The House Music Scene in the 90s
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The House music scene in the 90s was one of the most vibrant and creative periods in electronic music. This was a time when new subgenres were being created and new artists were pushing the boundaries of what was possible. If you were lucky enough to be part of this scene, then you know how special it was.
The Birth of House Music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago in the early 1980s. The term “house music” is derived from the name of the Chicago club where the style was developed, namely the Warehouse. House music was initially popularized in Midwestern America and then spread to the rest of the world.
The first house music tracks
The first house music tracks were created in the early 1980s by DJs in Chicago. These DJs, who were influenced by disco, electronic, and African-American music, created a new type of music that was characterized by a 4/4 beat and repetitive bass lines. The first house music tracks were played at nightclubs in Chicago, and they quickly became popular with dancers and club-goers.
The first house music clubs
The first house music clubs started appearing in the early 1980s, but the genre really began to take off in the mid-1980s. Many of these early clubs were in Chicago, and the music they played was a blend of disco and electronic dance music. One of the most popular of these early clubs was the Warehouse, which was founded by DJ Frankie Knuckles.
House music became more popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as it spread to other cities in the United States and then to Europe. In the United Kingdom, acid house parties were particularly popular, and this led to the development of rave culture. By the mid-1990s, house music had become a global phenomenon, with clubs and parties happening all over the world.
The Rise of House Music
House music first rose to prominence in the 1980s, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that the genre really exploded. The 90s saw the birth of some of the most iconic house tracks of all time, as well as the rise of superstar DJs like Sasha and Digweed. If you were into house music in the 90s, then this article is for you!
The second wave of house music
In the early 1990s, a second wave of house music emerged. Producer Daft Punk had commercial success with their album Homework in 1997. French house was particularly popular in Europe in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with artists such as Laurent Garnier, St. Germain, Bob Sinclar, and Cassius having hits.
The third wave of house music
In the early 1990s, a new generation of clubgoers and producers emerged who were influenced by the first wave of house music, but who also incorporated elements from other genres such as techno, hip hop, and R&B. This third wave of house music is often referred to as “progressive house” or “trance house.” Progressive house is characterized by a more driving, hypnotic sound, while trance house features more ethereal, atmospheric textures.
The Fall of House Music
House music was at its peak in the early 1990s. However, by the mid-1990s, the scene began to decline. There are a number of reasons for this, including the rise of other genres such as trance and techno, and the decreased popularity of clubs and rave culture. Let’s take a closer look at the fall of house music.
The fourth wave of house music
The 1990s saw the rise of a new style of house music, influenced by techno and acid house. This new style, sometimes called “fourth wave” or “tech-house”, was characterized by a harder, more minimal sound. It was particularly popular in Germany, where it gave rise to the “Berlin sound” of house music.
The fifth wave of house music
In the early 1990s, a new generation of Chicago house music producers began to experiment with the basic template of house music, creating what is now known as “ghetto house”, “hardcore” or “juke”. This style was created on simple drum machines such as the Roland TR-808 and TR-909. These producers were inspired by electro hip hop and industrial music (such as Kraftwerk) and blended these influences with house music. This style of house music was raw, often improvised, and Lo-Fi. The tracks were primarily created for clubs and warehouses where the crowd mainly consisted of African American men between the ages of 15 and 25.
