Christian Electronic Music

Any decent electronic music Christian artists other than R3HAB? Ever since I got saved I’ve always wanted to be a Christian electronic music artist. I bought a MacBook last year and composed around 52 songs in the past year but none of it comes close to sounding like it has Jesus’ healing spirit in it. My music inspired a friend to take me to a night club in Los Angeles a few weekends ago and that is when I knew that maybe this isn’t the right path for me. Then I went on a date with a woman that claimed she was a Christian and she invited me to a rave and I turned it down. It’s like don’t these people know what happens at these events? I don’t know if I can be a light at these events that are just full of darkness. My goal was to shine Jesus through my music at these events but the sound of my music became more secular, instead of the Christian music that I grew up listening to where you feel God’s presence. I can’t manufacture that. I can’t buy it. It’s a gift that an artist has or doesn’t have. I think if I sang, instead of using a secular vocalist, then maybe you would hear the Holy Spirit but I haven’t even tried and I don’t want to create a vocal track while my family is home. I’m kinda afraid to show anyone my singing voice. I have sung in a church choir but there were ten other singers with me, so my voice was probably drowned out. Maybe one day I’ll try but I don’t envision that day happening after almost being sucked into the downtown Los Angeles club scene and rave scene. Who knows where that may have taken me. Maybe if I trusted in God more, I wouldn’t be afraid of going to those dark places. It’s not like I danced to their secular worship music when I was at the club. It’s not like a drank alcohol, I drank water but who knows what that would have led to. I’ve been sober for a really long time, so it’s not like I’m tempted or feel peer pressured. People that would walk up to me would turn away quick cause they were so intimidated of me. So it’s not like evil can touch me. I prayed to God about being a Christian electronic artist ten years ago and I’m not sure if this is God answering my prayers or what. It’s like I prepared for this moment but if it isn’t like I envisioned my music being a light to lost souls, then I’m not going to move forward with it, unless God wills it of course. Who knows. God knows.

Really going to youtube and searching for "electronic christian music" will bring up a lot.
I haven't looked into it in a while, but went through a phase. When I did this I personally didn't like most of it as it seemed the majority of them were all doing the same things. Taking CCM and redoing it as electronic. Not being a fan of CCM it turned me off.

Vocals aren't required for electronic music. You can also use sampling. Such as movie lines or even snippets if sermons. Or record your own snippets and alter them.

Personally I think making Christian music that you can take to secular places is a great idea. As a metal head myself, I've been to shows at secular places to see Christian bands. I also support the idea of going into subcultures using the methods that bring them together, like music.
But raves and dance halls are a bit different in my view. It's pretty much a room full of people using all sorts of drugs, in a party mindstate and possibly a sexual mindset as well. I would find that a difficult way to reach them in that moment.
I'm in no way an expert and may be wrong, but I'm not aware of any Christian edm artist that's made any real headway in the secular scene.
Of course it Could happen, but hasn't yet.

The best way to reach people is authenticity and vulnerability. Look at Christian rapper NF. He. Is. Huge even in the secular rap community. But his lyrics are very raw and personal. Non-Christians are passionate about his music, as well as Christians.
He's not overtly preachy, but doesn't hide his faith either. He connects with people on a personal level with his lyrics and people are more open to his message because they Want to be. This can, of course, lead to people being more curious about what he believes.
And, naturally, he's very talented.

As for a room full of dopped up partyers dancing, many on hallucinogens, that likely want nothing to do with God, feeling the holy spirit through music doesn't seem feasible.

What people feel during music is subjective. Many feel the holy spirit in CCM and even commercialized worship (like Hillsong). Personally I don't feel that with that music. But I can put on songs that would turn most of those people off, but I feel the holy spirit in it.
So what you feel is not what another will feel. The holy spirit isn't necessarily being brought down by the music, but how the listener responds.
So some may feel it in music you make and others won't. Which is normal and fine.

A good example of using samples over vocals is this group. They were a 90s techno band. I love the album. Not all their songs have sermon snippets, but they will include some kind of faith based lines. For example they have one that says "Satan is dead". And another that says "God of Abraham". And they'll also have other samples in those songs as well. And not every sample is spiritual. Mostly they seem to do it for the chorus.

