Garage

Putting The Science Into Music

Garage is a broad dance music category taking in both the soulful house tradition associated with New York and New Jersey, and the later British styles known as UK Garage. Although these scenes developed in different places and periods, both placed strong emphasis on rhythm, vocals and club-focused production.

The American meaning of Garage developed during the 1980s around New York's Paradise Garage, where resident DJ Larry Levan became known for extended sets combining Disco, Soul, Funk, Post-Disco and early House Music. Producers and vocalists later built Garage House through gospel-influenced vocals, piano chords, warm basslines and detailed percussion.

New Jersey became another important centre through clubs, labels and artists connected with a deeper, soulful approach to House. Producers including Tony Humphries, Blaze, Masters at Work and Kerri Chandler shaped music that overlapped with Deep House, Vocal House and the wider Garage tradition.

UK Garage emerged during the 1990s from British interpretations of American Garage House, combined with Jungle, Drum and Bass, Reggae, Dancehall and sound-system culture. Producers pushed faster tempos, chopped vocals, syncopated drums and heavier bass, leading to styles including Speed Garage, 2-Step Garage and UK Funky.

Garage commonly features prominent vocals, swinging percussion, bass-led grooves and rhythms that may use either a straight House pulse or broken beat structure. The category can include American Garage House, soulful New York and New Jersey records, UK Garage, Speed Garage and 2-Step.

Garage later influenced Grime, Dubstep, Bassline and several forms of British club music. Its history connects underground American House culture with a separate UK movement that turned Garage into a broad family of bass-driven dance styles.

At Scientific Sound Asia, garage occasionally surfaces within Ministry Of Breaks, Global Bass and Electronic Roots.