A Look Back at the 80s New York Underground Electronic Dance Music Scene

A look back at the 80s New York underground electronic dance music scene through the eyes of those who were there.

Introduction

read about the origins of electronic dance music and how the scene has changed over time. The electronic dance music scene of the 1980s was defined by a DIY ethic, with partygoers creating their own makeshift clubs and sound systems. This underground movement incubated a new style of music that would go on to dominate the charts in the 1990s and 2000s. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in this early period of electronic dance music, as partygoers rediscover the joys of dancing all night to pounding drums and synthesizers.

The Birth of the Scene

The 80s New York underground electronic dance music scene was a time and place where music, art, and fashion came together to create something new and exciting. It was a time when people from all walks of life came together to enjoy the music and the scene. The scene was a melting pot of different cultures and backgrounds, and it was this diversity that made it so special.

The Warehouse

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, two very different strains of electronic dance music were developing in the clubs of New York City. One was the disco-influenced sound of artists like Giorgio Moroder, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Kraftwerk, while the other was the more experimental work of artists like Brian Eno, Phil Glass, and David Bowie.

The two scenes would eventually collide in the form of the Warehouse, a club that became the epicenter of the city’s underground electronic dance music scene. The brainchild of DJ/promoter Larry Levan, the Warehouse was located in a former knitting factory on Broadway in Manhattan’sSoHo neighborhood.

Levan was already a legendary figure on the New York club scene when he opened the Warehouse, thanks to his residency at another seminal club, Paradise Garage. at the Garage, Levan perfected his approach to DJing, which relied heavily on structuring his sets around a central theme or feeling and using extended mix versions of tracks to keep dancers engaged.

This style of DJing would come to be known as “the journey,” and it was something that Levan would bring to the warehouse. From its earliest days, the club was known for its eclectic mix of music, which Levan would carefully weave together to create a unique listening experience.

The warehouse quickly became THE place to be for New York’s underground electronic dance music scene, with people coming from all over the city (and even from other parts of the country) to experience Levan’s one-of-a-kind sets. The club also attracted some major talent; everyone from Madonna to David Bowie made appearances at The Warehouse during its short but influential lifespan.

Sadly, The Warehouse closed its doors for good in 1987, just as New York’s underground electronic dance music scene was beginning to gain mainstream attention. But its legacy lives on–in the records that were played there, in the memories of those who danced there, and in the DJs who continue to carry on Levan’s legacy by championing eclectic and forward-thinking music..

Paradise Garage

The Paradise Garage, located at 84 King Street in New York City, was a discotheque in the late 1970s and early 1980s which was influential in the development of underground dance music cultures, particularly that of disco and house music. The club was founded by Larry Levan and David Mancuso and was open from 1977 until 1987.

The Paradise Garage was known for its tolerant and mixed crowd, as well as its superb sound system, which was designed by Richard Long of Richard Long & Associates. The club’s resident DJ, Larry Levan, became famed for his extended mixes and use of re-edits which drew on elements from disco, gospel, rock & roll, soul and African music.

The Garage also played an important role in the development of New York’s gay scene; at a time when gay clubs were often relegated to basements or second-rank venues, the Paradise Garage provided a high-profile location where gay men could dance openly and without judgement. This inclusive vibe led to the club becoming one of the most popular nightspots in New York City during its heyday.

After closing its doors in 1987, the Paradise Garage has been memorialized in numerous books, films and songs; most notably in Madonna’s 1992 hit single “Erotica” which pays homage to the club with the lyrics “I remember back when / sex was safe and dancing free / I miss those nights / I miss those people”.

Danceteria

Danceteria was a popular nightclub in New York City during the 1980s. The club was known for its eclectic mix of music, including new wave, punk, hip hop, and disco. It was also one of the first clubs to feature DJs playing electronic dance music.

The club was founded by Ann Anthony and Rudolf Piper in 1979. Initially, the club was located on West 14th Street. In 1981, it moved to a larger space on West 43rd Street. The new location became a hotspot for the city’s up-and-coming musicians and artists.

