House music has its origins in Chicago.
Techno music has its origins in Detroit.
Though the words are unfortunately being used almost interchangeably by unknowing people today, the genres are historically very different in terms of both technology, culture and other regional circumstances.
Yes, they do indeed musically have some elements in common, but even to this day, after years of evolution and borrowing of ideas, the two movements are still very different to each other, attracting different crowds, and the sum of the general sound of techno+subgenres is much different to that of house+subgenres.
To some people, everything with a 4/4 kick is the same. To me, it’s like not differentiating between e.g. reggae and funk, or rock and disco. However, I understand why so many get it wrong, because most people around them do the same. I just thought I’d let you (and other people) know.
Yeah I wasn’t sure which one it was so I put both to keep it light hearted and accessible in my joke comment, but I’m actually a pretty big electro-head myself, having been a raver, hobbyist D&B DJ and producer (trip hop) for like, what, 20 years ;) Thankfully at much slower rhythms for a long time already though, that stuff will kill ya.
But it gets even more fun once you realize that we don’t even really use the same definitions for things here in Europe as you guys do in the US. What I call techno probably isn’t even made there. Like, I don’t mean offence or anything but from my (limited) direct exposure but mostly all I see from online, videos, discussions etc it’s just so different there and doesn’t go nearly as deep/dark/hard as we do here, like everything has that sugar coating while we’re out there in our black hoodies under a damp bridge tearing it up if you know what I mean.
Honestly I feel like what you were explaining there is way better known these days though, like yeah when I was a kid people would just say anything electronic was techno and I’m sure some still do but also feel like it’s way more mainstream now so way more people understand a few different genres at least. I’m also not one to want to get uber-specific with my labels anyway, like I’m more a breakbeat guy myself so I slice it up a bit more there (jungle, jump up, neuro, liquid, technical, intelligent d&b, crossbreed and so on) but with 4 on the floor stuff I’ll pretty much just be aware of like, trance (but not the Tiesto trash I mean the good psytrance shit), what is called “Tekno” in France, the Berlin type stuff like Drumcode label, hardstyle, French core, speedcore etc but like, mildly. Miles away from any of the house style stuff.
These days I’ve softened up a lot and mostly listen to downtempo stuff and just a lot of random different kinds of music, both electronic, acoustic and everything in between.
House music has its origins in Chicago. Techno music has its origins in Detroit.
Though the words are unfortunately being used almost interchangeably by unknowing people today, the genres are historically very different in terms of both technology, culture and other regional circumstances.
Yes, they do indeed musically have some elements in common, but even to this day, after years of evolution and borrowing of ideas, the two movements are still very different to each other, attracting different crowds, and the sum of the general sound of techno+subgenres is much different to that of house+subgenres.
To some people, everything with a 4/4 kick is the same. To me, it’s like not differentiating between e.g. reggae and funk, or rock and disco. However, I understand why so many get it wrong, because most people around them do the same. I just thought I’d let you (and other people) know.
Yeah I wasn’t sure which one it was so I put both to keep it light hearted and accessible in my joke comment, but I’m actually a pretty big electro-head myself, having been a raver, hobbyist D&B DJ and producer (trip hop) for like, what, 20 years ;) Thankfully at much slower rhythms for a long time already though, that stuff will kill ya.
But it gets even more fun once you realize that we don’t even really use the same definitions for things here in Europe as you guys do in the US. What I call techno probably isn’t even made there. Like, I don’t mean offence or anything but from my (limited) direct exposure but mostly all I see from online, videos, discussions etc it’s just so different there and doesn’t go nearly as deep/dark/hard as we do here, like everything has that sugar coating while we’re out there in our black hoodies under a damp bridge tearing it up if you know what I mean.
Honestly I feel like what you were explaining there is way better known these days though, like yeah when I was a kid people would just say anything electronic was techno and I’m sure some still do but also feel like it’s way more mainstream now so way more people understand a few different genres at least. I’m also not one to want to get uber-specific with my labels anyway, like I’m more a breakbeat guy myself so I slice it up a bit more there (jungle, jump up, neuro, liquid, technical, intelligent d&b, crossbreed and so on) but with 4 on the floor stuff I’ll pretty much just be aware of like, trance (but not the Tiesto trash I mean the good psytrance shit), what is called “Tekno” in France, the Berlin type stuff like Drumcode label, hardstyle, French core, speedcore etc but like, mildly. Miles away from any of the house style stuff.
These days I’ve softened up a lot and mostly listen to downtempo stuff and just a lot of random different kinds of music, both electronic, acoustic and everything in between.