Tech house
Encyclopedia
Tech house is a subgenre of house music
that mixes elements of minimal techno
into simple, 4-to-4 beats found in soulful deep house
. The genre came to prominence in the late-1990s atmosphere of American
clubs as soul
influenced Detroit-style techno
that also borrowed elements from house before reaching Europe
. As one reviewer for Amazon.com suggested, this style fuses "steady techno rhythms with the soul and accessibility of house." The term tech house is said to have been coined by Mr C.
Unlike progressive house that arose on European dance scene during the same era, tech house does not represent a breakaway from electronic simplicity, but rather takes it to a new level, by experimenting with simplicity in techno subgenres. Reaching mainstream popularity worldwide from 2000 to roughly 2005, tech house gave birth to a fusion genre of various musical styles called electro house.
Also in contrast to most progressive house, which tends to have a progression over the course of the mix ending in an ecstatic release of energy at the end, tech-house often aims at achieving an even “groove.” Although there might be dips and peaks in the energy level — any interesting mix will have them, after all—they will be more on the restrained side. As such, tech-house is found to be as enjoyable a "headphone experience" as it is a dancefloor one.
) and booming kick drums are replaced with elements from techno such as shorter, deeper, darker and often distorted kicks, smaller, quicker hi-hat
s, noisier snares
and more synthetic or acid sounding synth melodies from the TB-303, including raw electronic noises from distorted sawtooth
and square
wave oscillators.
The well known tech-house producer, Jean F. Cochois, also known as The Timewriter, has often used jazzy, soulful vocals and elements, and equally as much raw electronic sounds in his music. However, a rich techno-like kick and bassline seems to be a consistency amongst tech house music.
Electrotech arose in Western Europe in late 2000 as the result of mixing high-attack basses found in electroclash
with general tech house structure. As such, compositions still featured simple, discernible lyrics and single-note basslines, however, the final sound had a somewhat rough, "fuzzy" attitude very commonly found in electroclash. Examples of electrotech include "All You Need
" by Miss Kittin
, "Keep Control" by Sono
, "This World" by Slam
and "I Want You" by Paris Avenue.
Electrotech can be seen as precursor of electro house to this point, although it was not the only contributor to that fusion genre.
and two Swiss/French singers created a hit "Satisfaction" in late 2002. The signature sound was characterized by a modulated ("granulized") bassline, notable sidechain techniques, minimalist hitting and a heavy amount of reverberation used on either riffs or robotic voices. Pumping house became a huge success in 2003–05, as many other European producers (notably Vanguard
, Royal Gigolos
and Global Deejays
) also took on the style and created their own distinctive variations of it.
Pumping met the so-called "popularity roller coaster", when it fell down as quickly as it rose after progressive house lost prominence, while electrotech started separating into a distinct genre around 2006. Some bands kept their sound intact and were kicked out of the mainstream later, others tried to implement new changes and even sacrificed their original sound.
Though not official, it is presumed that pumping house actually served as precursor to the now underground bassline genre that appeared in the UK around the time pumping went scarce.
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
that mixes elements of minimal techno
Minimal techno
Minimal techno is a minimalist sub-genre of techno. It is characterized by a stripped-down aesthetic that exploits the use of repetition, and understated development. This style of dance music production generally adheres to the motto less is more; a principle that has been previously utilized, to...
into simple, 4-to-4 beats found in soulful deep house
Deep house
Deep house is a subgenre of house music that fuses elements of Chicago house into the 1980s jazz-funk and touches of soul music. In the early compositions , influences of jazz music were most frequently brought out by using more complex chords than simple triads which are held for many bars and...
. The genre came to prominence in the late-1990s atmosphere of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
clubs as soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
influenced Detroit-style techno
Detroit techno
Detroit techno is an early style of electronic music beginning in the 1980s. Detroit, Michigan has been cited as the birthplace of techno music. Prominent Detroit Techno artists include Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson...
that also borrowed elements from house before reaching Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. As one reviewer for Amazon.com suggested, this style fuses "steady techno rhythms with the soul and accessibility of house." The term tech house is said to have been coined by Mr C.
Unlike progressive house that arose on European dance scene during the same era, tech house does not represent a breakaway from electronic simplicity, but rather takes it to a new level, by experimenting with simplicity in techno subgenres. Reaching mainstream popularity worldwide from 2000 to roughly 2005, tech house gave birth to a fusion genre of various musical styles called electro house.
Characteristics
As a mixing style, tech-house often brings together deep or minimal techno music, the soulful and jazzy end of house, some minimal techno and microhouse (especially with a soulful feel, such as Luomo’s music), and very often some dub elements. There is some overlap with progressive house, which too can contain deep, soulful, dub, and techno elements; this is especially true since the turn of the millennium, as progressive-house mixes have themselves often become deeper and sometimes more minimal. However, the typical progressive-house mix—which might integrate some funky house, trance, and even some hard techno at times—has more energy than tech-house, which tends to have a more “laid-back” feel. Tech-house fans tend to appreciate subtlety, as well as the “middle ground” that adds a “splash of color to steel techno beats” and eschews the “banging” of house music for intricate rhythms.Also in contrast to most progressive house, which tends to have a progression over the course of the mix ending in an ecstatic release of energy at the end, tech-house often aims at achieving an even “groove.” Although there might be dips and peaks in the energy level — any interesting mix will have them, after all—they will be more on the restrained side. As such, tech-house is found to be as enjoyable a "headphone experience" as it is a dancefloor one.
