Billboard

The words "soothing" and "healing" aren't typically applied to electronic dance music.

Perhaps to some, a throbbing bass can offer a type of therapeutic release or just enough stimulation to forget the troubles of everyday life, but to most, EDM is traditionally associated with large, rowdy parties or with that horribly obnoxious guy in the gym who thinks it's okay to blast his headphones loud enough so you can hear his music over yours.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love EDM. Seriously. I LOVE it. Nothing is better for pumping me up before game day or helping me finish "jogging" that mile. But recently, my taste in EDM, like that of many other millenials, is shifting away from body-shaking bass drops to light, airy flutes and whispery female vocals. My tastes have shifted from DJs like Skrillex and Hardwell towards DJs like Kygo, the "soothers" and "healers" of EDM. 

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At just 22 years old, Kygo is undoubtedly one of the new, young DJs revolutionizing the world of EDM. When I was told by a close friend to listen to this new DJ a few months ago, I was strongly caught off guard. Like my friend, I had been a die-hard fan of bass drops and heavy beats, but to my surprise, I found myself liking "the John Mayer of EDM," as he's been fondly called on Twitter. 

Kygo's music is unlike anything I'd ever heard before. Of the songs and remixes he's released this year, most begin with a slow, simple beat soon accompanied by harmonized, breathy female vocals. Within minutes, the song picks up and introduces a more complex, but always hypnotizing, melody.

Each song has a unique feel: some make you want to dance, some make you want to sit in bed and reflect, others make you want to be a better person. But most importantly, each song is uniquely Kygo. I promise, if you listen to just a few of his songs, you'll be identifying anything that sounds even remotely like his music as Kygo-esque. It's almost as if he's created an entirely new genre based off the love child of John Mayer and any of the DJs headlining Electric Daisy or Tomorrowland.

Kygo, unlike many remix artists, manages to keep the integrity of the original song while also bringing it to new heights. Kygo's music is therapy. Don't believe me? Check out his remix of Coldplay's "Mindnight" or Ed Sheeran's "I See Fire"-the song that made him famous-and try to convince me that you don't feel more relaxed. From the lyrics, to the harmonization, to the layering of metallic, string, and electronic sounds, Kygo creates perfectly balanced songs that are nothing short of magic. It's the kind of music you listen to while driving in the summer. It's the kind of music you listen to when you've been in Leavey library for six hours straight trying to diffuse knowledge through your eyeballs. It's the kind of music that simultaneously heals you and inspires you to heal others. 

In the months since I first began listening to Kygo, I've stumbled upon some other DJs who are also reshaping the EDM landscape, offering more peaceful and comforting sounds. I'd personally recommend Klingande, but once you get a feel for this emerging, mellow genre, you'll be able to compile your own list of new favorite artists in no time. 

So, take a listen. Heal. 

Contact Contributor Raphealla Lambert here.