Editorial
New Study Shows Potential For EDM Music In Dog Stress Relief
New Study Shows Potential For EDM Music In Dog Stress Relief as research on canine music exposure raises questions around tempo, rhythm, and repetition
A new study on music and canine stress has opened a more specific discussion around whether EDM music could have potential in dog stress relief. Research from the University of Glasgow and the Scottish SPCA found that music exposure helped kennelled dogs show calmer stress-related behaviour, with results linked to relaxed body activity and changes in heart-rate variability. The study did not test EDM directly, but it does strengthen the wider point that dogs can respond to musical structure, especially when sound is steady, repetitive, and controlled in intensity. That makes electronic music worth considering in a more precise way, since certain styles of melodic house, ambient electronic, organic house, and slower deep house can share moderate BPM ranges, repeated rhythmic patterns, and predictable arrangements with genres already studied in canine settings. The argument is not that all EDM music can reduce stress in dogs, but that selected forms of electronic music may deserve closer research when tempo, volume, frequency range, and arrangement are carefully considered. For a genre usually discussed through clubs, festivals, and human emotional response, the study gives EDM music a new research angle that connects rhythm-led production with a practical question in animal wellbeing.
What The New Study Found About Music And Dog Stress
The University of Glasgow and Scottish SPCA study looked at how music affected dogs living in a rescue kennel, a setting where stress can build from unfamiliar noise, separation from owners, limited space, and changes in daily routine. Researchers followed 38 kennelled dogs over five days and played five genres: soft rock, Motown, pop, reggae, and classical. During the music periods, the dogs spent significantly more time lying down and significantly less time standing, which gave researchers a clear behavioural sign that music affected how the dogs settled inside the shelter. The strongest physiological results came during soft rock and reggae, where higher heart-rate variability was interpreted as a sign of reduced stress. The study also found no clear decrease in barking while music was playing, so the research should not be simplified into a claim that music reduced every stress behaviour at once.
The findings are important because the dogs did not respond to music as one broad category. The tested genres led to different stress-related responses, with soft rock and reggae producing the clearest physiological changes. Reggae often runs on a moderate tempo, repeated offbeat rhythm, and consistent groove, while soft rock usually gives listeners a smoother structure with fewer sharp interruptions than more aggressive music. Those traits can also appear in some forms of EDM music, especially melodic house, ambient electronic, organic house, and slower deep house, where tracks often rely on moderate BPM ranges, repeated loops, gradual arrangement changes, and a cleaner sound profile. That does not mean EDM music has already been proven to reduce dog stress, because the Glasgow study did not test electronic music and dogs process volume, bass pressure, and high-frequency sounds differently from humans. It does, however, give future dog stress research a clear direction: selected electronic tracks could be tested against genres already linked with calmer stress-related responses, with researchers comparing BPM, rhythm pattern, volume level, frequency range, bass pressure, and sudden arrangement changes.
Why Dogs Reacting To EDM Music Keeps The Question Relevant
Videos of dogs moving, jumping, turning, howling, or sitting upright while EDM music plays have become part of the wider pet-content cycle online, especially when the clip lines up neatly with a drop, kick pattern, or repeated hook. The appeal is obvious: electronic music is already tied to visible reaction, so when a dog appears to move in time with a track, viewers immediately read it through the same language used for clubs, festivals, and dance floors. One widely shared example was Bailey, a dog whose kitchen “dance” to a reggaeton track went viral after the clip showed him sitting upright and moving side to side in a way that looked timed to the music. Viral clips like that do not prove that dogs understand a beat, but they show why people keep connecting pets with rhythm-led music in the first place. The internet version of the idea is playful, but it also reflects a real curiosity among owners about whether the sounds they play at home affect how dogs move, react, or settle.
That distinction is important because visible movement is not the same thing as musical understanding or stress relief. In animal cognition, beat synchronisation means adjusting movement to match an external rhythm, and that ability has been studied more clearly in animals such as parrots, cockatoos, and sea lions than in dogs. Recent coverage of animal rhythm research has pointed out that dogs have not shown the same evidence for true beat-matching, even though they can still react strongly to music, owner movement, attention, and changes in the room. That makes the EDM music connection more specific: viral dogs-moving-to-music clips should not be used as proof that electronic music calms dogs, but they do show why the topic keeps gaining attention outside academic research. For EDM music to be taken seriously in dog stress relief, the question has to move from “can dogs dance to a beat?” to whether selected tracks can influence rest, alertness, movement, or vocal behaviour when volume, playback setting, owner presence, and track structure are measured properly.
How Dogs Hear Music Differently From Humans
