What is Deep House? This genre probably is more misunderstood than almost any other in electronic music. Sometimes it’s used as an ironic title for a genre associated with women in bikinis partying in some tropical paradise on YouTube. But actually, no one likes someone who is condescending. Deep House is just called Deep because it’s a more relaxed version of Chicago House that is more moody and loaded with 9th chords, often used in jazz music. The formula works extremely well though, and there’s no more to the name than that.
The music originated in the Chicago dance music scene of the 1980s, probably one of the most fertile and groundbreaking musical scenes in history. After Frankie Knuckles left the Warehouse and founded The Power Plant in 1982, the scene that he was pivotal in building became more popular and pressed more and more records for new listeners. While Deep House is a pretty loose classification as determining what is or isn’t deep house is difficult, it’s easy to identify the person credited with creating it, Larry Heard.
Larry Heard
Larry Heard grew up in a musical family in Chicago and performed as a drummer in multiple jazz-fusion and rock bands in the 70s and 80s. One of which, Infinity, also included Adonis, another icon of Chicago House. Frustrated by a lack of musical input as a drummer, Heard purchased a Roland Jupiter-6 synthesizer and TR-707 drum machine in 1984 and made early versions of Mystery of Love and Washing Machine, inventing Deep House and contributing a great deal to the development of Acid House as well. A year later, Mystery of Love became a big hit in the Chicago clubs, and Heard followed it up with Can You Feel It, released as a B-side to Washing Machine in 1986 on the famous Trax label. The song was an enormous hit and established Larry Heard, working under the Mr. Fingers alias (a nickname for his instrument playing style), as a major figure in Chicago House.
Heard would go on making a wide variety of music for another 35 years, occasionally making danceable, House-type music throughout the 90s but avoids being pigeonholed while not resting on his laurels, which are considerable. Venturing away from the House classics that he released, there is a great deal of interesting, rewarding music from one of the most talented producers to make House music. Under the Mr. Fingers name, Heard released the double-album Cerebral Hemispheres in 2018 to a very positive reception, quite amazing considering he first received acclaim 33 years earlier.
House music was an enormous influence on music everywhere, Deep or otherwise. New artists brought unique approaches to the music, and the Deep House name began to apply to more music than just what Larry Heard made in his home studio. It wasn’t acid house because it didn’t necessarily rely on the TB-303 synthesizer, and it was a bit slower than other Chicago House intended for the dance floor. It also inspired artists in cities all over the country, including Detroit and Newark, and remains one of the most popular genres of House today.
Kerri Chandler – Inspiration (1994)
Kerri Chandler is a very successful DJ, producer and record label owner that has left an indelible mark on House music not only in NJ/NYC, but worldwide. A former resident at Club Zanzibar in Newark, the Jersey House (Garage) sound owes a tremendous debt to Kerri Chandler. He is still a hard-working DJ and producer, and if you hear a mix by Chandler its a safe bet that it will be a good one. Inspiration was an early track from Kerri, but later tracks like Bar-a-Thym and a remix of The System’s You’re In My System are all time Deep House classics.
Mr. Fingers – Can You Feel It (1986)
Probably the best Deep House track, and one of the earliest. Larry Heard upgraded to a Roland Juno 60 and a TR-909 and claimed he recorded this song in one take. And he definitely made the most of that one pass, producing 6 hypnotic minutes of bass, hi-hat pattern and synthesizer pads with just these two instruments. Heard also claimed that the song was so popular in Chicago that both Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy claimed ownership after mixing it with some vocals.
Moodymann – I Can’t Kick This Feeling When It Hits (1996)
Kenny Dixon, Jr. of Detroit began releasing music on his own label in 1994, and since then has been one of the more respected figures in House music. His music is characterized by a heavy use of disco/soul samples and repetitive rhythms. Moodymann recently appeared in GTA online and continues to work today.
Chez-N Trent – Morning Factory (1994)
Ron Trent released the classic Altered State in 1990 at the advanced age of 17. It brought him a lot of success early, and he went on to work with Chez Damier as Chez N Trent throughout the 90s. Morning Factory is one of the best examples of the music produced by the hugely influential Prescription label founded by Trent and Damier.
Pepe Bradock – Deep Burnt (1999)
A sublime Deep House track from France’s Julian Auger that clocks 11 minutes, Deep Burnt is built around a looped sample from the intro of Freddie Hubbard’s “Little Sunflower”. Auger, a former jazz-funk musician and hip-hop producer, put this track on the B-side of an EP and it became a massive success worldwide. Tambourines, little synth flourishes and a tight groove make it an easy listen thoughout it’s extended length.
Theo Parrish – Sky Walking (1998)
Theo Parrish grew up in Chicago and attended the Chicago Academy for the Arts and the Kansas City Art Institute before moving to Detroit and releasing his debut album in 1998. Like the other artists here, there is a large body of work from Theo Parrish to appreciate, and he is still making music today.
Chaos in the CBD and Mongo Skato – Brainstorm (2021)
London-based Chaos in the CBD is made up of the Auckland-born brothers Ben and Louis Helliker-Hales. The duo is known for its laid back, mellow House sound largely influenced by the artists above, and is still very popular. Mongo Skato is also a New Zealand producer, though much less is known of him.
Soul Capsule – Lady Science (NYC Sunrise) (1999)
British producer Peter “Baby” Ford and German-born Thomas Melchior released the Overcome EP in 1999, and the haunting pads, simple bassline and bubbly, repetitive melody are characteristic of Deep House in the 90s. The vocal samples, sampled from Vicky Martin’s Not Gonna Do It, are used sparingly and distorted to produce an unsettling effect that matches the mood but keeps the groove steady.