As the distinctive bass beat leads into the classic head-banging beat drop, listeners grow immersed in the signature rhythm of EDM.
Marshmello, hidden behind his infamous mask of mystery—a puffy white marshmallow with black, X-shaped eyes—invites us to enjoy the experience of electronic dance music.
Marshmello’s fourth studio album Shockwave showcases the producer’s ability to collaborate with a wide variety of artists and incorporate various musical genres. The album was released on June 11, 2021, with high expectations, debuting at number three on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart. Shockwave received love from many fans and was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 64th annual Grammy Awards.
But the album strays from the traditional EDM Marshmello produces. The combination of genres like hip-hop, pop, and dubstep makes this album special.
Marshmello, formally known as Christopher Comstock, graduated from The Shipley School, just a mile from Haverford’s campus. He grew up with a passion for music, working as a DJ from a young age. From his exhilarating live performances to unique collaborations with artists like Bastille and Selena Gomez, Marshmello stands out, displaying a signature style characterized by driving basslines, infectious vocal hooks, and melodic synths.
Except for the songs “Fairytale,” “VIBR8,” and “Shockwave,” which employ the EDM style that brought him to fame, every other song in the album is a collaboration with other artists. The album opens with “Fairytale,” a high-energy EDM piece incorporating heavy basslines and synthesizer beats.
From the first note, “Fairytale” catches listeners by surprise with a blend of sharp and soothing synthesizer sounds. The music repeats, joined in by a prominent snare beat. More drum beats layer as the song begins to increase in tempo. Everything is building up. Then, we experience a signature beat drop. Background vocals are added, with a voice repeating the word “aye.” The strong percussion continues, as the synthesizer music varies until the end of the song.
Another important, but often overlooked aspect of Marshmello’s collaborations is the benefit they have for other artists. Not only does each artist put their own unique twists on each song, they get recognition for their work. Lesser-known artists have benefited greatly from Marshmello’s fame.
For the contemporary audience, EDM has grown exponentially in popularity in recent years. As Marshmello shows in this album, EDM is extremely adaptable and includes endless possibilities. The style is also popular in the entertainment industry, as the heavy beat drops make parties boom.
One of the most interesting aspects of Marshmello’s music is his use of vocal features. Many of his tracks feature guest vocalists—such as TroyBoi, DJ Sliink, Megan Thee Stallion, and others—allowing him to reach a wider audience and introduce his music to new listeners.
For audiences who are not particularly fans of EDM, they can enjoy the hints of other genres. The eighth song in the album, “Hitta,” for example, features the complex rhythms by Eptic, and also a section of rap by Juicy J. The song transitions back and forth smoothly from hip-hop bars to electronic beats.
With each collaboration, every artist has their own style, which makes this album diverse and captivating. In “Back in Time,” for example, Carnage uses his Latin Urbano to give the song a South American twist.
Each feature includes a new genre, as many of the collaborated tracks are dominated by the featured artist rather than Marshmello’s.
