What Exactly is "Electro" and Why Does It Matter?

The Surprising Origins of "Electro"

If you’ve ever heard the term “electro” and thought it was just short for “electronic music,” you’re not alone. But here’s the twist: “electro” actually started as a name for two very specific styles of music—electrofunk and electropop—born in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These genres combined funky grooves or catchy pop melodies with futuristic, electronic sounds.

Think of pioneers like George Clinton, who brought the funk, and Kraftwerk, the German band that leaned into robotic, synthesized music. Their influence laid the groundwork for what would eventually grow into techno. But calling techno a mashup of George Clinton and Kraftwerk, as some have done, skips over some key details.

The number of releases per decade under these three labels shows they are closely interconnected.

Detroit: The Birthplace of Techno

The story of techno, and how “electro” fits into it, starts in Detroit. DJs and musicians there were influenced by disco, house, and funk scenes from cities like New York and Chicago. For example, Derrick May, one of the first techno producers, was heavily inspired by house music he heard during trips to Chicago. Another early producer, Juan Atkins, was influenced by Kraftwerk and funk, which you can hear in his work with the duo Cybotron.

While Atkins used electrofunk and electropop elements in his music, the techno that followed didn’t really stick to that formula. By the mid-1980s, Detroit artists were creating music that sounded very different from the funky, syncopated rhythms of electrofunk.

Why "Electro" Can Be Confusing

Here’s where it gets tricky: in the early 1980s, “electro” was widely understood to mean electrofunk or electropop. But by the late 1990s, especially in France, “électro” started being used to describe all kinds of electronic music, from techno to house and beyond. This newer meaning can make things confusing, especially when looking at the history of electronic music.

Why It Matters

Understanding where “electro” comes from isn’t just about knowing music trivia. It’s a way to see how music evolves over time, shaped by technology, culture, and global influences. Next time you hear someone say “electro,” think back to its funky, poppy roots—and how it became a term that’s now used for so much more. Knowing the history adds a layer of appreciation for the music we hear today.