Rising electronic music collective ‘Porcelain’ joins forces with Chicago dance legend Joe Smooth to celebrate 40 years of House Music.
The History of House Music
House music emerged in the mid-1980s as part of the broader dance music revolution. Originating from Chicago, house music quickly gained traction in the UK, with DJs and clubs embracing its rhythmic, soulful sounds. Pioneers like Frankie Knuckles and Larry Heard influenced UK scenes, where it blended with the acid house movement and became synonymous with rave culture.
One of the genre’s defining moments came in 1987 with the release of Joe Smooth’s “Promised Land.” The track’s uplifting message and deep, soulful sound captured the hearts of dance music enthusiasts, becoming an anthem for the burgeoning house scene.
The UK embraced house music with open arms, as it fitted perfectly with the country’s clubbing culture, particularly in cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham. Over time, house music evolved, giving birth to various subgenres, but “Promised Land” remains a milestone in its development within the UK.
Joe Smooth x Porcelain – Still Loving You
40 years on from the birth of House Music, one of its founding fathers is back, but this time in collaboration with emerging, music collective Porcelain.
The journey to this collaboration began as the Pandemic was raging and the world was holding its breath.
London electronic music collective Porcelain launched with a mysterious social post where androgynous dolls replaced faces in a clear challenge to the celebrity culture obsession. After more cryptic messages and over half a million views, Porcelain dropped their first single, “Hollow”, which caught the attention of Tomorrowland, who played an exclusive Locked Groove Remix of the track on their Core One World Radio Show.
Porcelain’s commitment to visually captivating, social content quickly attracted the attention of the taste-making music blogosphere who praised their Part I and Part II EPs and led Porcelain to be discovered by two of the original and most enduring musical influencers; Chicago’s legendary godfather of House Music, DJ and producer Joe Smooth and rock legend Mick Fleetwood who described Porcelain’s music as “soul music from outer space.”
Known for his futuristic beats, Joe Smooth felt an immediate connection to Porcelain’s sound. Drawing from his work with electronic acts like Art of Noise and the avant-garde Max Headroom aesthetic, he reached out to Porcelain to explore how they could merge his iconic house music style with their cinematic melodies.
After hearing Porcelain’s early sketches, Joe was so impressed that he flew to London to record vocals in their studio. The result is ‘Still Loving You,’ a track that perfectly captures their shared artistic vision.
“At a time when the World feels increasingly full of hate, Still Loving You provides a much-needed, collective hug.”
It seamlessly blends classic house with modern grooves, offering a timeless energy that will resonate with both long-time house fans and new listeners alike.”
