What defines deephouse as a genre? What makes deephouse 'deep'?

[chic_]

^question.

Don't wanna get too philosophical here, but the more I explore the genre; the more I realize how diverse it really is.

[the crackhouse]

You could categorize by city (Baltimore, Chicago, Paris, NYC...) or by genre (Acid, Nu Disco, Soulfoul fluters, gospel...) or by year (198x to 2012) by label (Oji, NU groove, Trax...), but best way to find more is to read some party reviews here, or listen to some mixes, check the tracklistings and then go to discogs and look for anyone having this or that record in his lists or collection.
And then you may figure out what it is all about, and find more sounds that you like.

The archives of the forums are going far in defining what is deephouse, the only thing everyone will agree with is that Jack created house.

Idance

[D J 1 3 8]

^question.

What Makes deephouse 'deep'?

[DaveR]

[reese 60615]

those that work the eq and those that dont

[Daniel, Grand Duke of Stony Island]

^question.

Don't wanna get too philosophical here, but the more I explore the genre; the more I realize how diverse it really is.

You don't want to get too philosophical discussing a philosophical premise?

Cuz the answer won't be technical or theoretical.

[Tee Dubb]

if it sounds deep it's deep. Chic, if you don't know what deep sounds like, you don't belong here.

[Armento]

for me? bassy, serious, moody

[Chris Chase]

Deep has to be made in a basement dwelling with moldy walls and analog equipment, otherwise it's not deep, it's shallow.

[sammyrock]

Deep.

[bootyvaldovinos]

a 4:4 beat and the absence of fun and girls?

[LOKEE]

First, it has to be spiritual, but, then again, it has to incite the body, but not too much, because it's really about the soul. Unfortunately, not everybody understands this.

[neon]

Nice! I've always wanted a weird house like that.

[Daniel, Grand Duke of Stony Island]

First, it has to be spiritual, but, then again, it has to incite the body, but not too much, because it's really about the soul. Unfortunately, not everybody understands this.

Deep.

Combine Lokee's statement with Sammy's image and there you have it. A spate of contradictions that moves people to bliss via illogical ideals.

Kinda like how the most sex, violence and bigotry you'll find is in the Old Testament, yet Christians and Jews think Heaven is meant only for them.

Throw logic out the window. It's deep 'cuz it ain't shallow.

[Martin Red]

Combine Lokee's statement with Sammy's image and there you have it.

Spirituality and soul, with a picture of a naked bird wrapped in a flag, so it's spiritual soul with nationalism some hair straigtener and skin depth

[Daniel, Grand Duke of Stony Island]

Spirituality and soul, with a picture of a naked bird wrapped in a flag, so it's spiritual soul with nationalism some hair straigtener and skin depth

Why do you always half-quote me, man?

I meant its a spate of contradictions. Contradictions!

[Martin Red]

Danny, this is one picture that defines deep house mate, no with contradictions involved.

[Daniel, Grand Duke of Stony Island]

Danny, this is one picture that defines deep house mate, no with contradictions involved.

Ron Hardy was a beautiful mix of contradictions and divine dichotomy.

[Martin Red]

Ron Hardy was a beautiful mix of contradictions and divine dichotomy.

Very true.

[The Crazy Life That Is Alarick T]

Deep.

What's her DHP screename?

[LOKEE]

Spirituality and soul, with a picture of a naked bird wrapped in a flag, so it's spiritual soul with nationalism some hair straigtener and skin depth

Martin, the soul/spiritual/body reference alludes to the Eddie Amador track and was meant to good naturally point out that depth is not quantitative. It is always, even beyond this conversation, contextual--or, more accurately, discursive. One measures depth relative to something else. A pool's deep end is relative to its shallow end; the grand canyon's depth is a function of the land that rests above it. And on and on.

In the case of house, the term demarcates a particular intellectual and social position rather than an aesthetic or sonic style. That is to say, deep house is not about congas or vocals or murky sounds; it is, has always been, about orientation. It is a decision in which the listener/participant/actor chooses to orient him or herself with a particular tradition. In the case of deep house, this tradition is African American.

And since I have been reading DHP for too long to think that I can leave that last sentence in the digital ether and expect it to fend for itself. . . This is not to say that there were no other races involved during the creation of house. There are members on this board whose status precludes such a claim. Nor is it to discount the UK's role (since you mentioned the flag in Sammy's picture).

However, positionality of any kind obliges one to choose a particular moral perspective, which is, in part, always already a matter of aesthetic choice. That is to say that the infinite variety of sounds and sights available to each of us are made sense of by the particular perspectives we have chosen to live through. And because we each apprehend the world from a particular ideological position, our responses are always a part of that position. Consequently, it is not what we value, but, rather, how and why we value something.


