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Nick Holder’s DNH Records: Spirit, Power and Knowledge

DNH is important because it stands for Deepness. (David) Nick Holder founded the label in 1991 in Toronto, Canada. It was named after his initials. DNH was a key label for Deep House in the 1990s and 2000s. In this period, they released classics like Summer Daze, Da Sambafrique and Our Music alongside hundreds of other inspirational tunes. Today, they are still expanding in the digital realm. DNH is a versatile imprint and they can do everything from Jazzy to Disco and Tech angled Deep House grooves. Alongside the music, the label is historically significant for chronicling the Black experience.

Read more here.

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Daniel Wang may be dismissive of Balihu, but we love his carefree take on Disco and House

Records on Balihu are fun. Yes, the sample sourcing was serious and the cryptic messages on the early record centres do mean quite a lot, but the overall message is that music should be fun!

Today, Wang is often dismissive of his Balihu label productions from the 1990s, whilst record nerds and dancers continue to be entranced by them. They have that carefree dancefloor sensibility and the ability to uplift listeners. They do not sound cold or calculated.

And despite whatever Wang thinks, they have much more creativity than what passes for an edit or even an original track these days. These old records should be applauded and may even inspire a new generation to make their own.

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Toko Records: Sheffield’s Deep Tech Pioneers

Toko are known for their fantastic Deep Tech grooves and tunes with billowing melodies. It is these records from the 1990s that helped them define their distinctive style. A Deep House revival of sorts has helped them become more relevant again, but the bottom line is that powerful grooves and gorgeous melodies never go out of fashion.

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Glasgow Underground - House music through the generations

Today, Glasgow Underground is a popular label that markets itself towards a new generation of House Music lovers. Squarely for DJs and dancers into Deep House, Tech House and related styles. Releasing new music and covers of everything from Born Slippy to Get ur Freak On.

In the past, GU was hugely influential to a previous generation of DJs and Deep House lovers. We look at the label's journey to where it is today. Listen to the playlist and read more here

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Basement Jaxx - on course for world domination

Basement Jaxx took the musical melting pot of their surroundings and created a bold fusion of House, Latin and Ragga. What set them apart was the catchy and effervescent nature of their tunes. Their early productions embodied the Jaxx spirit of fun dancefloor music that would also work in other surroundings. These tunes were road tested at their legendary parties that took place in a Brixton Church Crypt. Early Jaxx were extremely versatile. They could do Downtempo, Soul, sumptuous Deep House and commercially angled material. The Basement Jaxx duo of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe established their Atlantic Jaxx imprint in 1994. Here they released their early classics, before signing to XL and becoming household names in the late 1990s.

Read more here

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Gonkyburg classic! One of the earliest tracks to feature Yukimi Nagano - a few years before Little Dragon. Speaking of Yukimi, her solo record is out now!

(2003, DNM - Dealers Of Nordic Music, DNMEP004)

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RIP YamWho - The Pirate Soul Story Playlist

We tell the story of Yam Who, Blackbeard and the Pirate Soul era. Then we look at Disco and House edits more generally. Listen to the playlist and read the article here

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Amazing time capsule in 58 seconds @stefanp1

Dance Tracks record store advertisement from 1996 on WKRS FM

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Danny Tenaglia at his most flamboyant! Deadly Deep House grooves. Released on the amazing MAW Double pack.

(2000, MAW Records, MAW-808) Alt interpretation of Code 718 - Equinox (1992)

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Amazing - Antonio Ocasio in the House!

Afro Deep Spiritual House music!

(2025, Tribal Winds, TW052) Bandcamp

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Kevin Yost’s Jazzy Deep, Todd Edward’s Basslines - Freer Sounds i! Records history

Kevin Yost’s Jazzy Deepness, Todd Edward’s Basslines and more – A Freer Sounds history of i! Records.

Read it here!

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MAW Records: A Freer Sounds History

Masters At Work = Kings of House Music

We go Deep into the catalogue of MAW Records

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Mark Seven - My Caesar (The Message)

The best music feels effortless. The keys glide over the groove, and the uplifting vocals fit the spaces between the grooves perfectly. Mark Seven’s My Caesar is one of those timeless tracks. Whether you’ve heard it once or a thousand times, it still hits you right in the gut.

My Caesar was originally released by the Australian People Must Jam label on a one sided 10″ in 2014. It arrived at a time when Deep House was both getting trendy (again) and going through a bit of an identity crisis. The track reflects that moment. Yes, this is Deep House, but it pays its respects to proto-House, Disco and other influences. This makes sense, given that Mark Seven had been releasing this type of groove on his fantastic Parkway imprint since 2011.

Without Lars Behrenroth championing My Caesar on DSOH radio, it could have been consigned to the ‘great records we forgot about’ pile. Instead, he introduced the tune to a whole new audience. According to Lars, it took him a decade to license it for a digital release on his Deeper Shades Recordings label! Great work!

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RIP Yam Who

Andy Williams from Yam Who passed away in March 2025. The producer made House records, before finding fame with Soul re-edits and then becoming a champion of Modern Disco

Read...

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NYC via Paris and Tahiti - Neil Aline and the History of Chez Music

Chez Music epitomized that cool, smooth, and deep sound, which is why we’re covering them. They gave us one of the biggest records of the era with It's Yours, but also so much more. They released some truly amazing records that often get overlooked. Chez Music was founded by Neil Aline. Aline was born in Tahiti born and grew up in Paris, before heading to New York for university. Whilst studying Cinematography at NYU, he hosted a radio show on WNYU, welcoming guests like Daft Punk. By the time he launched Chez Music in January 1999, Aline was in his early 20s and had already worked as a Marketing Promotions Manager at the legendary Giant Step. As a DJ, Aline held weekly residencies at clubs in NYC like APT and Le Bain in the Standard Hotel. Neil Aline can be found on Tumblr @neilaline

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Freer Sounds Chez Music Playlist

Chez Music epitomized that cool, smooth, and deep sound, which is why we’re covering them. They gave us one of the biggest records of the era with It's Yours, but also so much more.

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Freer Sounds Guidance Recordings Playlist

The soundtrack to the article