Folktronica Music Guide: 3 Characteristics of Folktronica Music

Folktronica is a hybrid genre of music that blends acoustic instruments found in folk music and some types of indie rock with the drum machines and synthesizers of electronic music. Notable folktronica artists include Patrick Wolf, Caribou, the Books, Four Tet, Juana Molina, Bon Iver, and Tunng. The term “folktronica” is relatively new, and some bands grouped within the music genre may use other terms to describe themselves.

Folktronica music is relatively new and still evolving.

• Early days: The folktronica scene arose as artists began making music that mixed the rhythmic elements of electronica and hip-hop with the harmonic and melodic elements of singer-songwriter folk music. In the 1980s, a synthesis of these sounds emerged in Eastern European countries. Serbian turbo-folk, Romanian manele, Bulgarian chalga, and Albanian Tallava all contained hybrid elements of these seemingly disparate genres.
• Peak: In 1991, the English group Ultramarine released their album Every Man and Woman Is a Star, which leaned further into this hybrid style and became a lodestar for the folktronica movement. Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, artists from the post-rock and avant-garde indie scenes took a pronounced interest in the synths and drum machines from electronica. From the Icelandic artist Bjork to New York's Sufjan Stevens to Chicago's Tortoise, folktronica veered toward more challenging music.
• Present-day: While many of today's artists push back on the term "folktronica," the intersection of electronic music and traditional folk and pop remains strong.

Folktronica music features three key elements.

1. 1. Electronic rhythm components: The rhythms and beats in folktronica draw from hip-hop, electronica, and other forms of dance music. They are typically produced using sequencers, drum machines, and synthesizers.
2. 2. Traditional folk instruments playing harmonies: The harmonic content of folktronica usually comes from acoustic instruments. This might include acoustic guitar, banjo, piano, and the various stringed instruments one might hear in a folk song.
3. 3. A wide array of vocalists: Folktronica vocals vary greatly from artist to artist. Some folktronica vocalists, like Sufjan Stevens, sing in a clear, earnest manner. Others, like Bjork, might cloak their voice in effects. Others, like Tortoise, may not have vocals at all. All of these artists might be found on the same folktronica playlist, highlighting the diversity of the music genre.

To learn more about folktronica music, explore a few notable artists that critics have labeled folktronica.

1. 1. Four Tet: The stage name of Kieran Hebden, Four Tet is a UK-based act. While early Four Tet releases like 2003's Rounds are constructed almost entirely from samples, Hebden cites singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell and indie avant-garde stalwart Jim O'Rourke as major influences.
2. 2. Caribou: Formerly known as Manitoba, Caribou is the stage name of Canadian Dan Snaith. Caribou is well known for 2005's The Milk of Human Kindness and 2007's Andorra, which won Canada's Polaris Music Prize.
3. 3. Tunng: Best known for their 2005 debut album, Mother's Daughter and Other Songs, Tunng hails from London. They combine acoustic instruments, electronic textures, and found-object percussion.
4. 4. Bjork: Icelandic artist Bjork has released records that range from avant-garde experiments to MTV pop. Throughout her career, she has shown equal inspiration from traditional instruments, electronic synths, and drum machines. This has led many critics to group her with folktronica artists.
5. 5. Sufjan Stevens: New York singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens toggles between folk music and hypnotic electronic textures. It is his electronic albums, like 2010's The Age of Adz, that slot into the folktronica genre.

Become a better musician with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Herbie Hancock, Itzhak Perlman, St. Vincent, Sheila E., Timbaland, Tom Morello, and more.