Chicago House Music Festival 2026

Deep House

Deep House is a subgenre of House Music. Originating in the 1980s – particularly with the music of Larry Heard, Fingers Inc, and others – it fuses elements of Chicago House with a more melodic, sometimes soulful feeling.

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Alex Arnout: Sound-Byte EP (Turquoise Blue)

Alex Arnout, late of Hot Creations and Crosstown Rebels, is throwing down thunderbolts from the high mountains on his Turquoise Blue imprint, and the label has reached some kind of apotheosis with the Sound-Byte...
rick wade

Sir Rick: The Neverending Reflections of Rick Wade

Detroit producer Rick Wade has been a fixture of the Deep House scene since the early 1990s. Long considered an underground hero - one of those guys we call a "producer's producer" or a...

Abacus Presents iDrum: iDrum This Djembe (This Is Not a Bongo)

There's a fine line between a teacher nourishing the masses and a tyrant forcefeeding them. Robespierre observed that "No one welcomes armed missionaries," and a ludicrous zealotry from certain Deep and Soulful House purists...
Rick Wadevideo

Rick Wade: Neverending Reflections LP

Rick Wade began 2012 with a great collaboration that is right up my alley called Neverending Reflections on Harmonie Park. Yes, there is much music to talk about but there is also a lot...
dennis ferrer

Dennis Ferrer: Catch Him If You Can

Resting on your laurels will never be his catch phrase. In fact, Dennis Ferrer is so ahead of the game, it's impossible to keep up with him. Both blessed and cursed with a monster...
halo varga

Halo: The 5 Magazine Interview

From Midwest rave hero to West Coast icon to Deep House globetrotter, Halo is a name familiar to most. Relocating across the country several times and morphing his style to keep himself relevant are...
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Steve Mill’s Higher State Impressions

At the tender age of 26, Deep House producer Steve Mill has an absolutely staggering number of releases out. He recently impressed the hell out of me with his full-length album Higher State Impressions...

Cajmere and Gene Farris: The White Label EP

A visit to the Chicago nightlife in the early days of House gives us some very enjoyable moments. The production team of Cajmere and Gene Farris keeps those memories alive and well with another...
dj rush

DJ Rush: The 5 Magazine Interview

Isaiah Major is an international man of mystery.

Getting to Know Scott Diaz

Getting to know UK producer Scott Diaz, who has come out of nowhere to release four smokin' hot EPs in the last four months
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Acid Andee: Stab Fever (Lost My Dog)

Acid Andee is a new name to keep your eyes on. He released a track on the Who's Got Him? EP called "Callao" that really grabbed my attention a month or so back. This...

Ra Soul is on the Comeback

Ra Soul created the classic Soul Searching EPs on Large Music back in the late 1990s. He talks to 5 Magazine about his inspiring comeback with his new release Take It Slow on So Sound
kate simko

Kate Simko: The 5 Magazine Interview

With her album Lights Out, Kate Simko joins an illustrious club, taking the ambient sounds of a city and showcasing them with exquisite skill.
miguel migs

Miguel Migs Paints Outside the (Sky) Line

Miguel Migs talks to 5 Magazine about his new album Outside the Skyline.
dj spen

Interview: DJ Spen Hits Chicago

The best news I heard all week was when Terry Hunter told me DJ Spen was coming to Chicago this Sunday

Audio Soul Project: Have It All (Remixes)

I really enjoyed reviewing this EP. It's simple, and doesn't take itself too seriously. The bootleg version has it's own swagger with catchy vocals, a beat that incites a bounce in both your hips...

Chicago Skyway and Dcook: Lager EP

Sean Hernandez aka Chicago Skyway states, "I met Dave Cook back in the '00s and Specter told me he had some pretty dope music. We ended up exchanging some music and I really dug...
GIOM

This is Giom

In the 18 months since I last talked to him, something crazy's happened to Giom (facebook, twitter, soundcloud). Always a favorite of mine and at this magazine, the French-born, UK-based producer, DJ and sometime-session...

Kid Enigma: Resurrection EP

I've only heard five tracks from Kid Enigma and I already have a massive amount of respect for him. It's because he's not afraid to be honest and bare his soul in his music....
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Brawther: Do It Yourself EP

In our interview in the current issue of 5 Mag, Chez Damier mentions quite a few proteges, students and younger producers that he's been working with recently. One of them is Brawther. As the...

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