ElektroFolk

ElektroFolk is a musical genre that blends traditional folk music with electronic production and processing. Emerging in the late 1990s and early 2000s in Europe, particularly in German-speaking regions, it developed from the broader folk revival and the growing experimentation with digital sound design. Tracks typically combine traditional melodies, modal scales, or field-recorded folk songs with synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, and layered effects. Instrumentation may include violin, hurdy-gurdy, flute, accordion, or bagpipes alongside electronic textures, resulting in soundscapes that range from rhythmic danceable grooves to contemplative, ambient pieces.

Lyrical content often draws on folklore, nature, and myth, sung in native languages or improvised vocal lines. The genre is diverse, intersecting with neofolk, ambient, and world music, while remaining distinct from heavier folk-metal or conventional electronic dance music. The ElektroFolk scene is strongest in Central Europe, with activity in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Nordic countries, and it extends to independent labels, folk festivals, and club circuits. Live performances may blend acoustic instruments with live electronics, projections, and visuals, emphasizing atmosphere and storytelling.

Because the term ElektroFolk is not rigidly defined, it serves more as an descriptive umbrella than a strict repertoire. Artists and producers may emphasize different degrees of folk repertoire, traditional material, or electronic experimentation, contributing to a fluid and evolving scene.