Much like heavy metal and jazz, house music is a genre well known for its many sub-genres. From acid to garage to that Chicago sound that started it all, house music is one of the most innovative genres on the scene, constantly reinventing itself for new times and audiences.
Today, we will be taking a closer look at a style of house that’s exploded in popularity over the last decade and the man who many believe made that happen.
Oliver Heldens Hits The Scene
French DJ Tchami first used Future House to describe his 2013 remix of Janet Jackson’sJackson’s ““Go Deep””. Although Tchami never meant the word to imply a whole new genre, it quickly caught on in the minds of music lovers. It seemed to imply something fresh, new, and exciting for the genre, and audiences were only too ready for more of the same. Meanwhile, at Spinnin’ Records, a young artist named Oliver Heldens was working on a track that would soon capture the attention of fans and fellow artists alike.
2013’s2013’s “Gecko” might not have been an instant hit right out the gate, but it wasn’twasn’t long before fellow Dutchman and DJ megastar Tiësto saw just how much potential the track – and by extension Heldens himself – had. Tiësto would sign the song to his label in a few short months, rereleasing it with brand new vocals from English singer/songwriter Becky Hill.
By the time “Gecko (Overdrive)” peaked at number 1 later that year, Oliver Heldens had become a serious name to watch.
HI-LO Cranks It Up
By 2016, Heldens was #8 on DJ Magazine’s Top 100 DJs, had a residency with BBC Radio 1, and launched a second project under the name HI-LO on his very own label, Heldeep Records.
Future House had entered the mainstream, and other artists were entering the scene. Alongside his solo tracks like “Crank It Up” and “Ooh La La,” Heldens was releasing countless collaborations with the likes of Tiësto and Throttle, as well as signing on fresh faces such as Chocolate Puma, Alok, and Dada Life.
In Recent Years
Over the last few years, Heldens has continued to release music under the HI-LO alias while working with countless up-and-coming artists. He’s brought out remixes of original releases and has begun collaborating with techno artists, once again pushing the genre forward.
Meanwhile, countless other artists such as Don Diablo, Mesto, and Tchami have all continued to bring their contributions to the growing genre that is the future house.
The Future of Future House
When he first coined the word back in 2013, Tchami intended to refer to “any kind of house music that hasn’t been invented yet,” and, in a big way, that vision is still at the heart of the future house. House music has always been a genre that embraces change and seeks to explore new ideas and new styles.
Ten years on, thanks to the work of incredible artists like Oliver Heldens, Future House is still going strong and doubtless will continue to do so for many years. As for Heldens, he’s well and truly made a name for himself in the history of house music that fans will never forget.
