House Music, yosa whitney

A history lesson about the music of the future.

House music unites us all under one roof. Its ability to bring together people of all different cultures and ethnicities is revolutionary. It has evolved from its humble beginnings in the 1970’s urban club scene to the modern day music festivals that garner international attention. But house music is not only for festivals or the fist-pumping club life experienced on a wild night out. It is versatile. House music moves with the people that create it, which is why low-key house music parties with fresh mixes that introduce a new sound are another popular way that house music is enjoyed. The different ways to listen to house music have made it easier for people from all walks of life to appreciate the genre. House music got its foot in the door of America’s music scene in the late 1970s at a Chicago club called The Warehouse. The club’s mostly African American club-goers visited The Warehouse to experience the nightlife and hear music by DJ Frankie Knuckles, nicknamed the “godfather of house.” DJ Frankie Knuckles began to create house music when he ran into a problem: the music he had wasn’t enough to get the whole club moving. He started to create new mixes by splicing some of his favorite tracks using tape and a knife. The Warehouse clubbers couldn’t get enough of DJ Frankie’s new beats, and soon enough, word started to spread of his new innovative take on music. Even though house music started with a bang, appreciation for the genre throughout the years wasn’t so rosy. Lurking in the shadows was the ‘Disco Sucks Movement,’ which soured the public’s view of house music, causing it to become a dying fad almost overnight. Record companies overwhelmed the market with house music, and anti-disco DJs who felt threatened by the up and coming genre held anti-disco rallies. One of the most notorious anti-disco rallies was ‘Disco Demolition Night’ in 1979. The night of the rally was held the same night of the baseball game between the White Sox and the Detroit Tigers. Anyone who brought a disco album to be trashed would get into the game for only 98 cents. All of this begs the question: will history repeat itself? Will house music and EDM one day suffer the same fate it did in the late 1970s? It looks like house music is here to stay. House music’s popularity has been growing for years with the help of social media and is now more popular than ever before. It has gained the admiration of many and doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere soon. Millions of hearts are jamming to the same beat, and they can’t seem to get enough. Although the Warehouse was where house music got its start in North America, the iconic house music clubs of the ‘70s and ‘80s were not limited to locations in the United States. The Hacienda nightclub in Manchester, England, closed 20 years ago but is still fondly remembered for its music and rave culture, which impacted the way we view house music today. In 1986, the Hacienda Nightclub had its visitors lining up around the block for a taste of the newest up and coming genre in England, house music. The Hacienda also introduced a new type of house music to British people called acid-house, a spedup disco with no song structure. This music attracted people for its sound and deviant feel. It was underground- meaning many of the parties were illegally held in empty warehouses, attracting thousands of people through the exclusive rave culture. British officials tried to halt the new trend in its tracks by making arrests and shutting down parties, but nevertheless, acid-house survived and gained a foothold in Britain. The clubs and underground music of the ‘70s and ‘80s built the foundation for the house music, and EDM people enjoy today, but there are still differences between the rave culture that started it all and modern-day EDM. The underground character of EDM in the late 20th century differs wildly from the rave culture of today that is characterized by tens of thousands of people at huge venues. Fireworks, glitzy festival fashion, and grandiose stages have defined the rave culture of the 21st century, but if you look close enough, you can still find small venue shows that are similar to the raves held back in the day. Because house music is so accessible, some self-starters make their own music and hold house shows that many enjoy for their low-key nature and charming feel. Sometimes, it’s good to drop all the distractions and just enjoy the music.

House & Pressure – Route 94 You Little Beauty – FISHER It Makes You Forget (Itgehane) – Peggy Gou Tondo – Disclosure, Eko Roosevelt Pump It Up – Endor Bill Muray – Eats Everything Be Sharp Say Nowt – Patrick Topping Godspell (feat. Taiki Nulight) – Tchami Pizza – Anti Up, Chris Lake Chris Lorenzo Who Got The Keys – KKIY Riverside 2099 – Oliver Heldens, Sidney Samson Along Came Polly - Rebukew

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House and EDM have impacted the music scenes of many different countries around the world. It connects people. It helps some find a tight-knit community of friends, discover a unique career path, or even just some music to boost their spirits. House music has made a big splash in the music world and fostered terrific experiences, from house parties to Ultra. It has come a long way from DJs splicing records with a knife, and as technology advances, it will only grow to new heights. by yosa whitney 75