Band was called Prodigal Sons and the song is from their album Texno Theology. Maybe they'll lead you to some different ways to approach things if straight singing isn't something you're comfortable with.

Thanks for sharing. I swear, there are some seriously well thought out replies on this website. I’m going to check out the video now. Thank you for having me see things in a different way. I know there are a bunch of Christian artists that make secular music that doesn’t always have to be mainstream Christian music and from what I saw at the club that I went to, it just seemed demonic and something I experienced before I dedicated my life to Christ. So whatever witness I had for my friend that I went with who invited me, was probably flushed down the drain. I didn’t dance and I just drank water but it’s a place that I definitely should not have gone to, in order to be a better example for my friend who had a 24 hour pass from the rehab facility that he was going to. He swears he is a Christian but he made out with a girl the week prior, slept with his ex girlfriend that week and was messaging a new girl to meet him at the club. So I literally should not even hang out with him according to scripture. It’s different if it were a church experience but this was definitely a place filled with darkness. I ended up being a people pleaser instead of being a godly leader. I feel like Saul from the Old Testament.

Thanks for sharing. I swear, there are some seriously well thought out replies on this website. I’m going to check out the video now. Thank you for having me see things in a different way. I know there are a bunch of Christian artists that make secular music that doesn’t always have to be mainstream Christian music and from what I saw at the club that I went to, it just seemed demonic and something I experienced before I dedicated my life to Christ. So whatever witness I had for my friend that I went with who invited me, was probably flushed down the drain. I didn’t dance and I just drank water but it’s a place that I definitely should not have gone to, in order to be a better example for my friend who had a 24 hour pass from the rehab facility that he was going to. He swears he is a Christian but he made out with a girl the week prior, slept with his ex girlfriend that week and was messaging a new girl to meet him at the club. So I literally should not even hang out with him according to scripture. It’s different if it were a church experience but this was definitely a place filled with darkness. I ended up being a people pleaser instead of being a godly leader. I feel like Saul from the Old Testament.

Any decent electronic music Christian artists other than R3HAB? Ever since I got saved I’ve always wanted to be a Christian electronic music artist. I bought a MacBook last year and composed around 52 songs in the past year but none of it comes close to sounding like it has Jesus’ healing spirit in it. My music inspired a friend to take me to a night club in Los Angeles a few weekends ago and that is when I knew that maybe this isn’t the right path for me. Then I went on a date with a woman that claimed she was a Christian and she invited me to a rave and I turned it down. It’s like don’t these people know what happens at these events? I don’t know if I can be a light at these events that are just full of darkness. My goal was to shine Jesus through my music at these events but the sound of my music became more secular, instead of the Christian music that I grew up listening to where you feel God’s presence. I can’t manufacture that. I can’t buy it. It’s a gift that an artist has or doesn’t have. I think if I sang, instead of using a secular vocalist, then maybe you would hear the Holy Spirit but I haven’t even tried and I don’t want to create a vocal track while my family is home. I’m kinda afraid to show anyone my singing voice. I have sung in a church choir but there were ten other singers with me, so my voice was probably drowned out. Maybe one day I’ll try but I don’t envision that day happening after almost being sucked into the downtown Los Angeles club scene and rave scene. Who knows where that may have taken me. Maybe if I trusted in God more, I wouldn’t be afraid of going to those dark places. It’s not like I danced to their secular worship music when I was at the club. It’s not like a drank alcohol, I drank water but who knows what that would have led to. I’ve been sober for a really long time, so it’s not like I’m tempted or feel peer pressured. People that would walk up to me would turn away quick cause they were so intimidated of me. So it’s not like evil can touch me. I prayed to God about being a Christian electronic artist ten years ago and I’m not sure if this is God answering my prayers or what. It’s like I prepared for this moment but if it isn’t like I envisioned my music being a light to lost souls, then I’m not going to move forward with it, unless God wills it of course. Who knows. God knows.

Happy to help. And glad you're finding help for other things here as well.

Yeah, going into places can be tricky. You can risk temptation or harassment or worse for speaking on your faith.
I remember hearing about a Christian band that played in Brazil at a secular place, and they had to be snuck out the back due to numerous death threats.

