On July 17, 2023, it was sadly announced on DJ Deeon‘s facebook page that he had passed. The artist, label owner, and “ghetto house” music pioneer is cherished by many. Although he was credited for being a pillar of the 90’s house music scene, his impact on modern dance music is undeniable with such collaborations with artists such as Wehbba, Hi-Lo, and more. With the passing of this titan, here are just a handful of many tributes paid to DJ Deeon.
RE/FORM Festival has announced its Phase 1 lineup for Spring 2022 on April 2nd, expanding to 5 rooms of Techno, House and Experimental.
Time are tough, and they’re tough for many of us. The Coronavirus pandemic has ground the entertainment industry to a halt, throwing a massive wrench on the earning plans and livelihood of most electronic music artists throughout the world, including DJ Deeon. Being unable to earn is an issue a lot of industry professionals are facing, yet the unfortunate truth is that for some these tough months are coupled with health complications resulting in increased economic burden, and that’s exactly the problem DJ Deeon has asked help with.
DJ Deeon is a revolutionary Chicago DJ and producer whose initial musical work came to be known world-over as Ghetto House, his story and musical work is now indistinguishable from that rich tapestry that is Americaâs contemporary cultural history.
Music is a form of expression that conveys emotions and messages. It tells love stories and heartaches. Music has also been a means to disrupt the status quo and expand consciousness. Going against the current isn’t always the easiest or safest because it can single you out. Stepping away from what’s expected and doing things differently involves risk, and not everyone is willing to place their bets. However, for the DJ duo, Black Girl/White Girl (BG/WG) being differentâboth in their personal and artistic livesâhas given them freedom.
Wehbba has just dropped an inspiring five-track EP on Drumcode titled We Have Bass, the lead track being a collaboration with ghetto house icon DJ Deeon.
A true master craftsman in the studio, his first contribution for 2019 is typically impressive. A huge inspiration to Wehbba since his nascent raver days, ghetto tech icon DJ Deeon contributes a fierce vocal to âWe Have Bassâ, after a serendipitous hook up in SĂŁo Paulo. A peak career moment collaborating with one of his original heroes and the artist responsible for the classic âFreak Like Meâ, the resulting percussive-heavy cut kicks like a rodeo bull. âThird Waveâ is coffee geek Wehbbaâs homage to his favourite brew, constructing the production to mirror the experience of a caffeine fix, as a loopy trance-inducing groove leads to powerful synth stabs that are heavy on impact. âSteamrollerâ is a stripped back slice of techno driven by the Brazilianâs Korg MS-20 and found form after it initially begun as a studio jam inspired by Richie Hawtinâs âMinus Orangeâ.
A Jean-Michel Jarre fan stretching back to his childhood, âAnother Mistakeâ was conceived after Wehbba saw the French legend in concert last year and was subsequently able to meet him backstage through a mutual friend. While creating the track, the producer imagined Jarre playing the main layers of the hook on his famous Laser-harp, eliciting an almost celestial quality with the melody. This is a stirring slice of techno fit for stadiums. The EP ends with âPurgeâ, the artistâs stream-of-consciousness expression recorded in one-take and a beautiful beat-less way to conclude the work.
To coincide with the release 6AM got a behind-the-scenes insight into how the studio session went down, plus half a dozen DJ Deeon classics to dive into for the uninitiated.
