YEEDM: The Wild Fusion of Country & Dance

What in the honky tonk is YEEDM? Well, saddle up, ‘cause there’s a new hybrid in town!

YEEDM (yes, it’s a real term) rides the line between banjo and bass drop. It’s collabs between big names in country and the EDM world, where country meets electronic music in a way that somehow…just works. But it’s not new new. You’ve very likely heard traces of it already.

We’ve seen hints of this coming for years: Diplo’s cowboy alter ego, Thomas Wesley; Avicii’s “Wake Me Up,” which was arguably ahead of its time. Artists like Cheat Codes, BLVD, and even The Chainsmokers have dipped their toes into country collabs. Then you’ve got remixes of Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs tracks lighting up TikTok and SoundCloud. Newer country artists are leaning into dance-inflected beats, sometimes without even labeling it as such. Even major festivals like EDC and Stagecoach are embracing the sound—Stagecoach now has its own HonkyTonkEDM tent, and this year’s EDC made headlines with its YeeDC showcase.

At its core, YEEDM blends the narrative charm and acoustic textures of country music with the pulsing rhythms and energy of EDM. The result is an unexpected pairing that hits harder than a shot of tequila after a sunset set. Speaking of…if you haven’t already, check out the R3HAB remix of country duo Dan + Shay’s “Tequila.” It’s an oldie but a goodie, as they say.

Why Now?

Part nostalgia, part novelty, part frontier spirit—YEEDM taps into something we’re all craving: fun without the genre gatekeeping. It’s high energy, campy in the best way and refreshingly not-too-serious. It gives EDM the storytelling bones of country, and gives country a new pulse to dance to.

It also reflects the way fans are listening. Curated playlists like the one below are gaining traction. Reddit threads are lighting up. And for every cowboy boot at a rave, there’s a glowstick at a country fest.

But let’s talk about where Relentless Beats is actually heading—because while we’re all about genre-bending fun, our next move is more straightforward.

RB Goes Country

Relentless Beats is officially tipping its hat to the country scene—but this ride isn’t a genre mash-up quite yet. We’re launching Moonlit Nites, a brand new country-focused division, and starting strong with Harold’s 90th Anniversary Celebration in Cave Creek—a two-day, all-country lineup featuring Rodney Atkins, Brian Kelley (of Florida Georgia Line), Kianna Martinez, Josh Roy, Austin Burke, and Laura Walsh.

It’s a roots-and-rhythm fest honoring a Cave Creek institution, not a YEEDM experiment—but that’s not to say we won’t someday get to see a barn dance kicked off by a deep house drop. Stranger things have happened, cowboy. Until then, this one’s all boots, no bass. 

If you’re ready to yee that haw, mark your calendar for October 3rd and 4th! Tickets just went on sale, and you can grab yours right here.