The Root, and Godfather of House Music

The genre of House music originated from the underground club scene of Chicago in the 1980s, more specifically from one club in particular from where it drew its name - Warehouse. Opened in 1977 it is credited as the birthplace of the genre, run by the highly regarded director and DJ Frankie Knuckles, it was a hotspot for those out of the Disco craze who were after the next big club sound.

Turning away from its brighter and poppier precursor, House became all about repetitive kick heavy beats, dampened and deep basslines, as well as a generally more rigid and mechanical sound in contrast to the groovier rhythms of Disco. As Frankie Knuckles, along with other producers and DJs of Warehouse turned to drum machines and synthesisers primarily to achieve their sound, the use of sampling and vocaless melodies took over, leading to mostly lyricless tracks which would completely change the environment and club atmosphere into something which stood apart.

The draw to the darker low end and more atmospheric, reverb heavy effects brings into reason that this emerging genre was the local cultures response to the decline of disco, even going so far as to title it disco’s revenge, the moodier genre perhaps also encapsulated from the time the societal outlook in the context of it’s foundations being that of primarily queer and black peoples as they witnessed the decline of Disco, an era-defining jump-up beat scene of their time which represented a bold and empowering pride which hadn't been seen before.

With the coinciding of other emerging electronic dance music around the world, House music played a pivotal role in the establishment and transformation of the view of synthesizers and drum machines into instruments, over mere machines to global music audiences. In the hands of Chicago's skilled and talented producers and DJs it helped cement their ability of creating fantastic captivating sound, which continues to inspire new music up to the present.