During its heyday, Danceteria hosted performances by bands such as Talking Heads, Blondie, Depeche Mode, and Duran Duran. It was also frequented by celebrities such as David Bowie, Madonna, and Andy Warhol.

In 1986, Danceteria closed its doors for good. However, its legacy continues to influence the New York nightlife scene today.

The DJs

In the 1980s, a new underground electronic dance music scene emerged in New York City. The DJs who played this music were at the forefront of this new scene. They were the ones who helped to shape and define the sound of the new music. In this article, we will take a look back at the DJs who were a part of this new scene.

Larry Levan

Larry Levan was one of the most influential figures in the history of dance music. A legendary DJ at the New York club Paradise Garage, Levan was known for his marathon sets, which would often last for several hours and feature a wide range of genres. He was also a prolific remixer, and his remixes of tracks by artists like Diana Ross and Sylvester were hugely popular in the dance music community. Sadly, Levan passed away in 1992, but his legacy continues to influence DJs and producers all over the world.

David Mancuso

David Mancuso is one of the most important figures in the history of electronic dance music. A pioneer of the New York underground scene, Mancuso was responsible for some of the most influential parties of the 1980s.

Born in 1945, Mancuso began his club career in 1970 with The Loft, a party held in his Manhattan apartment. The Loft quickly became one of the most popular parties in New York, with a diverse and inclusive atmosphere that was unique at a time when most clubs were still segregated.

Mancuso continued to play an important role in the development of New York’s club scene throughout the 1980s, helping to popularize genres like house and techno. He remains an active DJ today, and his influence can still be felt in the music of contemporary artists like DJ Premier and Nicolas Jaar.

Frankie Knuckles

Frankie Knuckles, often referred to as the “Godfather of House Music,” was a trailblazer in the New York underground electronic dance music scene in the 1980s. A native of the Bronx, Knuckles got his start spinning records at the famed New York club The Loft in the 1970s. He later went on to open his own club, The Warehouse, in Chicago, which became a mecca for House music lovers from all over the world. Knuckles’ innovative style and visionary artistry helped shape the sound of House music and influenced a generation of DJs and producers. He passed away in 2014, but his legacy continues to live on through his music and the countless lives he touched.

The Music

New York in the 1980s was a hotbed of creative activity in many different spheres, and the underground electronic dance music scene was no exception. This scene was characterised by its DIY ethic, its emphasis on innovation, and its championing of diversity. The music of the 80s underground electronic dance music scene was characterised by its use of new technologies, its experimentalism, and its fusion of different genres.

House

The sound of House was first developed in the early 1980s in Chicago. House is a style of electronic dance music that was influenced by disco, soul, and Funk. The sound of House is characterized by a thumping 4/4 beat, synthesizers, and drum machines. House music was first played in nightclubs in Chicago, but it quickly spread to other cities like New York and London.

In the late 1980s, House music became popular in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom. The popularity of House music in the UK can be traced back to the “Second Summer of Love” in 1988. This was a time when acid house parties were held all over the country, often in fields and warehouses. The illegal parties were often shut down by police, but they only served to create more publicity for the scene.

By the early 1990s, House music had become mainstream, with hits like Newcastle chanteuse Cherry Ghost’s “People Help the People” and Hooverphonic’s “2Wicky” entering the charts. However, the underground scene continued to thrive, with innovative artists like Autechre and Aphex Twin pushing boundaries and expanding the possibilities of what could be done with electronic music.

Hip-hop

Hip-hop is a style of music that was born in the Bronx in the late 1970s. It is a style of music that is characterized by its use of sampling, scratch DJs and rap. Hip-hop became popular in the mainstream in the 1980s, with artists such as Run-D.M.C., the Beastie Boys and LL Cool J.

Techno

Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the 1980s in Detroit, Michigan. The first techno tracks were produced by Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, and Derrick May, who were influenced by the Chicago house music of the time. Techno was initially popularized in Detroit clubs such as the Music Institute and the Warehouse before spreading to other American cities and then to Europe.