Dogs do not hear EDM music in the same frequency range as humans, which makes sound design an important part of the dog stress relief discussion. Human hearing is usually described as reaching around 20,000 Hz, while canine hearing is commonly reported much higher, and LSU’s animal hearing summary notes that dogs show their greatest sensitivity around the 4 to 10 kHz range. In practical terms, an electronic track that feels smooth to a person may still contain details a dog notices more strongly, including bright synth layers, hi-hats, vocal cuts, risers, alarms, whistles, or compressed high-end textures above the main beat. The issue is not only whether a track is house, techno, melodic, or ambient, but how the full mix reaches the dog through the speaker, the room, and the playback volume. A playlist intended for calm listening may still cause stress if it includes treble-heavy sounds, close-range playback, or quick changes that are more noticeable to dogs than to humans. This makes canine hearing a necessary part of any future study on EDM music and dog stress relief, because the same track can affect dogs differently depending on the listening setup and the dog’s sensitivity to certain frequencies.
The science around everyday sound sensitivity also shows why EDM music cannot be judged by BPM or genre label alone. UC Davis reported that many owners miss signs of stress linked to household noises, with high-frequency, intermittent sounds such as smoke-detector battery warnings more likely to trigger anxiety than lower, continuous sounds. A separate study on music pitch and tempo in kennelled dogs found that low-pitched tracks appeared to increase alertness, while tempo did not create a simple calming-versus-stimulating result on its own. Applied to electronic music, those findings shift the focus toward the parts of a track that dogs may actually notice: the brightness of the percussion, the density of the top-end, the weight of the low end, the use of alarm-like build-ups, and the speed of changes between sections. Softer melodic house, ambient electronic, organic house, or slower deep house may be more suitable for future dog stress research when the mix stays smoother and the playback volume is controlled, while drop-led festival tracks with piercing leads, crowded percussion, and abrupt loud transitions would need more caution. The next stage for EDM music in canine stress relief should focus on the full listening experience inside the track, including how pitch, loudness, speaker placement, and sound texture affect resting, alertness, movement, and stress-related body language.
The Future Of EDM Music In Dog Stress Research
The research so far gives EDM music a more credible place in the dog stress relief discussion, especially as canine music studies continue looking beyond genre and into how dogs respond to sound itself. Music has already been linked with changes in resting behaviour, alertness, and heart-rate measures in dogs, while hearing research shows why volume, pitch, and frequency range matter when sound is played in a home, shelter, or kennel. With direct electronic music testing still ahead, the strongest path forward is clear: study specific tracks under controlled conditions and measure how dogs respond when the listening setup is designed around their hearing, not ours.
For dog owners, shelters, and researchers, the next question is no longer as simple as whether music can help dogs feel calmer. It is whether certain forms of EDM music, especially softer styles like melodic house, ambient electronic, organic house, and slower deep house, can be tested in real settings where dogs are already exposed to noise, stress, and routine changes. The focus should stay on careful listening conditions, suitable volume, steady playback, and clear observation of how dogs rest, move, vocalise, or show comfort around the sound. If future studies find the right balance, electronic music could move into a new kind of playlist purpose, one made not for peak-time crowds, but for calmer moments with the dogs beside us.
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Editorial
Seven Stars 2026: 7 Most Anticipated Sets at GRiZ’s Cosmic Campout
As the second annual Valley of the Seven Stars approaches, bass music fans across the country are prepping their gear and locking in their set times. Taking over the Oak Ridge Estate in Arrington, Virginia from October 8–11, this gathering marks the long-awaited payoff of GRiZ’s two-year hiatus. The event has quickly earned a reputation as one of the bass community’s premier “homie” festivals, trading commercial refinement for deep curation and authentic energy. Whether you are hunting for ground-shaking low end or sunset grooves, here are the 7 most anticipated performances to highlight on your schedule:
7. Richard Finger
Set Time: Saturday, 4:50 PM – 5:50 PM
Operating entirely behind anonymous masks, Richard Finger has become one of bass music’s most intriguing underground phenomena. The mysterious duo popped onto the radar with relentless sound design and uncompromisingly heavy drops, rapidly earning a rotation in festival sets worldwide. While internet investigators continue trying to uncover their true identities, the project lets the sheer sound of low end rhythm do the talking. Catching them in the afternoon heat on Saturday is guaranteed to wake up the crowd.
6. Hedex
Set Time: Sunday, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Hedex has been at the forefront of the modern drum and bass explosion. He has been taking jump-up rhythms out of underground UK clubs and pushing them onto major American festival stages. This performance serves as the official launch for his North American “Nu Era” tour. Known for quick double drops and explosive crowd control, his Sunday slot will deliver a shot of pure adrenaline just as festivalgoers enter the final night.
5. GRiZ (Chasing The Golden Hour)
Set Time: Saturday, 6:05 PM – 7:20 PM
GRiZ has always known how to curate a vibe, but his Chasing The Golden Hour (CTGH) concept holds a legendary place in the scene. It was originally conceived as a mixtape series built around vintage samples, mellow hip-hop beats, and live sax riffs. CTGH offers a soulful counterweight to his heavy dubstep headline sets. Following packed-out demand at past events, this sunset window is made for collective unwinding. It is the defining emotional anchor of the weekend, best experienced surrounded by friends on an open hill.

