Deep House

Putting The Science Into Music

Deep House developed in Chicago during the mid-1980s as a more soulful, understated branch of house music. Its foundations drew on disco, jazz, funk, soul and the emerging electronic production methods used by early Chicago producers.

Larry Heard, also known as Mr. Fingers, became one of the genre's most important early figures through tracks including "Mystery of Love" and "Can You Feel It." His productions used warm chords, smooth basslines, restrained drum patterns and spacious arrangements, a clear contrast with harder forms of early house.

Producers including Marshall Jefferson, Kerri Chandler, Ron Trent and Chez Damier later expanded the style with stronger jazz, gospel and soulful vocal influences. Scenes in Chicago, New York and New Jersey helped establish Deep House as a distinct part of underground club culture through the late 1980s and 1990s.

Deep House commonly features four-to-the-floor rhythms, rich chord progressions, subtle percussion and basslines that support the groove without overpowering it. Vocals may be prominent or absent entirely, while longer arrangements let musical elements develop gradually across a track.

During the 2000s and 2010s, the Deep House name was also applied to more commercial, melodic dance music, sometimes with little real connection to the original Chicago sound. The category is best used for house music built around depth, soul, musicality and restrained production, rather than simply a slower tempo or soft electronic texture.

At Scientific Sound Asia, deep house is a defining feature of Electronic Roots, with further appearances on Velvety Elements, Esta La Musica, The Hit List and Roots.