Musical structure
As a musical (as opposed to a mixing) style, tech-house uses the same basic structure as house. However, elements of the house 'sound' such as realistic jazz sounds (in deep houseDeep house
Deep house is a subgenre of house music that fuses elements of Chicago house into the 1980s jazz-funk and touches of soul music. In the early compositions , influences of jazz music were most frequently brought out by using more complex chords than simple triads which are held for many bars and...
) and booming kick drums are replaced with elements from techno such as shorter, deeper, darker and often distorted kicks, smaller, quicker hi-hat
Hi-hat
A hi-hat, or hihat, is a type of cymbal and stand used as a typical part of a drum kit by percussionists in R&B, hip-hop, disco, jazz, rock and roll, house, reggae and other forms of contemporary popular music.- Operation :...
s, noisier snares
Snare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a melodic percussion instrument with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, typically the bottom. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom...
and more synthetic or acid sounding synth melodies from the TB-303, including raw electronic noises from distorted sawtooth
Sawtooth wave
The sawtooth wave is a kind of non-sinusoidal waveform. It is named a sawtooth based on its resemblance to the teeth on the blade of a saw....
and square
Square wave
A square wave is a kind of non-sinusoidal waveform, most typically encountered in electronics and signal processing. An ideal square wave alternates regularly and instantaneously between two levels...
wave oscillators.
The well known tech-house producer, Jean F. Cochois, also known as The Timewriter, has often used jazzy, soulful vocals and elements, and equally as much raw electronic sounds in his music. However, a rich techno-like kick and bassline seems to be a consistency amongst tech house music.
Electrotech
Electroclash
Electroclash is a style of music that fuses New Wave and electronic dance music. It emerged in New York and Detroit in the later 1990s, pioneered by acts including I-F and those associated with Gerald Donald, and is associated with acts including Peaches, Adult, and Fischerspooner...
with general tech house structure. As such, compositions still featured simple, discernible lyrics and single-note basslines, however, the final sound had a somewhat rough, "fuzzy" attitude very commonly found in electroclash. Examples of electrotech include "All You Need
All You Need
"All You Need" is a song by French recording artist Miss Kittin. Remixed by Lee Van Dowski and Gesaffelstein, it was released worldwide on 10 January 2011 as the lead single from her upcoming album.-Composition:...
" by Miss Kittin
Miss Kittin
Miss Kittin is an electronic music DJ, vocalist, and songwriter. Since rising to prominence in 1998 for her singles "1982" and "Frank Sinatra" with The Hacker, she has worked with other musicians such as Chicks on Speed, Felix da Housecat and Golden Boy...
, "Keep Control" by Sono
Sono (band)
SONO is a band from Hamburg, Germany and was started in 2001 by Lennart A. Salomon Florian Sikorski and Martin Weiland ....
, "This World" by Slam
Slam (band)
Slam are a producer/DJ duo from Glasgow, consisting of Stuart MacMillan and Orde Meikle . They are co-founders of Soma Quality Recordings. Their music style consists of house and techno.-History:...
and "I Want You" by Paris Avenue.
Electrotech can be seen as precursor of electro house to this point, although it was not the only contributor to that fusion genre.
Deeptech
Deeptech is a derivative form of electrotech highly influenced by both progressive and dark house. No definite song illustrating deeptech exists, suggesting that the name might have been coined from various concepts that set a "deep" atmosphere, but were not popular enough to hit the mainstream.Pumptech (a.k.a. pumping house)
Pumping (tech) house is another, much more successful subgenre of tech that originated in Southern Europe when a trio called "The Biz", consisting of the Italian DJ Benny BenassiBenny Benassi
Marco Benassi , better known as Benny Benassi, is a Grammy Award winning Italian disc jockey and record producer of electro house music. He is best known for his 2002 summer club hit "Satisfaction"...
and two Swiss/French singers created a hit "Satisfaction" in late 2002. The signature sound was characterized by a modulated ("granulized") bassline, notable sidechain techniques, minimalist hitting and a heavy amount of reverberation used on either riffs or robotic voices. Pumping house became a huge success in 2003–05, as many other European producers (notably Vanguard
Vanguard
Vanguard may refer to:* Vanguard , the forward element of an advancing military formation-Military:* HM-14 "Vanguard", a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron* QW-1 Vanguard, an advanced Chinese surface-to-air missile...
, Royal Gigolos
Royal Gigolos
Royal Gigolos were a German tech house duo, founded in 2003 by the DJ producer DJ Tyson and DJ Kosmonova. Before disbanding in 2008, the group released successful dance cover versions of songs including "California Dreamin'" and "No Milk Today".-Singles:...
and Global Deejays
Global Deejays
Global Deejays, Global Playboyz or Ravers on Dope are an Austrian pumping tech house trio composed of DJ Taylor , DJ Mikkel and FLOw...
