Deep house, a subgenre of house music, originates in Chicago’s Warehouse District, where underground DJs would play sets at iconic clubs such as the Warehouse and the Cubby Bear.
Characterized by its slower basslines and sparse beats, deep house has grown over time to become a global phenomenon, beloved by dancers and music enthusiasts alike.
With its professional pride and widespread popularity, deep house continues to be a go-to genre for many music lovers.
In this article, we will share the 14 best deep house DJs that you should know about, so if you’re a fan of this genre, don’t miss out!
Lee Burridge
Lee Burridge is a DJ, producer, and record label owner from New Zealand. He is known for his eclectic DJ sets, which often incorporate multiple genres of electronic music, and the famous “All Day I Dream” label and podcasts.
Burridge has released over 20 albums and singles on labels such as Spinnin’ Records, Armada Music, and OWSLA.
He has a storytelling DJ style and fills the DJ booth with energy and enthusiasm. He is the best for those who like the deeper end of techno and house.
Kevin Yost
Kevin Yost is a DJ and producer from Detroit, Michigan. In the past decade, he has been creating music that blends deep house, tech house, and techno.
He is famous for creating mixes for Richie Hawtin’s ENTER radio show on Sirius XM as well as mixing tracks for other artists such as Mall Grabber or Dan Ghenacia.
Carl Cox and Sven Väth have played these mixes, and these artists have praised Yost’s work by saying “fucking amazing.”
Nicolas Jaar
Nicolas Jaar – Mi Mujer
Nicolas Jaar is a Chilean-American DJ and record producer. He is famous for his work with Darkside, which he formed in 2004 with his longtime collaborator, Daniel Miller (aka DJ Semtex).
In 2017, the pair released their first album Darkside, titled “To Be Everywhere Is to Be Nowhere.”
Nicolas has also released music on labels such as Brownswood Recordings, Clown & Sunset Recordings, and Warp Records.
Dennis Ferrer
Dennis Ferrer is a DJ, producer, and remixer who has been making deep house music for over 20 years. He has an expertly crafted ear for melody, texture, and rhythm.
His releases on labels like Crosstown Rebels, Defected, DFTD, and Desolat have helped define the genre of deep house as we know it today.
Moreover, he is the best for those who like to dance nonstop. His song “Hey-hey” was featured in the top 10 tracklists of the world for a few consecutive months.
Steve Bug
Steve Bug is a German DJ and producer who has been producing deep house music since the early 2000s. He is famous for his techno sound. This sound was defined by a heavy bassline and distorted vocals. Moreover, many other notable artists, such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, and Moby, have remixed his tracks.
Steve Bug released his first track in 2004 under the name “Steinway & Sons.” Since then, he has released over 100 tracks under various aliases such as “Steve Bug,” “The Electric Worker,” or simply “Bug,” many of which have charted for weeks at a time on Beatport.
Nora En Pure
Nora En Pure is a Swiss DJ and producer. She is famous for her progressive house and deep house tracks, which she has released on labels such as Enormous Tunes, Spinnin’ Records, and Ultra Music.
Nora released her debut album “Reach For The Sun” in 2009 to critical acclaim. It included collaborations with Tiësto & Ferry Corsten, among others. In 2011, she released “The Singles Club” EP, featuring some of her most famous singles from previous years, such as “My Dream,” “Love Again,” and “Don’t Give Up.”
If you like the music of Nora, check out more talented female DJs.
Keri Chandler
Keri Chandler is a DJ and producer from Chicago. He is also famous for his deep house music, which he has released on labels like Defected, Cadenza, and Get Physical.
Many artists, like Carl Cox and Richie Hawtin, have played his music. He is one of the chief innovators of the deep house music genre.
Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles was an American DJ and record producer. He helped develop the subgenre of house music, which he called “house.”
He is known as “the godfather of house music” because he was the first DJ to use two turntables. The diagnosis of “Type II diabetes” proved fatal for Frankie Knuckles, who passed away in 2014.
However, his name is alive because of his best contributions to deep house music
Ian Pooley
Ian Pooley is a DJ and producer from London. He started producing in the mid-1990s and is famous for his deep house tracks ever since. He released several albums before moving to Ibiza, where he’s been based since 2010.
Movies and TV shows like Black Mirror and Game of Thrones have also featured his music. Ian is a German artist who mixes different musical genres to create masterpieces.
