11 EDM Tracks with Great Animal Samples

EDM producers can be pretty inventive. We've heard them sample everything from the sounds an air conditioner makes when it's turn on to water being po

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Complex Original

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EDM producers can be pretty inventive. We've heard them sample everything from the sounds an air conditioner makes when it's turn on to water being poured into a jug. It's that creativity that keeps us coming back, and keeps us guessing. One trend we're seeing in the trap/bass music scene (and we hope continues) is the use of animal noises in tracks. DJ Snake's "Bird Machine" has gained steam quickly, but it was Mr. Mitch's "Catford" that really made us investigate.

Mind you, these are not all of the best animal samples in the land. There are tons of uses of animals in dance music tracks. With so many wild animals in your local raves, it makes sense that the tunes that drive them would feature real wild animals. From wolves to horses to bears, here are 10 great examples of animal samples in EDM tracks.

Mr. Mitch - "Catford"

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Animal Sampled: Cat

This is the track that helped save Confusion's life. Mr. Mitch is known for some banging tracks, but the time he decided to work a cat's meow as a melody to this bottom-heavy trap track is one time we wish we'd been in the studio. Utter brilliance.

DJ Snake ft. Alesia - "Bird Machine"

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Animal Sampled: Bird

Trap DJs have been banging the hell out of this one, primarily for how heavy that bass knocks, but what let's you know the track is coming? That chorus of bird calls, that's what! We live in our headphones so often, it's hard to remember when we hit a park and just let the call of nature creep in; maybe we need to go outside more.

Baauer - "Harlem Shake"

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Animal Sampled: Lion

While not playing a big part of what made the track so special, Baauer's use of a big cat noise does show off his goofy, fun-loving side. Sure, the beat was huge enough on it's own, but that lion noise just makes this one feel more beastly than we initially thought it did.

DJ Fresh - "Tomb Raider"

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Animal Sampled: Horse

It's one of DJ Fresh's more epic tunes, and while the horse isn't used often (it's in around 4:03), the fact that Fresh damn near created a radio serial out of a six-minute tune, and had the idea to incorporate the horse and his master remarking that he should take it easy because "that bassline ain't even dropped yet?" Hilarious, and awesome.

Machinedrum - "Diablo"

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Animal Sampled: Wolves

This entire track can give you the willies, from the constant howling (and how Machinedrum twists the animals into a melody) to the jittery hi hat-driven drums. Proper bounce once it gets going, but then you remember that there's fucking wolves out there! Those barks don't help. And you WANT to turn it off... but then you remember that it's a beautiful tune. Keep the light on while you play it.

Ratatat - "Wildcat"

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Animal Sampled: WIldcat

Almost like Baauer's use of a big cat in "Harlem Shake," this track isn't broken if the roar isn't in it, but it definitely helps. Plus, what the hell would you call it sans-roar?! This actually feels like the soundtrack that would play while your life was flashing before your eyes... as you were trapped by a ferocious wildcat in a secluded forest.

Usual Suspects - "Killa Bees"

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Animal Sampled: Bees

There was nothing like hearing the buzzing of these bees when this classic dark drum & bass tune was being dropped. You knew what was coming, but the fact that a swarm bees was rising into the mix set this one apart from the rest. It's not only one of the best from the Usual Suspects crew, but one of the definitive tracks within the drum & bass scene.

Malente & Dex - "Lions (Bassnectar & ill.Gates Remix)"

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Animal Sampled: Lion

Lions. Duh. Lots of them, though. They're creeping all over this track, like it was made in the middle of the den, with hunks of raw meat sitting around the mixing board and in the booth. You have to love how well the bassline in this one blends with the lion roar, though. You can tell which is which... barely.

deadmau5 - "Strobe"

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Animal Sampled: Rattlesnake

In this almost 11-minute opus, deadmau5 creates a pretty self-contained tune, bringing on a ton of emotions and movements during its stay. Loads of atmospheric sounds, including a rattlesnake, creep in at different points in the track.

Raf Riley - "Dog Unit, Part 2"

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Animal Sampled: Dog

This release was built on bringing intensity, and nothing can strike more fear into the hearts of frightened individuals than some wild dogs barking at them. While not prominent throughout the entire tune, there are moments where a dog bark is throw into the rhythm, in tune and on time. It's thrown in so subtlely, you might start looking behind you, trying to see if the Johnson's pooch got let out.

Clicks & Whistles - "Bear Mountain"

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Animal Sampled: Bear

Clicks & Whistles created a bear of a trap tune in here, and it made sense to have the guttural approval of the bear thrown in for good measure. Heavyweight and hardcore, this one drops with the ferociousness of the brown bear, without the claw marks and soiled undies that are the results of coming into contact with one of those beasts.

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