A quick preview of a newly released book containing a brand new chapter on house music. The chapter, called ‘House music, Chicago and the uncomfortable heritage of racial segregation’ explores the socioeconomic drivers that underpinned house music’s creation.
Here’s a quick overview of some of the recent development on the Foundations of House project. Lots has changed, so have a read!
A short piece to announce and offer downloads to a newly published short-form article from the Foundations of House project, courtesy of Norient Space.
Hadley Stewart questions what still needs to be done in the wake of Stonewall. 50 years after the riots, where do we still need to improve? And what problems face the LGBTQ+ community?
In the final instalment of the In Memoriam mini-series, we tackle the difficult topic of heritage and place. Using the example of the recent destruction of the Paradise Garage, we ask how we should remember sites.
Something is seriously wrong in dance music. We’ve lost ownership. We’ve sold it for cheap buck, and lost our links to our historic past through inappropriate performance and insincere interpretation. Orchestras are to blame.
Foundations of House jumps deep into conversation with DJ Spen. He brings back the joy and energy of original disco. Spen talks working with Susu Bobien, updating disco classics, and his work with Jasper Street Co.
We need to talk about the Boiler Room? Is it just posturing twenty-somethings? Or is there something deeper at play in the internets strange obsession with club voyeurism?
A short annoucement and link to the latest research output from the Foundations of House project, published in Popular Music and Society.
The second of three posts exploring how we remember. Just how should we deal with record collections? Are they public property? Who owns legacy?
The recent controversy stirred up by Solomun’s use of the Adhan during a DJ set in Turin is dissected, and questions are asked about “sampling” and the sacred.
We need to address issues in our past. Dance music believes itself egalitarian. But can we really say that when we’re making “tribal house”?
The first of three posts that explores the connection between commemoration and memory in dance music culture. How should we best commemorate house music and disco’s lost heroes?
Foundations of House chew the fat with David DePino, Paradise Garage DJ. Memories of Larry Levan, New York, and some tips on how to be a great DJ.
In this post Jack McNeill shares his rationale and thoughts behind his Temporary Autonomous Zones installation/event, and where the line between event and reflection really lies.
After a somewhat disastrous set the other night, I thought I'd share with you what was originally planned. Includes a full AV feed of the planned show.
Exploring the idea of DJing a queer identity in conjunction with the Temporary Autonomous Zones installation curated by Oren.
The latest post sees us chatting with Kevin Hedge of Blaze on the importance of vocalists in house music, and a reassessment of disco's place in the historical narrative.
Historian Dan Johnson shares his thoughts on how we might learn to question and trust the history of house music once more.
Redlining might be one of the most important factors in house music's history. It may have actually created the environment that underpinned house music's genesis.