People admire his work a lot because of his authentic services in the deep house.
Terry Lee Brown Junior
Terry Lee Brown Junior is a British DJ and producer who has become well-known throughout the world for his remixes of songs by artists like Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Britney Spears, and Daft Punk. He has released several albums and singles since starting in the industry as a teenager in 2001.
In addition to his work as a DJ and producer, people have also praised Brown for his skills behind the decks due to his ability to captivate crowds with his infectious energy at live shows, which he does frequently around Europe during breaks from touring with other acts or just because he wants them there.
Eli & Fur
The German DJ duo Eli & Fur have been at the forefront of deep house music for several years, releasing albums on labels like Life and Death, Crosstown Rebels, and Get Physical.
They’re also famous for their energetic live performances that feature a wide range of styles including techno, house, and disco.
Eli & Fur are active on social media where they interact with their fans directly through posts about new tracks or upcoming gigs.
This approach has earned them strong followings within the genre’s community as well as outside it. You can find them hanging out on Reddit threads where fans share links to new songs or posts about their favorite DJs.
Dusky
The producers Ewan Pearson and Nick Harriman make up the British electronic music duo Dusky. The duo’s name is a reference to the track “Dusky” by jazz pianist Bill Evans. They have released three albums, two of which reached the UK Albums Chart: Dusky (2015), We Are Not Alone (2017).
If you also want to become a music producer like Dusky check out the best online music production courses.
Jody Wisternoff
Jody Wisternoff is a British DJ and producer. Most people know him for his work in electronic music, where he has played at festivals and clubs all over the world. His most notable performance is his appearance on BBC Radio 1’s Essential Mix in 2012, which he was invited to do by Annie Mac after playing “Notion” live on air with Ed Sheeran (who had just released “Small Bump”).
Wisternoff also performs with Nick Warren under the alias Way Out West. In addition to this name being used when promoting Anjunabeats releases through regular club appearances. Jody also appears on tracks released by other artists such as Paul van Dyk, Above & Beyond, or Ferry Corsten himself.
Solomun
Solomun is a German DJ and music producer. Since the early 2000s, his music has set the tone for the international house and techno DJ scene. His refined, minimalist sound is made up of simple chords and beats that are often broken up by his vocals. He’s been described as “a sonic architect” who “thinks about every single detail.”
His discography includes collaborations with artists like Nick Hook (with whom he worked on his remix of Erol Alkan’s “Ibiza”), Jamie Lidell (with whom he produced two tracks for her album), James Holden, and Maribelle.
Finding the Best Deep House DJs
Getting some of the best DJ equipment won’t automatically make you a great DJ ready for parties. Here, we can help you find the best deep house DJ for your next event.
- Interest
To ensure that your time and money are well spent, familiarizing yourself with music that piques your interest is essential. Moreover, there are plenty of deep house DJs that mix well according to your and your audience’s tastes. Therefore, find the one that makes you dance even when you don’t want to.
The best way to find out about a DJ is by listening to their music. If you like it, then it means that they have something good in their bag of tricks.
- Audience Requirement
When hiring a DJ for a festival, you should know what kind of audience you expect in the hall or on the ground so that you can hire a DJ who matches the music preferences of your guests and members.
- Ask DJs
You should ask them how they work and listen carefully to their answers (and not just take their word for it).
If a partygoer wants to DJ but doesn’t know how to set up their equipment and the host is unwilling to assist them, the partygoer has no business being there. It’s crucial for their amusement as well as your own.
If a DJ isn’t able to mix well enough or set up properly, no one will want to hear any of the songs on their set list again after hearing them only once.
- Reviews
You can also check out reviews from people who know what they’re talking about and have been around for years.
FAQs
- How to find the best deep house DJs?
If you don’t mind spending money on someone’s skills, then there are websites where you can book them for gigs or even hire them as your assistant (if this sounds like something you would enjoy).
If you’re paying for your bookings online, be sure the website or app you’re using has a comprehensive selection of titles that can be purchased through the service. Payment in full or in part is often required in advance from DJs.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you discover the best deep house DJs on the planet. We know it can be a daunting task, but we are confident that with our suggestions and some good old-fashioned research on your part, you’ll be able to find something that suits your tastes perfectly.