Who else sounds like Larry Heard? In the late 1980s, The Chicago house producer was one of the first artists – initially as a part of Fingers, Inc., and then as a solo act – to truly stamp their own unique aesthetic onto the nascent style of electronic dance music. Favouring lush instrumentation, foggy chords and dreamy melodies over the more mechanic pounding of many of his counterparts, he inspired the "deeper" sounds of the midwest's second wave, and generations of young clubbers elsewhere around the world. 

This In Focus features close to 3 hours of untouchable deep house beauty from Larry Heard - compiled, mixed and edited by [Giles Smith.](https://www.nts.live/shows/giles-smith)

In Focus - Larry Heard

Recorded at La Bellevilloise, Paris for Free Your Funk's "Soul Funk Jazz Disco" event

Danilo Plessow b2b Hugo LX @ La Bellevilloise - 20/01/23

The first thing you might realise during a MUSCLECARS set is the sheer musicality of the duo's selections. Vocals glimmer at the centre, unfolding into enchanting, soulful coos, while drums strike captivating rhythms and gilded synths reach towards the sky. It's a jazzy New York house sound mythologised by pioneers like Joe Claussell, Carlos Sanchez and Timmy Regisford (whose songs all make it to this RA Podcast). For years, New York natives Brandon Weems and Craig Handfield have run their Coloring Lessons party as a way to introduce a younger generation to this vital piece of dance music history. In a city that prides itself on fast walking, fast talking and, as of late, fast BPMs, their music is an invitation to ease into a more relaxing pace.

This RA Podcast comes at a golden time for MUSCLECARS. In May, they released their RA-recommended debut album, Sugar Honey Iced Tea!, whose sultry (and undeniably catchy) lead single "Tonight" has gotten the stamp of approval, and a remix, from New York legend Louie Vega. And this Sunday, they hosted their annual Juneteenth block party outside the Lot Radio, where scores of Black dancers latched onto one another during sets from a multigenerational crew of Black DJs including Ron Trent, Lovie, Shawn Dub and MUSCLECARS themselves. This two-hour-plus mix takes us through the spiralling jazz of Herbie Hancock, the flashy disco of The Originals and lands us, finally, in "Water," the track that also closes out Sugar Honey Iced Tea!.

@musclecarsnyc

Read more at https://ra.co/podcast/941

RA podcast

RA.941 MUSCLECARS

Theo Parrish, Osunlade, Rick Wilhite Feat. Billy Love “Blame It On The Boogie” Still Music
Juxta Position “Mercy” Mistress Recordings
Funkineven “Beat Crash” Apron Records
Kyle Hall “Down” Wild Oats
Delroy Edwards “Love Goes On And On” L.I.E.S.
Omar S “I Just Want” FXHE
Theo Parrish “China Trax” Sound Signature
Unknown Deetroit
K. Hand “Untitled” Acacia Records
Gerald Norton “Gwen Stacy” Sly Fox Records
Rick Wade “The Purveyor of Deep Tones” Harmonie Park



Tape 7 - Side A (SF)

Crown Ruler Mix #35 - Marcellus Pittman b2b DJ JNETT

A meeting of two bonafide black belts for an all out master class. 

Another highlight of Crown Ruler's 25 year celebrations & the final hit out from a crazy summer season - Detroit Jedi, Marcellus Pittman & Naarm's undisputed Queen, DJ JNETT pack all the punches on this very special, extended b2b session.

Recorded live from a bursting Night Cat, feel the sweat off the walls as two old friends & esteemed contemporaries showed out. Travelling through raw uptempo grooves, pulsing deep house, acid explorations and straight hard slapping techno, the two take it everywhere and back again - holding an enthused party in the palm of their hands.

While the sounds of this raucous crowd was not recorded, if you listen closely you can feel the palpable energy as the lightly audible noise of jubilated dancers come through the stylus. Jammed and hot from an hour in and thick til close, this is audio proof of the way two very perceptive DJs can grab hold and take you to higher places.

