Genre Spotlight: The birth of House music

As one of the more recent genres to emerge, house music represents freedom, escapism and community in such a physically expressive format.

House music is so heavily tied to disco, a widely established genre by the time the 1980s came around. This is where house was born and where it thrived — within its confined, underground club scene. Its name actually comes from a venue named The Warehouse, where DJ Frankie Knuckles experimented with early house through disco, soul, and electronic music. He became known as the ‘Godfather of House’.

House essentially took over from disco in the mainstream musical collective, offering a fresh, energetic sound that kept people guessing. Geographically, house was introduced in Chicago and only grew from there, manifesting in different ways wherever it spread. For example, the UK translated house into garage, techno, and drum ‘n’ bass mixes.

Its characteristics are fairly recognisable. It is quite minimalist in terms of structure, relying on layering and progression that gradually builds throughout a track. Its introductions and closers are often stretched out to give it extra appeal for inclusion in DJ mixes — after all, it was made for the dancefloor. The 4/4 beat is probably the main draw for house lovers: a kick-drum lands on every beat in a bar, making the energy both steady and relentless. The high tempo, almost always surpassing 100 BPM but rarely exceeding 150 BPM, helps maintain momentum without becoming aggressive.

Drum machines and synths provide the foundation of the genre, with Roland TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines utilised specifically to generate house beats. The Roland TB-303 synth extends the electronic, techno feel of the music. House works to create a trance-like atmosphere, encouraging a physical outpouring of one’s emotions through dance. Its relentless beat and energy build are designed to provoke this emotive response.

Looped samples have always been — and continue to be — a driving force in house music creation. Early house often sampled soul or disco tracks. Now, in the 2020s, we see new house music incorporating samples from those early house records. Vocals are used on certain occasions, but are often reduced to repeated phrases — either spoken or sung — looped and manipulated throughout the track to reinforce its minimalist, cyclical structure.

The house music movement was not solely about the music. Emerging genres are often borne out of a rejection of boundaries, and house was no different. This genre was created and embraced by marginalised communities in Chicago in the early ’80s — notably Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ individuals. They appreciated house music’s emphasis on experimentation, emotional release, and its creation of an escapist environment where they could feel seen and understood by others in the scene. In many ways, it was the soundtrack of liberation.

The phrase “House is a feeling” became popular as the genre gained traction. Race, gender, and sexuality were not divisive factors in this space — it was all about unity under one, non-stop beat. House lovers experience joy, empowerment, rebirth, and even heartache through this music, and value its ability to pull an emotional release from within — lifting that burden, if only temporarily.

Popular house artists have emerged as far back as the 1980s. This decade saw Frankie Knuckles, Marshall Jefferson, and Jesse Saunders bring Chicago-based, raw house music to fruition. The 1990s saw house progress into a global sensation as deep house and garage emerged, with artists such as Daft Punk, Crystal Waters, and Robin S. In the Y2K era, house was thriving underground and began to expand into larger venues alongside EDM (electronic dance music). Swedish House Mafia and Eric Prydz created some of the most well-known house tracks of the decade.

Moving into the 2010s, well-known modern-day artists such as Calvin Harris, Gorgon City, and Disclosure became influential figures in house. Deep house was predominant during this time, as house re-emerged through tech and Afro-house beats. The 2020s have catered for a scene where house has become truly diverse, fluid, and nonrestrictive. Artists like Kaytranada, Fred again.., and Peggy Gou have flourished in this context. Even mainstream artists have taken on house projects in their careers, such as Drake’s Honestly, Nevermind, Beyoncé’s Renaissance, and arguably Charli XCX’s BRAT.

It’s exciting to see where house will take us next — whether it keeps us guessing with structural experimentation or leans on punchy, energetic beats to achieve its signature cathartic effect on the listener.