But it can go surprisingly well sometimes. In the 90s I was in a Christian band (we really sucked but we were young and stupid and thought we were good haha. Anyways we played 1 secular show, it was a backyard party in the woods at somebodies house. They had a big back yard and a small stage set up outside.
We went on stage with what turned out to be a bunch of drunk metalheads. We made a point to explain the lyrics to each song and speak about God.
Really felt as though nothing landed, but people came up to us and respected us for having the guts to say the things we said to a bunch of drunk guys. We spoke to one guy that seemed to be affected a bit by what we said. And a member from a secular band playing approached us and talked with us for a bit about our faith.
He really seemed on the edge of wanting to be saved. Not sure whatever happened with him but it was great to know our message had an affect.

I saw one Christian band at a secular battle of the bands. Each band only had 30 mins. The Christian band didn't have much time to say much from stage but they took a few moments to let everyone know they were a Christian band and followed Jesus.
People didn't seem to mind. It was short, to the point and they had great music and the pit was still wild haha.

Yeah. But that group was 10 years earlier haha. The sounds evolved a bit in the early 2000s for edm, but I think by 2010s it was a bigger leap with expanding to styles of edm.

Here's another Christian one from the 90s you may like.
Prophecy of P.A.N.I.C.

Can you post a YouTube link to a secular song with the kind of sound you are trying for? Can you also post a couple of tracks you made for comparison? Can you explain why you thought they fell short of your goal?

Hey, at least you guys were bold enough to do something like that in front of an audience of people at a secular event. That takes a lot of courage. One thing I have to confess, which I stated on another forum, is that out of the 52 songs that I made, 49 of them were premade loops and vocal samples from GarageBand and Logic Pro. Because that is the case, I may have to delete the 49 tracks off of streaming services, as I don't know the people behind creating the loops or vocals. They are most likely not blessed and I do not want it to affect my time here on earth or my future. Composing those tracks were easy and mindless and I got so good at it that they sound like something you would hear on secular top 40 or so I like to think as well but it is probably best that I create things from scratch, just so I don't build a false reputation, built on the work of secular artists. It's just easy and even though they are royalty-free for commercial use, to me, I don't believe that is what makes a true gifted artist. Takes real work, such as the 3 song I made from scratch. I think I may have wanted to see if I could make a quick buck off of lies but God doesn't bless that. I made around $19 in a year from doing it. So obviously, it may not be a good investment that God will bless.

The song you sent me sounds like something I would have composed in the last 90s to early 2000s, with a program called Techno eJay. I'm taken back to an era, when I first started getting into electronic music. I was around for the early 90's electronic music that you would hear on Night at the Roxbury but I always thought that music was sad and depressing, and really didn't have the joy that the later stuff brought me.

In the early to mid 2000's I was really into the hardcore metal band scene, eventually emo and then house music. Such great times but the house music stage was kinda some dark times where I fell away from God but fortunately, a friend of mine didn't give up on me, started taking me to church again and I accepted Jesus as my lord and savior, for what seemed like the first time, even though I previously went to church when I was younger, knew about Jesus when I was 6 and got baptized then.

The thing is, I don't want to make secular music. It's just the loops and samples that I used are made by other people other than myself, so it wasn't exactly the best way of sewing. The loops and samples are royalty-free loops and samples for commercial use but because I didn't create them from scratch, God knows who were behind them. The three songs that I composed from scratch isn't exactly what I am going for. They sound very unique but I'll send you the artist that I want to sound like and I'll post two of the songs I made from scratch. They both are still not finished, since they have no vocals from a Christian vocalist or myself in them but I did make the songs I posted from digital instruments.

I'd love to make music like this:




and this is the music that I created, that I have a long way to go before I sound close to something like that or maybe I just create my own unique music, that sounds nothing like that:



And here is one of the premade loop and sample songs that I composed but the loops and samples were created by other people and are royalty free for commercial use by any artist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPPWE-WJDfM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-nzTtOUWZM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-_JWOv1Gjs

Personally using royalty free sounds would not be a bother for me. No matter what you do you're using software developed by non-Christians. On a computer made by non-Christians. Sold at a store that is not Christian. Anyways, you get the idea.
At what point does what you use to create With override what you create?

