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New beat

New beat is a Belgian electronic dance music genre that fuses elements of new wave, hi-NRG, EBM and hip hop (e.g. scratching). It flourished in Western Europe during the late-1980s. New beat spawned

History#

New beat originated in Belgium in 1987, and was popular in several music clubs across Western Europe. Sometimes described as “new wave disco beat” the genre has been characterized as a blend of new wave, hi-NRG, ), and acid house. In addition to A Split-Second, new beat was also heavily influenced by other EBM acts such as Front 242, Signal Aout 42 and the Neon Judgement, as well as new wave acts such as Fad Gadget, Gary Numan, New Order, Boytronic New beat artists and bands include Lords of Acid and Technotronic, while Belgian hardcore techno bands that emerged from the hard beat and skizzo subgenres include T99, Praga Khan, Cubic 22, and the Immortals.

Record labels#

The rise of the new beat genre did not only launch new artists, it also coincided with the emergence and increased prominence of several independent record labels within the Belgian electronic music scene. Some of these labels became closely associated with new beat releases during the late 1980s, achieving notable success within European club markets, particularly in Belgium and the United Kingdom . Roland Beelen and Maurice Engelen founded Antler and its subsidiary Subway Records, which played a central role in releasing new beat material . Other Belgian labels such as R&S Records were active during the same period and contributed to the broader electronic music ecosystem, although their catalogues extended beyond new beat. Additional labels that released or distributed related material include ARS and PIAS .

Hard beat#

Hard beat (also known as hardbeat) is a subgenre of new beat that emerged in the late 1980s, encompassing more prominent influences from industrial music, EBM and acid house.

Notable musicians#

  • Bizz Nizz
  • Liza ‘N’ Eliaz
  • Lords of Acid
  • Patrick De Meyer
  • Praga Khan
  • Confetti’s

See also#

  • The Sound of Belgium – a documentary that covers the Belgian perspective on subjects including Electronic Body Music and New Beat
  • Belgian Pop & Rock Archives
  • New Beat Flashback – Interviews and Information: V.J. Marcel Vanthilt from MTV Europe talks about New Beat and take interviews in English. The rest of the clip is in Flemish/Dutch
  • Radio Soulwax on New Beat
Genre family
Belgian styles of music, Electronic body music, Electronic dance music genres, Industrial music