4. Mersiv
Set Time: Saturday, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
DJ & producer Anderson Gallegos, known professionally as Mersiv, has carved out a dedicated subculture with his trademark “Pretty Dark Loud” sound design. Mersiv crafts sets that feel simultaneously meditative and heavy by combining hypnotic downtempo atmospheres with distortion-heavy basslines. Dropping into Saturday prime time, his set will steer the valley into its deepest, most psychedelic sonic territory.
3. Seth David (R&Bass)
Set Time: Friday, 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM (After Hours)
Returning to the Seven Stars lineup for a second run, Seth David brings his signature R&Bass sound to the Satellite Stage. The project fuses classic 90s and 2000s R&B vocals with sub-bass frequencies. This set gives night owls a refreshing alternative to the standard festival sound anding directly in the after-hours slot,
2. Distinct Motive
Set Time: Sunday, 6:50 PM – 7:50 PM
Hailing from Ontario, Distinct Motive has spearheaded the revival of pure 140 BPM sound system culture in North America. His productions emphasize sub-bass, surgical mixing, and deep roots in old-school UK dubstep. Since his anthem “Wait A Minute” dominated stages everywhere, his profile has skyrocketed. Sunday evening marks his debut on the mainstage, bringing chest-rattling low frequencies to the festival’s largest sound system.
1. Kaleena Zanders
Set Time: Thursday, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Revered as one of modern dance music’s most captivating vocal powerhouses, Kaleena Zanders channels gospel roots through classic house grooves. With major collaborative releases alongside fellow headliners, her live sets go far beyond ordinary DJ performances. Slotted into Thursday evening, she will set an uplifting, soulful tone for the entire cosmic campout before the heavier bass takes over.
With four days of music spread across The Valley, pacing is going to be everything. Set conflicts are inevitable when a lineup has this much variety. Be sure to leave room in your schedule to wander between stages and stumble onto artists outside your radar.
Grab the official festival app to stay updated on any last-minute schedule shifts and look out for your crew.
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Editorial
MiNT XL: Leeds’ Newest Nightclub Opens With A Bang
MiNT XL opens its doors in Leeds with a sold-out party for 2,500 ravers, as Craig Richards, Enzo Siragusa and Sonja Moonear launch the new nightclub
MiNT XL officially opened its doors on Friday, 25 September, with a sold-out opening party featuring names like Craig Richards, Enzo Siragusa and Sonja Moonear. 2,500 ravers gathered in the heart of Leeds city centre to experience the latest addition to the city’s rich rave culture, marking a memorable beginning for MiNT XL.
Taking over the former nightclub, PRYZM Leeds, MiNT set themselves the challenge of giving the venue a new identity through their own production and iconic signature. In an interview with EDM House Network earlier this year, MiNT marketing manager, Mikey McMahon said they wanted people to walk into MiNT XL and feel like they were part of something forward-thinking. There is no doubt they have achieved this, with the opening night already setting MiNT XL apart from other venues in Leeds.

