What is House Music?

House music, a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the United States during the 1980s, is a blend of musical styles, including disco, funk, soul, and electronic music. It is characterized by repetitive, rhythmic beats and simple but emotionally-laden melodies. House music incorporates a variety of techniques, including sampling, drum machines, DJ techniques, and synthesizers.

History of House Music

House music originated in the Chicago area, with early pioneers including pioneering DJs Ron Hardy, Larry Levan, and Frankie Knuckles. In 1984, a small warehouse called The Music Box was the epicenter of the House movement. Bringing together a diverse group of DJs, producers, and musicians, The Music Box provided the blueprint for House Music’s continuous evolution.

The early house scene quickly spread to Detroit, New York, and London, with DJs such as Derrick May and Juan Atkins pioneering the embryonic Detroit and UK House scenes respectively. During the late 1980s and into the early 1990s, House Music spread to venues across the world, inspiring a generation of clubbers and a spin-off, acid house.

The Early 1990s

The early 1990s saw the rise of the underground house scene, with the emergence of labels such as Strictly Rhythm and Suburban Base. These labels provided the building blocks for the new wave of House music, which became known as Deep House. Deep House was characterized by its more soulful, more vocal-led sound, exemplified by the tracks of Mexican producers like Louie Vega and Jody Gomez.

By the late 90s, House music had become a major part of popular culture with crossover tracks such as Armand Van Helden’s “U Don’t Know Me” and Basement Jaxx’s ‘Rendez-Vu’ becoming club classics. Today, House Music’s influence can be seen in almost any type of modern electronic music, including electro-pop, dubstep, future garage and Trap.

Conclusion

House music’s legacy is long and varied, and it continues to be a major force in dance music. In its thirty-five year history, House music has morphed and changed, creating a distinctive sound that has been embraced and loved by millions of people around the world. Its influence can be heard throughout the world on dancefloors, in cars, and even on the radio. The genre is still thriving, and continues to evolves, inspiring a new generation of DJs, producers, and fans.