New Jersey House Music: The Sound of the Garden State

New Jersey House Music is a subgenre of house music that originated in the late 1980s in the New York metropolitan area.

New Jersey House Music: The Sound of the Garden State

New Jersey house music is a subgenre of house music that originated in the early 1990s in the city of Newark. The sound is characterized by a heavy use of samples, drum machines, and synthesizers. Newark is home to many different nightclubs that featured this style of music, including Club Zanzibar, which is credited with popularizing the sound.

This subgenre features a wide range of tempos, from slow and sensual to fast and frantic. The drums are usually programmed with a heavy 4/4 kick drum pattern, and the basslines are often repetitive and driving. The lead melodies are often played on synthesizers or keyboards, and can range from simple hooks to complex chord progressions.

Vocals are sometimes used in New Jersey house music, but they are usually very minimal, either appearing as short phrases or wordless vocalizations (often referred to as “vocal stabs”). This style of music is often associated with the African-American community in Newark, as well as the city’s Hispanic community.

New Jersey house music has been influential on other styles of electronic dance music, particularly in the United Kingdom. The sound has also been observed in Chicago house music and Detroit techno.

The History of New Jersey House Music

House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the Chicago scene in the 1980s. The name is derived from the fact that the first house music tracks were played in clubs called “house parties”. House music was initially popularized by black and Latino LGBT communities in Chicago. In the 1990s, house music became popular in the mainstream and began to influence other genres of music.

The Early Days

New Jersey house music is often thought of as the sound of the Garden State. It is a style of dance music that emerged in the early 1990s from the club scene in Newark and Jersey City. The genre is characterized by its use of samples from soul and funk records, often with a Latin flavor. It is also known for its use of drum machines, synthesizers, and other electronic instruments.

House music was born in the clubs of Chicago in the 1980s, but it didn’t take long for the sound to spread to New Jersey. In the early 1990s, the Newark club scene was dominated by two clubs: Club Zanzibar and Club Europe. These clubs were known for their exclusive guest lists and tough door policies. But they also played host to some of the biggest names in house music, including Frankie Knuckles, Marshall Jefferson, and Lil Louis.

The sound of New Jersey house music was shaped by these two clubs. Club Zanzibar was known for its Latin-influenced sounds, while Club Europe favored a more African-American style of house music. These two styles would eventually come to define the sound of New Jersey house music.

In the early 1990s, Newark was also home to one of the first radio stations to play house music: WPRB 103.3FM. This station helped to popularize the sound of New Jersey house music and give it a wider audience.

The popularity of New Jersey house music began to decline in the late 1990s, as new styles such as trance and techno began to take over the club scene. However, the sound has remained influential, and many DJs and producers continue to pay homage to the style today.

The Golden Age

The sound of New Jersey house music first began to take shape in the early 1990s, in the clubs of Newark and Paterson. From there, it spread throughout the Garden State, eventually making its way to New York City and beyond.

At its inception, NJ house music was heavily influenced by Chicago’s warehouse scene and the early days of Detroit techno. Newark’s club Zanzibar, in particular, became a hotbed for this new sound, as DJs like Tony Humphries and Killer Instinct played extended sets of deep, gritty house tracks that often spanned several hours.

As NJ house music evolved, it began to take on more of a distinctly Jersey flavor. The biggest difference between NJ and other forms of house music was the focus on drums and percussion. NJ tracks often had a very “raw” sound, with rough-edged drumbeats that lent them a sense of urgency and energy. This was in contrast to the smoother, more polished sound of Chicago house or the playful bounce of disco-influenced French house.

The Golden Age of NJ house music lasted throughout most of the 1990s, with a decline beginning around 1999-2000. By 2001-2002, Newark’s Zanzibar had closed its doors for good, signalling an end to an era.

The Modern Era

In the early 2000s, a new crop of producers and DJs began to experiment with New Jersey house, fusing it with other genres like hip-hop, R&B, and Soul. This new sound, sometimes called “Jersey club,” became hugely popular in the clubs of Newark and Camden, and soon spread to other cities like Philadelphia and New York. By the 2010s, Jersey club was being played all over the world, and artists like RL Grime, Diplo, and Skrillex were incorporating its signature sound into their own music.

Today, New Jersey house music is as popular as ever, with new producers and DJs constantly pushing the genre in new directions. Whether it’s being played in a packed nightclub or a tiny basement party, there’s no doubt that the sound of the Garden State will continue to make people move for years to come.