My main point. Don't limit yourself. When you create something it's yours. Regardless of what you used to make it.

And while I agree hard work is the route to go in music. It does seem to have been made so easy anymore. But music is a form of art. And taking the things others have made and turning it into something creative.
Look at a painter. The painter uses brushes, paints and a canvas to create art. Does the fact that they bought the supplies negate the quality or legitimacy of their work? Or might that piece potentially sell for 1000's of dollars?

Creativity can be making something from scratch. But it can also be about taking what's around you and using it in your own way. Maybe even ways it was not intended. Or mixing the two. A combination of both. Or even altering those things that exist already.
I'm not sure the rules about loyalty free products and maybe this is prohibited, but if you use one, why not try altering it to make something new out of it? If it's allowed.

I once saw a guy record various sounds taken from items around his house. But he didn't just arrange them all into a beat. He altered each noise to his preference. He shortened some sounds, either by cutting it to make it sharper, or simply shortening the length of the sound itself. He adjusted pitches and all that technical stuff. Then he took those sounds and made a song. But the sounds were manipulated to not sound like what they really sound like. And it actually turned out pretty good. And made it more unique.

Plenty of ways to create, the key point is that it's something you worked hard at to make creative and quality.

And I'd not look too far down at those 49 songs. They were still a learning and growing opportunity whether you sell them or not. I'm sure you improved your abilities still. So there's that at the very least.

The thing is, I don't want to make secular music. It's just the loops and samples that I used are made by other people other than myself, so it wasn't exactly the best way of sewing. The loops and samples are royalty-free loops and samples for commercial use but because I didn't create them from scratch, God knows who were behind them. The three songs that I composed from scratch isn't exactly what I am going for. They sound very unique but I'll send you the artist that I want to sound like and I'll post two of the songs I made from scratch. They both are still not finished, since they have no vocals from a Christian vocalist or myself in them but I did make the songs I posted from digital instruments.

I'd love to make music like this:




and this is the music that I created, that I have a long way to go before I sound close to something like that or maybe I just create my own unique music, that sounds nothing like that:



And here is one of the premade loop and sample songs that I composed but the loops and samples were created by other people and are royalty free for commercial use by any artist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPPWE-WJDfM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-nzTtOUWZM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-_JWOv1Gjs

I checked out both of your originals and one of your royalty free. Personally I liked the originals more.
The other three are not my style and not something I'd listen to, but that's a subjective opinion from someone that's not a huge electronic music fan.
Though when I went through my edm phase and was searching for Christian stuff (years ago) a lot of it was similar to the top three. It was a bit flooded with these pop electronic covers of CCM. Not sure if that's changed but is something to look into yourself and consider.

STYLE:

Sounds like you have the basic framework down. All I can think of that you need are some pads for atmosphere and a good lead instrument for musical statements throughout the song.

SUBSTANCE;

The best way I know to make a song is to start with "I feel this in my heart and I need to express it." Too many people start with "I want to make a song" and forget to have the song actually say something. So there are a lot of really empty songs in the world today.

Start with what you want to express in the song. Then let the lead instrument express it.

Thank you Lynx for the constructive criticism. Before this coming to this website, I didn’t get any constructive criticism. Just a bunch of “that is awesome” or “keep at it”. Nothing that is supposed to develop me. Thanks for being real and just saying it how it is. Better to have wounds from a friend than kisses from an enemy.

Here's a different perspective. It doesn't sound much like either your music or the group you cited, but your music sounded a lot different from that group, so...







Just something to get a few style ideas from. Maybe.

If you have never tried Synth1, you might give it a try. It's a VSTi, a virtual instrument, and it can do just anything musical you want. It can be bass, percussion, lead, strings... You can make a whole orchestral piece with Synth1.

Mac can load VST, and Synth1 is freeeeeeee!



All sounds made by Synth1.

Oh, and if you have nooooo idea where to start in making your own sounds, there are, like, THOUSANDS of presets in big honking preset packs out there. Just google "Synth1 presets."