Credit: David Dumitru
Exploring The Venue’s Layout
Arriving at the venue, you could feel the excitement in the air as people made their way into the club. Music was bumping through the walls and the night was just getting started. Walking inside, the dark environment immediately made it feel like a rave and not a regular nightclub.
Heading up the stairs from the entrance, we reached the main hall of the venue, which houses two of the three rooms at MiNT XL, as well as an open-air terrace. The ‘Clubroom’ was the first room people encountered on the floor, while the main room, also known as the ‘Ballroom’, sits to the left of the hall.
The second floor is a great extension of what the main floor has to offer, hosting the venue’s third room, ‘Cage’, as well as an additional bar with sofas and seating for those wanting a quick break from the dancefloor. The VIP area is also located on this floor, providing a comfortable chill-out space with its own bar and seating area.

Credit: David Dumitru
The Rooms at MiNT XL
1. Ballroom
The largest of the three rooms, the ‘Ballroom’ is a warehouse type of space hosting the headlining names on MiNT XL’s line-ups. Some of the lighting features that stood out as soon as we walked into the room included the large ring structure above the dancefloor, as well as the linear rigs placed horizontally across the ceiling, which rotate to create a wave-like effect through light.
Another standout piece of the room is the newly installed Funktion-One Vero sound system, delivering bass that pumps through your body and an overall premium sound quality. The same system can also be found in the other two rooms, where its impact is even greater due to their smaller capacities.

Credit: @elliotyoungphoto
2. Cage
Probably the most interesting room of the three, and our personal favourite, ‘Cage’ delivers an experience like no other. Its design feels unique and fresh out of the box, while still maintaining a lush feel. Throughout the opening night, the room was lit up with orange lighting, creating a somewhat comfortable atmosphere amid all the chaos going on.

Credit: David Dumitru
‘Cage’ also has a few sofas placed around the room, helping complete its luxurious feel. The cherry on top, however, is the fact that the space will often welcome DJs playing on vinyl. We had the chance to witness this live, and let me tell you, seeing the artists flip and swap records behind the decks totally elevates the experience.

Credit: David Dumitru
3. Clubroom
With a large light panel on the ceiling covering the centre of the dancefloor, ‘Clubroom’ is an ode to MiNT Warehouse, the brand’s second ever venue. Sharing similar characteristics, the room brings the MiNT Warehouse spirit to MiNT XL, carrying over the energetic vibes that have become a trademark of the brand.
While the room has a great design from a production perspective, the air conditioning isn’t felt as well in some corners, often making it a very hot space.

Credit: David Dumitru
4. Terrace
An open-air space with a nice view of some of Leeds city centre’s tallest buildings, the terrace is a well-arranged spot for those who want to unwind a little and take a breath of fresh air. Located close to the ‘Ballroom’, the path to the terrace can, however, become very busy at times.

