Do not seek to understand the stylistic intricacies of modern music. Listen more and knowledge will come by itself. To be "in trend", it is enough to be guided by the main directions of music.
Instructions
Step 1
Be less attached to the definition of "modern", because the music of the last century is still relevant. As with fashion, trends turn to the past. So do not be surprised that the classics, no matter how contradictory it may sound, are modern. Both jazz and 50th anniversary rock and roll. They all give life to the new styles that are emerging now. Rock music has a huge number of directions, so, perhaps, even an expert may not always be able to accurately determine the style of a particular song. But in some ways, rock, as a rule, remains unchanged. Rock bands still do not give up on electric guitars and bass, powerful drums and aggressive (though not always) vocals. Rock is a crisp beat with emphasis on strong beats.
Step 2
Truly unimaginable spaces open up for electronic music. The technique is improving every day, and with it the possibilities of synthesizing sounds. As you can guess, these styles are united by the use of modern technologies, although the sound of different directions is sometimes not similar to each other. Electronic dance music has earned the greatest love. Drum'n 'Bass, trance, house, and others. House is one of the most popular, it has a rather monotonous beat, in contrast to broken drum and bass. In the 2000s, dubstep with a characteristic low-frequency bass became popular, creating a kind of "pitch". Electronic music is constantly evolving, especially in large cities, and transforming into other styles.
Step 3
Contemporary styles such as rap, hip-hop and r'n'b have some similarities. Rap is, in a narrow sense, rhythmized poetry, recitative. Hip-hop music uses rap more than the actual vocals. In r'n'b, the voice is already more important. The vocals in this dance style are melodic, instrumental arrangements are used.
Step 4
To understand modern styles, refer to "antiquity", especially since many trends have survived to this day. Jazz motives, especially its orchestral versions a la Glenn Miller, can be found in contemporary pop music. Instrumental samples fit very well with electronic styles. And modern "gadgets" are able to work practically miracles on stage, when a single musician becomes a whole orchestra, independently recording drums, bass, guitar and vocals.
