Definition: House is a genre of electronic dance music and has been
the current standard of “club music” since the late eighties. Derived
from disco, it typically features a 4/4 beat structure accented on the
off-beats by a hi-hat in what has been onomatopoetically labeled as
“uhn tiss uhn tiss.” The mood, compared to disco, is typically a bit
darker and minimalist as house music uses many other sounds including
synths, funk, and soul. It is also the easiest dance music genre to
combine with other genres to produce a new sound, like disco house,
electro house, and tribal house.
Origin: House began in Chicago in the late 70s but didn’t find true life until the 80s. DJs and remixers delved into infusing disco with new sounds. These tracks were played heavily at The Warehouse, a popular Chicago nightclub during that time, by DJ Frankie Knuckles, thus becoming “warehouse music,” or simply 'house music.' When it comes to the “sound” of house music, many of the elements still used today can be heard in DJ Jesse Saunders’ “On and On.”
Artists: Frankie Knuckles, Jesse Saunders, Technotronic, Robin S
See also: Gospel house, disco house, acid house, progressive house, vocal house, electro house, tribal house