This, of course, leads to the question of where the individual sits within this sort of exchange. More directly, does one's acknowledgement of existing within a particular perspective conjure the sort of essentialist notions that they were meant to guard against?

I would suggest that the answer is no. One's position within a particular perspective does not come into being because he or she has acknowledged it. Rather, the acknowledgement only allows one to take notice of the relative difference between perspectives. More clearly, to know that your likes and dislikes are always guided by innumerable experiences and moral investments is to be able to better negotiate the world.

The jazz critic and novelist Albert Murray has described this phenomenon as a dialogue between the individual and his or her community. An artist, Murray writes, finds his or her individuality by saying "'yes and also' to that with which he agrees, and by saying 'no,' or in any case, 'on the other hand,' to that with which he disagrees." Implicit in Murray's arrangement is the fact that the artist has already invested in the community to whom he or she speaks. In other words, the artist's acceptance or refusal of any particular product works from a larger investment in perspective/community.

In the case of deep house, then, there are a lot of people who say "and also," what determines if their work is deep is whether or not they have first said "yes."

I suppose the question now becomes: why does any of this matter? For me, it leads us away from notions of authenticity, which too often start out as an attempt to guard against appropriation and end up as a delimiting force. By this design, one's political or aesthetic preferences neither preclude nor include them into the group. Rather, the rubric by which one becomes member is a matter of their investment in the particular perspective the community holds. Sometimes tastes cohere; sometimes they do not, but what is important is an investment in the traditions by which the community has been built.


This probably too much already so I'll stop here, but hopefully that clears up my initial post.

[Mike Johnson]

a 4:4 beat and the absence of fun and girls?

so far, the best desciption

[El Mayimbe]

Depends on how much Ketamine is at the party
Lotsa techhouse djs & events have been dropping more deephouse because so many clubbers are preferring that to "e" or coke
(just my humble observation)

[sammyrock]

What's her DHP screename?

Let's call her Dimples

[rasanthony]

What makes deep house deep to me is when we can survive as an artist/performer and have people who pay you for your just do! I can name a few great people who deserve mega praise for there contributions and no matter if 5000 or 500 patrons show up, you get paid!

House has been my music, my escape, my living existence. But the non sense I CAN DO WITHOUT! We have matured from the days of taking acid and all other fuckery to enjoy the vibrations. I PERSONALLY do not need the shade factor in my life! Deep House makes me think about people like John Davis, Benny Soto, Anetra Tilley, Tamir Family Soul and more! We are big people in this thing called House and I for 1 take no praise in my efforts to do a great Job in all I DO! I love people and the best thing that could ever happen to me was when my daughter called me on the phone and said, "dad, me and my girl friends did a dance routine to Voices by KC FLIGHT" That right there had a tear falling from my face, because at 16 she could be listening to Lamborghini Mercy your chick she so Thirsty... you feel me?

Deep House is like when you see Wayne Williams of the Chosen Few at a 718 party! This is the Big Wig of Sony! Deep House is is Like brothers and sisters throwing there mixes up on a podcast, for free just to show love of the art!

Deep House is like going to B-More and receiving the same love as if you was in Jersey or New York!

Deep House is like going over seas and being looked at like your George Michael or Dianna Ross for your efforts!

No matter how you see it We that Love the Art of Deep House will be here for a long time because we believe in it!

Now all the Super Paid $$$$ DJ'S had to recognize Marshall Jefferson, Steve Silk Hurley, LLR, FK ,Larry Levan, Larry Patterson, David De Pina Danny Krivit ( SHIT) the list goes on Frankie Knuckles, Joe Smooth, Fast Eddie, Chip E, Mel Cheren, Todd Terry, Ten City, Crystal Waters, Sylvester, Adeva, Danny Tenaglia, ( Mr. Mancuso) i can name so many more, I do not want to forget anyone ....But man I HAVE TO SAY Naeem Johnson because from the radio to the club Naeem let Jersey know that house is a feeling that can last forever! Tony Hump and more! These are people that travel the world and do what they deo and do it well!


Now check this out! There are DJ'S that now play progressive but I PRAY THAT THERE DEEPHOUSE ROOTS are still with them to the fullest....

What makes deephouse deep? ( I was in the 11th or 12th grade when DJ DISCIPLE was on 91.5 at Hunter College! Rocking the Box on College Radio! I claim this culture because it has made me successful and at the same time broke me! Mentally and Financially....


I shared me views, there is more to say Shout to Dip Duron Tariq and Barry Be for keeping Deep House Alive at Elevations and they continue to make it Pop!

One Love!