The Sound of New Jersey House Music

House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the Chicago club scene in the 1980s. It is characterized by a four-on-the-floor beat and a repetitive, hypnotic melody. The sound of New Jersey house music is a direct descendant of Chicago house, with a heavier emphasis on bass and drum machine beats.

The Influences

New Jersey house music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the early 1990s in the New York City area. The sound is characterized by a deep, driving bassline and often features samples of soul or gospel music. The style was developed by African American and Hispanic DJs and producers, and it quickly gained popularity in the underground club scene.

The sound of New Jersey house music was shaped by a number of different influences, including disco, hip hop, techno, and Latin music. disco was a particularly important influence, as many of the early house tracks were based on disco loops or samples. Hip hop also played a role, as many house tracks featured rappers or singers who delivered their vocals over a groove-based instrumental track. Techno was another important influence, as the Chicago-based techno scene was a major source of inspiration for early house producers. Finally, Latin music—particularly salsa and merengue—was also an important influence on the sound of New Jersey house music.

The Instruments

The sound of New Jersey house music is heavily indebted to the sound of disco, which was popular in the 1970s. House music producers typically use drum machines, synthesizers, and electronic keyboard instruments to create their tracks. One of the most distinctive features of house music is the “four on the floor” drumbeat, which is created by a bass drum being played on every beat of a measure. This drumbeat was first used in disco music, but it became a defining feature of house music when producers began to create tracks that were specifically designed for dancing.

In addition to drums and synthesizers, house music tracks often feature samples of other songs or noises. These samples can be used to create new rhythms or add atmosphere to a track. House music producers often use samples from other genres of music, including soul, funk, and hip hop. This sampling helps to create a unique sound that is distinctly different from other genres of electronic dance music.

The Production

New Jersey house music is characterized by a distinctive sound that is the result of the combination of several elements, including the use of sampling, synthesizers, drum machines, and looping. This sound is often described as being “raw” or “edgy.” The production style of New Jersey house music often includes the use of samples from other genres of music, such as funk, soul, and disco. The use of samples allows producers to create tracks that are both unique and familiar to listeners.

The Future of New Jersey House Music

Despite its reputation, New Jersey house music is not just about fist-pumping and all-night dancing. The genre has progressed significantly since its humble beginnings, and artists are now beginning to experiment with new sounds and styles. New Jersey house music is evolving, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

The Next Generation

New Jersey house music has been on the rise in recent years, thanks to a new generation of producers and DJ’s who are taking the sound in new and exciting directions. The sound of NJ house is often characterized by its use of R&B and hip-hop samples, as well as its emphasis on groove and atmosphere.

This new wave of NJ house music is being led by a number of up-and-coming producers, including Zeds Dead, SHAAN, and SOPHIE. These artists are helping to push the sound of NJ house into new and exciting territory, and they’re quickly gaining a following both in the US and abroad.

So what does the future hold for NJ house music? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: the sound of the Garden State is only getting stronger.

The Legacy

New Jersey house music has a long and storied history. The sound of the Garden State has been shaped by a number of factors, including the influence of New York City, the diversity of its population, and its proximity to Philadelphia.

In the early days of house music, New Jersey was very much influenced by the sound coming out of New York City. Clubs like Paradise Garage and The Loft were popularizing a new style of music that would soon be known as house. This sound was characterized by a heavy 4/4 beat, synthesizers, and samples from disco and other genres. New Jersey DJs and producers began to adopt this sound, adding their own flavor to it.

As house music became more popular, it began to spread to other parts of the country. One of the first places it took root outside of New York was in Philadelphia. Thanks to its proximity to New York City, Philadelphia was exposed to the same clubs and DJs that were popularizing house music. Philly’s own DJ Pierre would go on to become one of the most important figures in the development of acid house.

In the years that followed, New Jersey continued to develop its own unique sound. The state’s diverse population meant that a variety of different styles and influences were being brought together in one place. This led to the creation of a truly unique approach to house music that could be heard nowhere else.

Today, New Jersey house music is as strong as ever. The state’s close proximity to New York City means that it is still very much influenced by the sound coming out of clubs like Output and Webster Hall. At the same time, its distinct approach to the genre continues to set it apart from anywhere else in the world.