Think back to the summer of 2017. You probably remember a melody that was impossible to escape: in a car, at a café, or blasting from a festival stage on someone’s phone video. Electro 2017 wasn’t a niche corner of music. It was the sound of the mainstream.
Nearly a decade later, those songs still show up in workout playlists, wedding sets and late-night throwbacks. But why did that year hit so hard, and what can you learn from it if you make or simply love electronic music?
In this guide, I’ll walk you through what made electro 2017 unique, the artists and tracks that shaped it, the production tricks behind the sound, and how to build a playlist that captures that era properly.
What Was Electro 2017, Exactly?
Electro 2017 refers to the wave of electro house, electro-pop and melodic dance music that dominated radio, streaming and festivals during that year. It blended the punchy synths of classic electro with pop songwriting and big vocal hooks.
The key idea is crossover. Earlier electronic music often lived in clubs, while the 2017 version sat comfortably next to pop and hip-hop on the same playlists. Producers worked with pop singers, rappers and even rock bands, and the result was dance music that anyone could hum.
How It Differed From Earlier Electro
Early electro leaned on robotic rhythms and cold, mechanical textures. Electro house in the early 2010s favored aggressive, distorted leads and huge drops. By 2017, the mood had softened. Melodies became brighter, drops became simpler, and vocals moved to the front.
The Artists Who Shaped the Electro 2017 Sound
A few names appeared everywhere that year, and it’s worth knowing who they were.
Calvin Harris and the Funk Turn
Calvin Harris released Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 in 2017, an album that traded hard drops for groove, bass and guest-heavy collaborations. Tracks like “Slide” and “Feels” showed that dance music could be relaxed and still top charts.
The Chainsmokers and Coldplay
“Something Just Like This,” a collaboration between The Chainsmokers and Coldplay, was one of the clearest examples of rock-meets-electro. It showed how far dance production had moved into the pop mainstream.
Marshmello, Kygo, Zedd and Martin Garrix
Marshmello’s “Silence” with Khalid, Kygo’s “It Ain’t Me” with Selena Gomez, Zedd’s “Stay” with Alessia Cara and Martin Garrix’s “Scared to Be Lonely” with Dua Lipa all fit the same pattern: a strong guest vocalist, a clean melody and a drop that never overwhelmed the song.
A Quick Look at the Grammys
At the 2017 Grammy Awards, Flume’s album Skin won Best Dance/Electronic Album. That win gave a more experimental side of electronic music a place in the spotlight next to the radio hits.
The Sound Behind Electro 2017
If you want to understand why these records feel so connected, look at the ingredients.
Vocal-First Songwriting
Most hit tracks were written like pop songs first and dance tracks second. Verses had real storylines, choruses were easy to sing, and the drop often repeated the vocal hook in a chopped or pitched-up form.
Soft Synths and Tropical Textures
Marimba-style plucks, warm pads and gentle chord progressions replaced harsh sawtooth leads in many tracks. This tropical-leaning style gave electro 2017 a sunny, relaxed quality even at dance tempos.
Future Bass Influence
Wide, shimmering supersaw chords and pitched vocal samples were becoming popular, and they bled into the broader electro scene. You can hear their influence in many of the year’s most emotional drops.
Tempos and Structure
Most popular records sat between roughly 100 and 130 BPM, with simple arrangements: intro, verse, build, drop, repeat. The simplicity made them perfect for streaming playlists and short video clips.
Why Electro 2017 Still Matters Today
There are a few solid reasons these songs have lasted.
They were built for sharing. Short hooks and clear drops worked well in the early era of social video, and that habit hasn’t gone away.
They proved collaboration works. The model of pairing a producer with a vocalist from another genre is now standard practice.
They remain safe, crowd-pleasing choices. DJs playing weddings, parties and bars still reach for tracks from this era because audiences recognize them instantly.
How to Build an Electro 2017 Playlist
Here’s a simple method I’d recommend if you want a playlist that actually flows rather than just stacking hits.
- Start with five anchor tracks. Pick the songs you’d never skip, such as the ones named above.
- Add supporting artists. Search the featured vocalists and producers on those tracks, since they often share similar collaborators.
- Balance energy. Alternate between high-energy drops and mellow, melodic tracks so listeners don’t tire.
- Keep tempo in mind. Group songs within a similar BPM range for smoother transitions.
- Limit it to 40-60 tracks. That’s roughly two to four hours, which is enough for a party without feeling endless.
If you’re a DJ, test your transitions on actual speakers. Songs with big vocal sections are easy to clash if keys don’t match.
Tips for Producers Inspired by Electro 2017
If you make music yourself, you can borrow lessons from the era without copying anyone.
- Write the hook before the beat. Melody carried this year more than sound design did.
- Leave space in the mix. Clean arrangements helped vocals cut through on phone speakers.
- Layer, don’t overload. A few well-chosen synths sound bigger than ten competing ones.
- Reference professionally mixed tracks. Compare your loudness and balance against songs you admire, and be honest about the gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is electro 2017 in simple terms?
It’s the catchy, vocal-driven electronic dance music that was hugely popular in 2017, mixing electro house, pop and melodic drops.
Who were the biggest electronic artists in 2017?
Calvin Harris, The Chainsmokers, Marshmello, Kygo, Zedd and Martin Garrix were among the most visible names, with many hit collaborations across the year.
Is electro the same as EDM?
Not exactly. EDM is a broad label for electronic dance music, while electro is one style inside it, known for its synth-driven, rhythmic sound.
Where can I listen to electro 2017 songs?
Most major streaming platforms have curated playlists from that year. Searching for “electronic hits 2017” is a quick way to find them.
Why do electro 2017 songs sound so similar?
Many shared the same ingredients: strong vocal hooks, bright synths and simple drops. Producers were all chasing a sound that worked on radio and streaming.
Final Thoughts
Electro 2017 was a turning point where dance music stopped being a side genre and became everyday pop. The songs were simple on purpose, and that simplicity is exactly why they last.
Now it’s your turn. Open your favorite streaming app, build your own electro 2017 playlist using the steps above, and share it in the comments with your three must-have tracks. If this guide helped, send it to a friend who still plays these songs on repeat.