@marcellus-pittman
@djjnett

Crown Ruler Mix #35 - Marcellus Pittman b2b DJ JNETT

RR x Golden Goose - Danilo Plessow (MCDE) exclusive set

➡️ Discover our full archive and follow the daily broadcast in high quality streaming on www.rocketradiolive.com 🚀

RR x Golden Goose - Danilo Plessow (MCDE) exclusive set

The first half of RA.996 is Ron Trent's take on luxurious house.

As part of our countdown to RA.1000, a milestone in the 24-year history of RA's weekly mix series, we're switching up the usual format. The next few editions will pair two acts who complement each other's strengths, offering a fresh take on a particular community, scene or style. 

This week, we're zeroing in on Ron Trent and Ash Lauryn, two names who fly the flag high for old-school US house—a foundational pillar of the electronic underground. 

Trent takes the A-side. Hailing from Chicago, the birthplace of house, the pioneer is a master of finding the sweet spot where machine music meets organic instrumentation.  Listen to any DJ set or record in his extensive back catalogue and you'll find a wealth of exquisitely expressive melodies and deep, spiritual frequencies, making him the ideal narrator for any survey on house. (If you've only got a moment, sink into "Morning Factory," nine minutes of perfection.) 

Trent's return to the RA Podcast, 19 years after his debut in 2006, represents his many decades of expertise in fusing funk with gorgeous musicianship under the umbrella of heart-stirring house. Some may call it a masterclass but to us, it's just Trent doing what he does best.

Listened to as a whole, RA.996 is a powerful snapshot of house's elegance, class and most importantly, understated yet innately euphoric joy.

Find the interview and tracklist at ra.co/podcast/997

RA.996 Ron Trent

120 minutes of pooled music.  

https://www.instagram.com/ianpooley.ofc
https://soundcloud.com/ianpooley



Ian Pooley @ The Lot Radio 07-21-2025

For RA.1000, we take it back to the source with two never-before-heard tapes from Frankie Knuckles's private collection

There is no house music without Frankie Knuckles, literally or figuratively. The queer icon's luxurious DJ sets at Chicago's Warehouse gave a rising movement its name. From there, countless offshoots splintered and travelled the globe. But what did the genesis and growth of the sound really feel like?

The Godfather of House left behind not only timeless records, but personalised cassettes with hand-drawn liner notes handed out to friends and family. Two of those, dated to 1989 and 1996, have been digitised especially for RA.1000. (Thank you to the Frankie Knuckles Foundation.)

To put that in context: the first tape predates not only many of today's active clubbers, but the entire existence of jungle, drum & bass, UK garage, French touch, Jersey club, Afrobeats, IDM, baile funk, hardcore, footwork, dubstep, dub techno, tech house, breaks, minimal, maximal, gqom, gabber, grime and hyperpop.

In short… that's a very, very long time ago. The world of dance music was much smaller. DJ culture was functionally unrecognisable from the one we see in 2025. 

And yet, to some degree, what you'll hear on RA.1000 hasn't changed at all. It's a capture of not only what made Frankie Knuckles one of the beloved pioneers of first-generation dance music, but what draws people to club culture in the first place.

The mood on these Frankie Knuckles sets outlasts even its creator: a spirit of optimism that floods the world's best dance floors and keeps dance music pulsing on into the future, nearly 40 years later, in spite of it all. We end our 1000th mix celebrations here because it all starts there.

Find the tracklist at ra.co/podcast/1018. Listen to all RA.1000 mixes, as well as the complete history of the RA Podcast, at https://1000.ra.co

RA.1000 Frankie Knuckles

Download: http://soundcloud.com/r_co/theo-parrish-live-palace-st
Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjlG-V1btao

Live-Set von Theo Parrish im Palace, St. Gallen (Schweiz) 30,09,2011 (Mic-Recording!)


"Jazz spawned house music, jazz spawned hip hop, jazz spawned funk and they all reflect back into that," Theo Parrish

Theo Parrish live @ Palace, St. Gallen (CH) 30.09.2011

A Chicago favourite keeps the soul in the hole.

Read more: http://www.residentadvisor.net/podcast-episode.aspx?id=507

@disco-sadar



Tape 7 - Side A (SF)

Cosmic Crates