In the early 1990s, techno music became associated with drug use and rave culture, particularly ecstasy. This association led to a decline in its popularity in the United States, but techno remained popular in Europe, especially in Germany. In the 2000s, techno experienced a resurgence in popularity, with new subgenres such as minimal techno and tech house gaining popularity.

The Legacy

The artist known as Afrika Bambaataa is considered to be one of the key originators of the electro-funk sound that would come to dominate the early 1980s New York underground dance music scene. Prior to his work in the hip-hop genre, Afrika Bambaataa was known as one of the most prolific DJs in the Bronx.

The Second Summer of Love

In the late 1980s, the rave scene in the UK reached its peak. Ecstasy was widely available, and clubs such as Shoom, Thrash and Gala Linx were pumping out acid house and techno all night long. This Second Summer of Love saw young people from all over the country descend on London for weekends of hedonistic fun.

The New York underground electronic dance music scene was also booming in the late 1980s. Clubs such as Danceteria, Area and the Loft were at the forefront of the party scene, and they attracted crowds of young people eager to experience cutting-edge music and fashion.

Like their UK counterparts, many young New Yorkers took ecstasy for the first time in these clubs. However, there was a dark side to the New York club scene. Due to the illegal nature of ecstasy, it was often adulterated with other drugs, which could lead to dangerous side effects. In addition, clubgoers were often preyed upon by dealers and addicts looking for easy money.

Despite these dangers, the New York club scene continued to thrive in the early 1990s. By this time, ecstasy had become more mainstream, and clubs such as Limelight and Tunnel were attracting huge crowds every weekend. The music may have changed (house giving way to techno and trance), but the spirit of hedonism and excess remained.

Sadly, cracks began to show in the mid-1990s, as police crackdowns and increasing violence led many clubgoers to abandon the scene. In 1999, Tunnel – once one of the most popular clubs in New York – closed its doors for good. Today, there are still a few remnants of the New York underground electronic dance music scene (such as Output in Brooklyn), but it is a shadow of its former self.

The influence on contemporary EDM

The legacy of the 80s New York underground electronic dance music scene is still very much felt in contemporary EDM. The genre-defining sounds that came out of that time and place had a profound influence on the evolution of electronic music, and many of the artists who helped shape that sound are still active today.

One of the most important things to come out of the 80s New York scene was the development of house music. House music is a genre that is defined by its simple, repetitive four-on-the-floor beats and often contains elements of other genres like disco, soul, and funk. The sound of house music was created by DJs who were trying to extend the life of their disco records by playing them at a slower speed, which resulted in a more hypnotic sound. The name “house music” comes from one of the earliest venues where this new style was played, a club in Chicago called The Warehouse.

The sound of house music spread from Chicago to New York in the early 1980s, and it was in New York that house music really took off. One of the reasons for this was the popularity of a new type of club called the “after-hours club.” These clubs were open late into the night and were usually located in warehouses or other industrial spaces. They became breeding grounds for experimentation with new sounds and styles, and house music quickly became the dominant sound.

New York also became home to a new style of DJing that would have a big impact on contemporary EDM. This style was characterized by long mixes that incorporated multiple tracks, sometimes over the course of an hour or more. This type of DJing allowed for a more seamless transition between tracks and allowed DJs to create mini-narratives with their mixes. This mixing style is still very popular today, and many DJs consider it to be an art form in its own right.

Finally, the New York underground electronic dance music scene was also responsible for popularizing the use of drum machines and synthesizers as part-time instruments in live DJ sets. Prior to this, DJs would typically just play records without any additional instrumentation. But in New York, DJs began incorporating drum machines into their sets to add another layer of texture and groove. This trend quickly caught on, and soon DJs all over the world were using drum machines as part of their live sets.

The 80s New York underground electronic dance music scene was truly groundbreaking, and its influence can still be felt today in contemporary EDM. The genre-defining sounds that came out of that time and place continue to inspire new generations of electronic musicians all over the world