What Is House Music?
House music emerged in 1980s Chicago, shaped by drum machines, disco influences, and underground club culture. DJs and producers experimented with synthesizers and drum machines, crafting a new sound that was raw, rhythmic, and deeply infectious. Jesse Saunders’ On and On set the foundation, marking one of the first house records, while Marshall Jefferson’s Move Your Body added a new level of musicality with its piano-driven energy. As the genre grew, artists like Robin S. helped bring house into the mainstream with tracks like Show Me Love, blending soulful vocals with driving beats. But house music was never just about individual tracks—it was about movement, community, and the dance floor experience. Decades later, its pulse still drives clubs and festivals worldwide, evolving while staying true to its roots in rhythm, emotion, and connection.
What Does House Music Sound Like?
House music is defined by its four-on-the-floor rhythm, typically set at tempos between 115 and 130 beats per minute. Its hallmark is a steady, pulsing bassline, often driven by drum machines such as the Roland TR-909. Unlike techno’s industrial and hypnotic aesthetic, house music embraces warm, soulful grooves, emphasizing melody, vocals, and deep bass.
House tracks frequently feature elements of disco, funk, and soul, with lush chords, rhythmic hi-hats, and gospel-inspired vocals adding to its uplifting energy. The genre thrives on its ability to create emotional and spiritual connections on the dance floor, building a sense of unity among dancers.
Chicago: The Birthplace of House Music
House music was born in Chicago’s underground club scene, emerging as a response to the decline of disco in the late 1970s. DJs like Jesse Saunders played a pivotal role in shaping the genre. In 1984, Saunders released “On & On,” which is often cited as the first house record. Reflecting on the impact of “On & On,” Marshall Jefferson noted, “It was a seismic shift because it had a DJ as the artist, which hadn’t been done before.”
Marshall Jefferson himself contributed significantly to the genre with his track “Move Your Body (The House Music Anthem)” in 1986. This song became an instant hit in the UK and played a crucial role in bringing house music to international audiences.
House Music as a Movement of Inclusivity
House music has always been rooted in inclusivity and self-expression. Emerging from Chicago’s Black, Latino, and LGBTQ+ communities, house music provided a sanctuary where people could come together and celebrate freedom through dance. Jesse Saunders reflects on this aspect, stating, “House music offered a safe space for Black and gay people.”
New York, London, and the Global Expansion of House Music
While Chicago laid the foundation, other cities played crucial roles in the expansion of house music. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, house music had spread to London, where it merged with rave culture, and to Ibiza, where it became synonymous with the island’s hedonistic party scene. The UK’s acid house movement, characterized by squelchy 303 basslines and euphoric rhythms, took house music in new, rebellious directions.
The Enduring Impact of House Music
House music continues to evolve, with artists blending analog and digital techniques to create fresh interpretations of its classic sound. Innovations in music technology have enabled producers to experiment with digital instrumentation, modular synthesis, and immersive live performances.
Despite these advancements, the essence of house music remains unchanged—it’s about the groove, the communal experience, and the feeling of losing yourself in the music. As Robin S. reflects on her experience with her hit song “Show Me Love,” she notes, “People say your song saved my life.”
House Music as a Timeless Celebration
So, what is house music? It is more than a genre—it is a movement that continues to thrive, bringing people together on dance floors worldwide. From its Chicago roots to its global evolution, house music remains an ever-changing yet deeply rooted expression of rhythm, soul, and freedom.
As Marshall Jefferson aptly puts it, “Gotta have house!”
Alex is a producer based out of Denver, CO who goes by the handles FCKDSKO and Aléx ho Mégas. He was a music contributor for Westword and is an event promoter for the Denver party series Nocturnal. He also consults for various underground electronic artists and parties. He is also the Director of Marketing for ONE Denver, an initiative to bring an Office of Nighttime Economy to Denver.