Big Room House is a vibrant genre of electronic music that has become a symbol of the festival scene. Discover its origins, key tracks such as Animals and Tsunami, and the contribution of artists including Hardwell, Martin Garrix.
Big Room House is a genre of electronic dance music (EDM) that took over dance floors worldwide in the early 2010s. Its recognizable style, featuring powerful drops, minimalist melodies, and festival-driven energy, became the foundation of countless hits at major music festivals such as Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival, and EDC.
Origins
Big Room House emerged at the intersection of progressive house and electro house. This style was designed specifically for large festivals and arenas—hence the name “Big Room.” Its goal was to create the most powerful and memorable atmosphere possible for massive crowds.
Pioneers of the genre include artists such as:
It is important not to confuse Big Room House with classic electro house. While electro house is built around groove and rhythmic density, Big Room focuses primarily on scale: long pauses, sharp contrasts, extremely simple drops, and a “mass explosion” effect on the dance floor. This architectural approach made the genre an ideal tool for stadium and festival stages.
Key Characteristics
- Simple yet powerful melodies:
Easy-to-remember rhythms and chords that enhance the sense of presence at festivals. - Massive drops:
After an intense build-up, the track delivers a heavy drop with massive bass and a minimalist beat. - Energy and drive:
Big Room House was created to energize crowds. Its tempo—around 128–130 BPM—is ideal for dance floors.
The Genre’s Breakthrough
Big Room House reached peak popularity between 2013 and 2015 thanks to tracks such as:
- "Animals" (Martin Garrix): One of the first global Big Room House hits that brought the genre massive popularity.
- "Spaceman" (Hardwell): An anthem of the festival scene.
- "Tsunami" (DVBBS & Borgeous): A track that became a true explosion on dance floors and festival stages.
- "Epic" (Sandro Silva & Quintino): One of the earliest tracks to define the Big Room House sound.
Swedish House Mafia also made a huge contribution to the genre’s popularity with hits like "Don't You Worry Child" and "Save the World", although their sound leaned more toward the border between Big Room and progressive house.
Festival Popularity
Big Room House was perfectly suited for large-scale festivals. Its powerful drops, simple melodies, and ability to engage thousands of people simultaneously made it an essential genre for events such as:
- Tomorrowland,
- Ultra Music Festival,
- Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC).
Criticism and Decline
Despite its popularity, Big Room House faced criticism for predictability and minimalism. Many listeners and artists felt the genre became repetitive, as tracks often followed the same structure:
- Intense build-up.
- Loud drop with minimal melodic elements.
- Cycle repetition.
By 2016, the genre’s popularity began to decline as the EDM scene shifted toward more diverse styles such as future bass, bass house, and techno. Nevertheless, Big Room House remains popular at festivals thanks to its ability to instantly energize large audiences.
The Genre’s Legacy
Today, Big Room House continues to live on at festivals and in DJ sets around the world. It has had a massive impact on the development of EDM and festival culture. Artists such as Hardwell, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and W&W still produce tracks in this style, adding modern elements to the classic sound.
Big Room House has become a symbol of the golden era of EDM, inspiring a new generation of producers and listeners. Its legacy is made of memories of thousands of people dancing under open skies to massive drops.
