Five ‘Deep House’ Tracks That Exemplify the Soulful Electronic Genre

Host of WDET’s The Progressive Underground Chris Campbell appeared on NPR’s Weekend Edition to introduce them to ‘deep house,’ a soulful twist on electronic music that originated in the Midwest. 

“Deep house brings a sense of virtuosity, a sense of musicianship to a lot of the production.” – Chris Campbell, The Progressive Underground

“Deep house is a more melodic, more jazzy, more symphonic, organic and soulful iteration of house music,” Campbell tells NPR’s Lulu Garcia-Navaro. 

He traces the genre to its Midwestern roots, starting in Chicago and then being tweaked by Detroit musicians. 

In “Chicago and Detroit, you had a lot of African American artists that were making electronic music,” Campbell says. “A lot of these producers are actual musicians. So deep house brings a sense of virtuosity, a sense of musicianship to a lot of the production.”

Click here to hear The Progressive Underground’ ‘deep house’ Soundcloud mix, and see Campbell’s picks of the genre below.

1. Mr. Fingers’ “Can You Feel It”

“The origin of deep house begins with Larry Heard, aka Mr. Fingers’ “Can You Feel It.” Before this particular track, house music was more industrial, more post-human sounding, more machine-like. Larry Heard introduced a more lush, soulful sound.”

2. Moodymann’s “Lyk U Use 2”

3. From P60 “Softy” (Forteba remix)

“You can actually sit back and just chill out to this, or you can get on the dance floor and groove to it.”

4. Kendrick Lamar “These Walls”

Kendrick Lamer “is a progressive hip-hop figure, but ‘These Walls’ uses everything that is synonymous with deep house.”

5. Blue Six “Tropicalia”