Credit: David Dumitru
The Music at MiNT XL
The venue opened with the brand’s own event series, ‘system.’, taking over the decks. Across the three rooms, a well-curated line-up delivered the soundtrack to MiNT’s new beginning.
From the perspective of EDM House Network, our highlights were Foehn & Jerome at the ‘Cage’, Craig Richards B2B Francesco Del Garda at the ‘Ballroom’, and then back to the ‘Cage’ for a vinyl session with Fumiya Tanaka.

Credit: @elliotyoungphoto
Beyond the opening night, a wide range of renowned DJs are set to follow at MiNT XL, with the likes of Ewan McVicar, Riordan, Morgan Seatree and a Worried About Henry (WAH) takeover among those already announced. While so far only electronic music events make up the calendar, organisers have said they are excited to expand into new genres and live music.
Atmosphere Inside The Venue
MiNT XL operates a no-phones policy at all events, meaning attendees can fully immerse themselves into the music. Having experienced an event with such policy for the first time, it was impressive to see how big of a change it makes.
Seeing people living in the moment and having fun truly gave everyone a taste of what some mean when they say ‘raving was better in the 90s’. The no-phones policy genuinely made the night feel like a time machine that teleported us back to a time when people used to socialise and not chase Instagram clout at raves.

Credit: @elliotyoungphoto
With three state-of-the-art rooms, a 2,500-capacity venue, a sound system that blows the roof off and a no-phones policy, MiNT XL has real potential to become one of the best nightclubs in the entire UK. The opening party was not just the green light for a new venue in Leeds, but felt more like a statement that MiNT XL is here, and for good.
The club season is only just getting started, with a packed list of upcoming events already lined up at MiNT XL.
Friday 9 October – Marsolo Invites: Marsolo + more TBA
Saturday 10 October – Airspace: Notion, Kyle Starkey, Camille Doe + more
Saturday 17 October – Mint XL Presents: Cam Stockman b2b Tommy Phillips
Friday 30 October – Airspace: Riordan, Stef Davidse + more
Saturday 31 October – Ewan McVicar Presents: Halloween – Ewan McVicar, Special Request, Olive F
Saturday 7 November – Mint XL Presents: ALISHA, Robbie Doherty + more
Saturday 14 November – Mint XL Presents: Morgan Seatree + more TBA
Friday 20 November – Framework Presents: Ben UFO, Papa Nugs + more
Saturday 21 November – Jampacked Would Tour Leeds Edition: Jamback, Anil Aras, A For Alpha
Saturday 19 December – Framework x Mugpie Presents: Christian AB, Unai Trotti + more
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Amsterdam Music Festival News
EDM Festivals October 2026: Festivals We Can’t Miss
EDM Festivals October 2026: Festivals We Can’t Miss worldwide as major events fill the month across North America, Asia, Europe, and South America
October 2026 brings another busy month for the EDM festival calendar, with events taking place across North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. In the US, 808 Festival, Breakaway Utah, We Belong Here Central Park, Experts Only at the Gorge, Niteharts, Head Trip, III Points Miami, Escape Psycho Circus, BOO! Seattle, BOO! Arizona, and Hocus Pocus Miami fill the month. Meanwhile, EDC Korea and Chill O’posite Festival add major dates in Asia and Africa. No Art Lisbon and AMF represent Europe, while EDC Colombia and Ritvales bring two large weekends to South America. Here’s a full look at the EDM festivals taking place throughout October 2026.
808 Festival
Dates: October 2–3, 2026
Location: BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand
808 Festival returns to BITEC in Bangkok from October 2–3, 2026 for two days across two stages. The Phase Two lineup includes ILLENIUM, SLANDER B2B NGHTMRE, W&W, Argy, Ben Nicky, 999999999, Mesto, and KAAZE. Meanwhile, JUSTUS, RIVO, Dorian, Ian Asher, and Mary Droppinz are also confirmed. Several special performances are scheduled, including Adam Beyer B2B Chris Avantgarde and Nifra B2B Will Atkinson. Giorgia Angiuli will also perform live. More artists are still due to be announced before the festival returns to Bangkok in October.

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