Honestly, if you spent any time on a dance floor or scrolling through your feed last year, you know the vibe was just... different. 2024 wasn't just about big rooms and loud drops. It was the year of the "reclaim." We saw legends coming back from decade-long breaks and TikTok hits that actually had some soul to them. People keep looking for a single "song of the summer," but the truth about the top edm songs 2024 is that the scene split into three or four different worlds at once.
You had the high-brow "intellectual" house, the chaotic "Stutter House" energy, and then Zedd finally dropping an album after nine years of silence. It was a lot to keep track of.
The Tracks That Actually Defined the Year
If we're being real, the conversation has to start with Fisher and Chris Lake. Their rework of Gotye’s "Somebody That I Used To Know" (officially released as "Somebody (2024)") was everywhere. And I mean everywhere. It’s funny because that melody is over a decade old, but the way they toughened up the bassline for their "Under Construction" sets made it feel brand new. It wasn't just a remix; it was a stadium-sized moment that peaked at Coachella and stayed in rotation through every major festival from Ultra to Tomorrowland.
But then you have the Keinemusik crew.
Adam Port and Stryv’s "Move" featuring Malachiii basically became the unofficial anthem of Ibiza 2024. It’s got that specific Afro-house swing that feels expensive—the kind of track you hear at a sunset set where everyone is wearing linen. It’s a slow burn. It doesn't scream for your attention; it just earns it.
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Why Disclosure Won 2024 (Again)
After Alchemy in 2023, the Lawrence brothers could have rested. Instead, they dropped "She’s Gone, Dance On" in May, just in time for the summer rush. Sampling Ennio Morricone is a bold move, but they pulled it off. The track has this frantic, disco-tinged energy that reminds you why Disclosure are the kings of crossover house.
I saw a clip of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce dancing to this at Coachella, and that’s when you knew it had transcended the "EDM" bubble. It became a cultural artifact.
The Weird, The Viral, and the Drum & Bass Flip
We can't talk about top edm songs 2024 without acknowledging the "TikTok to Mainstage" pipeline. Artemas’s "i like the way you kiss me" was originally a darkwave, synth-pop track. But the EDM community basically hijacked it.
Every DJ from Tiësto to Barely Alive was playing some version of it. The Culture Shock D&B Flip, in particular, showed how much Drum & Bass has moved back into the spotlight. DnB isn't just for underground warehouses in London anymore. It’s hitting the main stages in Vegas.
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Then there’s Fred again..
Is it even a "top songs" list without him? "places to be" with Anderson .Paak and CHIKA felt like a masterclass in collaboration. It’s gritty, it’s fast, and it’s got that Skrillex co-production touch that makes the percussion feel like it’s hitting you in the chest.
Zedd’s Big Return
Most people thought Zedd was just a "pop" guy now. Then he released Telos.
The track "1685" with Muse is six minutes of Bach-inspired, progressive electronic madness. It’s not a "radio hit" in the traditional sense, but it’s a statement. It’s Zedd proving he still has the technical chops that made us fall in love with him during the Clarity era. If you haven't heard "Descensus" with Mesto and Dora Jar, you're missing out on one of the most technical "complextro" throwbacks we’ve had in years.
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What Actually Makes a "Top" Song Now?
The metrics have shifted. It’s not just about Beatport charts or Spotify streams.
- The "Shazam" Factor: Did people actually pull out their phones in the middle of a dark club to find the ID?
- The Edit Potential: Can it be mashed up with a 90s vocal?
- The Loopability: Does a 15-second clip of the drop work on a Reel?
For example, John Summit’s "Go Back" with Sub Focus and Julia Church. It’s a hybrid. It starts as house and flips into Drum & Bass. That kind of genre-fluidity is exactly why it dominated the top edm songs 2024 rankings. People are bored of "just" one sound. They want the surprise.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Playlist
If you’re trying to build a 2024 retrospective playlist that doesn't sound like every other generic "Dance Pop" list, you need to mix the heavy hitters with the "DJ's favorite" tracks.
- Start with the Anthems: Put "Move" by Adam Port and "Somebody (2024)" at the top to set the vibe.
- Add the Texture: Bring in Jamie xx’s "Baddy on the Floor" or Justice’s "Neverender" (with Tame Impala). These tracks give the playlist some "indie-sleaze" credibility.
- Don't Ignore the Bass: Tracks like "SIGNAL" by ISOKNOCK (Isoxo and Knock2) represent the new wave of American bass music that is currently selling out stadiums.
- End with the Deep Stuff: Look into the Keinemusik catalog or RÜFÜS DU SOL’s "Lately" to round out the energy.
The biggest mistake you can make is thinking EDM is a monolith. The best tracks of the year were the ones that broke the rules. Whether it was Joy Orbison’s "Flight FM" bringing UK bass back to the forefront or Barry Can’t Swim making jazz-house a household name, 2024 was about variety. Get these tracks in your library and you'll actually understand where the scene is headed next.