What is house music? History, subgenres, top artists, clubs and festivals. Dive into the world of house—from deep to tech.
House — the heartbeat of the dancefloor, parties, and electronic culture. Born in Chicago clubs in the 1980s, it became the foundation for countless electronic subgenres. Four-on-the-floor beats, groovy bass, synths, and soulful vocals — that’s the formula of house that conquered the world.
History of House
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1983–85 — the first house tracks are cut to vinyl in Chicago: Jesse Saunders — On and On, Marshall Jefferson — Move Your Body
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1980s–90s — house takes over New York, London, and Ibiza
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1990s — subgenres bloom: deep house, acid house, progressive
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2010s–2020s — back to the roots (lo-fi, classic house), boom of tech house and afro house
House Characteristics
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4/4 rhythm — steady and driving, “a kick on every beat”
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Tempo: 120–130 BPM
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Use of drum machines, synthesizers, vocal samples
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Atmosphere — energy, euphoria, dance
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Frequent soul and disco samples (especially in classic and deep house)
House Subgenres
| Subgenre | Traits | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Deep House | Atmospheric, deep bass, jazzy chords | Kerri Chandler, Disclosure |
| Acid House | TB-303 synth, acidic tone | Phuture, Hardfloor |
| Tech House | Minimalism, club groove | Fisher, Green Velvet |
| Progressive House | Epic builds, crescendos, trance influence | Eric Prydz, Sasha, Deadmau5 |
| Afro House | African percussion, tribal rhythms | Black Coffee, Shimza |
| Chicago / Classic House | Original style, vocals, disco roots | Frankie Knuckles, Mr. Fingers |
| Electro House | Hard-edged synths, EDM sheen | Steve Aoki, Benny Benassi |
| French House | Disco sampling, filtered melodies | Daft Punk, Justice |
House Legends and Modern Heroes
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Frankie Knuckles — the “Godfather of House”
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Larry Heard (Mr. Fingers) — deep house pioneer
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Marshall Jefferson — author of the anthem Move Your Body
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Carl Cox, Sasha, David Morales, Masters At Work — scene classics
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Daft Punk, David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia — mainstream house
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Disclosure, Peggy Gou, Fisher, Black Coffee — new leaders
Where to Listen
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Spotify: House Classics, Deep House Mix, Tech House Now
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YouTube: Defected Records, Mixmag, Boiler Room
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Bandcamp: the underground scene
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Festivals: Tomorrowland, ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event), Defected Croatia, Ibiza clubs
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Minatrix.FM: in the HOUSE section
Fun Facts
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The quintessential “house” drum machine is the Roland TR-909
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House is one of the most global electronic genres
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The core house route: Chicago → Detroit → London → Ibiza
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Many house tracks are instrumental, yet instantly recognizable by their groove
Conclusion
House is the music that gave the world the dancefloor as a space of freedom, unity, and pure energy. Its rhythm brings people of different countries and cultures together, moving in the same tempo and forgetting time and borders. Born from club underground, house became one of the planet’s most influential genres, shaping the sonic DNA of today’s electronic scene.
Over time, house has transformed, spawning dozens of subgenres and inspiring new waves of producers, yet its spirit remains the same: groove, euphoria, and human warmth. This music lives where club lights glow, vinyl crackles in the mix, and the bass makes your heart beat a little faster.
Today house thrives on festival stages, in small bars, and in home DJ sets — and it keeps evolving while staying true to its soul. As long as people want to dance, house will live — in every four-on-the-floor beat.