) also took on the style and created their own distinctive variations of it.
Pumping met the so-called "popularity roller coaster", when it fell down as quickly as it rose after progressive house lost prominence, while electrotech started separating into a distinct genre around 2006. Some bands kept their sound intact and were kicked out of the mainstream later, others tried to implement new changes and even sacrificed their original sound.
Though not official, it is presumed that pumping house actually served as precursor to the now underground bassline genre that appeared in the UK around the time pumping went scarce.
Proponents
Main contributors to the genre include:- D-Unity
- Mr C
- Dom KaneDom KaneDominic Clifton Kane , also known as Dom Kane, is a British progressive house and electro tech-house producer based in Cardiff, Wales. His discography includes tracks such as "Glitched Out", "Sweet & Low" and "Room Of Doom", which appear on The World's Greatest Electro Club Mix [Resist],...
- Eddie RichardsEddie RichardsEddie Richards, also known as Evil Eddie, Jolly Roger, and Kode, is a British DJ, sometimes known as "Britain's godfather of house"...
- Terry FrancisTerry FrancisTerry Francis is a British Tech House DJ and producer. Francis won Muzik Magazine's "Best New DJ" award in 1997. In October 1999, at the club's inception, he started a residency at London's Fabric, which has continued ever since....
- Justin Bailey
- Layo & Bushwacka!Layo & Bushwacka!Layo & Bushwacka! is the pseudonym of DJs Layo Paskin and Matthew Benjamin.Along with Mr. C, Paskin was the co-owner of The End nightclub in London, where Benjamin was the resident DJ. Labelled variously as tech house, house or breakbeat, the pair usually record and DJ together.Benjamin's best...
- Hernan CattaneoHernán Cattáneo- Biography :Hernán Cattáneo was born in Buenos Aires, where he grew up listening to bands like Simply Red, Level 42, Depeche Mode and New Order while carefully studying Billboard magazine, the only source of information that was readily available at the time. In 1987, one of his friends visited...
- Jean F. Cochois
- Jay TripwireJay TripwireJay Tripwire is a house DJ and record producer from Canada.•"A full pelt wavering between tribal moments and more modest slabs of Detroit-inspired soul.The crowd responds at every turn." - Steve McLay, DJ MAG....
- John TejadaJohn TejadaNormally associated with his peers in techno from Detroit, Europe and elsewhere, John Tejada has embraced electronic music as a personal frontier, expanding on his resume as a techno recording artist as producer, remixer, DJ, and label owner...
- Tony Thomas
- Lee BurridgeLee BurridgeLee Burridge is a DJ, producer, and record label owner who helped launch the underground club scene in Hong Kong during the early 1990s, and today plays at nightclubs across the world....
- Craig RichardsCraig RichardsCraig Richards is a tech house DJ, also known as part of Tyrant alongside Lee Burridge. He is Fabric's musical director and resident DJ along with Terry Francis...
- Laurent GarnierLaurent GarnierLaurent Garnier , is a French techno music producer and DJ. Garnier began DJ-ing in Manchester during the late 1980s. By the following decade, he had a broad stylistic range, able to span deep house, Detroit techno, trance and jazz...
- Ian PooleyIan PooleyIan Pooley is a German-born record producer and DJ. While incorporating samples of various musical genres, Pooley's creations are usually classified as house or tech house with Brazilian influence.-Career:...
- Nigel Richards
- Mark Knight
- Mark DynamixMark DynamixMark Dynamix is an internationally known, Sydney based Australian DJ who is seen as a significant figure within the Australian dance music scene. He began working as a professional DJ prior to 1993, and has published 26 mix CDs and four original music releases...
- Jay Lumen
- Ramon TapiaRamon TapiaRamón Tapia Zapata was a Chilean boxer, who won the silver medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia...
- Steve LawlerSteve LawlerSteve Lawler is a British house music producer and DJ born in Birmingham, England. He has held residences at many popular dance clubs such as Space, The End and Twilo. Because of his successful performances at Space in Ibiza, he has been nicknamed "King of Space". Lawler has released several mix...
- Mark Fanciulli
- Nic Fanciulli
- Kaiserdisco
- Popof
- Mario OchoaMario OchoaMario Ochoa is an Argentine serial rapist. On July 20, 2007 Ochoa was sentenced to a 16-year prison term for 16 counts of sexual abuse against disabled girls. After the sentencing, Ochoa escaped and was a fugitive until August 15, 2007 when he went to the police office and was arrested.- References :...
- Nicole Moudaber
- Carlo Lio
- Stefano Noferini
- Filthy RichFilthy RichFilthy Rich may refer to:* Filthy Rich: A Fieldguide to a Dangerous Species, a book by Peter Robbins* Filthy Rich , a 1982 television series starring Dixie Carter and Delta Burke...
- Joris Delacroix
- Ryan Nibloe