxed, nostalgic style of hip-hop with intentionally imperfect sound — warm, vinyl-crackling beats used widely as study/chill background music on YouTube livestreams

Answer

Hip-hop music recorded with expensive vintage equipment

Answer

Hip-hop made without any electronic instruments

Answer

A subgenre from low-income urban areas