House Music

House music originated in early 1980s Chicago, emerging from disco, funk, and soul as DJs like Frankie Knuckles began using drum machines and synthesizers to create a more electronic, repetitive dance sound at clubs such as The Warehouse, where the genre got its name. Characterized by a steady 4/4 beat and deep basslines, house quickly became a foundation of underground club culture, especially within Black and LGBTQ+ communities.

By the late 1980s and 1990s, house music spread to New York, Europe, and the UK, where it merged with rave culture and diversified into multiple subgenres. Styles like acid house (TB-303 basslines), garage house (soulful vocals), deep house (jazzy, atmospheric), and progressive house developed distinct identities while keeping the core groove intact. European scenes, particularly in the UK and France, played a major role in shaping the sound.

From the 2000s to today, digital production tools helped house music reach a global audience and influence mainstream pop and EDM, while underground scenes continued to innovate. Newer styles such as tech house, Afro house, future house, and lo-fi house show how the genre keeps evolving, maintaining its club roots while adapting to new cultures and technologies.

European electronic music played a crucial role in the development of house music by introducing innovative production techniques, synthesizers, and rhythmic structures that reshaped dance music. Influenced by genres such as disco, synth-pop, and early electronic experiments from countries like Germany, Italy, and the UK, European artists emphasized repetitive beats, electronic basslines, and futuristic sounds. These elements were later adopted and reinterpreted by DJs and producers in Chicago, who blended them with soul, funk, and disco traditions, ultimately giving house music its distinctive global identity.