The decade-spanning career of Roy Davis Jr. is intrinsically intertwined with the history of house music. As one of the defining voices of Chicago's underground, he's worked both behind the decks and behind-the-scenes. From handling Strictly Rhythm's A&R sector in the '90s to joining seminal production crew Phuture to launching his own Undaground Therapy Muzik label, Davis Jr. isn't just a veteran but a compendium of dance music knowledge. Daft Punk cites him as an influence while the likes of Disclosure, Zed Bias and Waajeed have sought him out for collaborations.

He may be best known for his 1998 single Gabriel with Peven Everett—now a garage anthem on both sides of the Atlantic—but his discography and DJ sets go well beyond club hits. Weaving in soul, gospel, disco, techno and acid into a deep house framework, he marries raw funk, plush melodies, hypnotic synths and stripped-down arrangements. All these elements are beautifully captured on his RA Podcast. Moving from a state of eyes-closed bliss to body-moving grooves, the near two-hour session is as grounding as it is free-floating. Spiritual, sensual and tightly mixed, it's a lesson in multifaceted house music.

RA podcast

RA.830 Roy Davis Jr

3 Chairs @ DEMF 5/28/07

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

6 Hour B2B from joyful Sunday evening at Le Sucre in Lyon. many thanks to all the venue crew and everyone who came down to dance with us. Photo: William Chareyre.

Mr. Scruff B2B Danilo Plessow at Le Sucre, Lyon (November 2024)

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

VU Selects - House Music July '25

Banging In Belgium

Buy on Bandcamp

Rio Dela Duna - La Divina (Kazamayé)

Motor City Drum Ensemble shows his love for Detroit and Chicago on this week's RA podcast with a mix of smooth house and disco.

RA.132 Motor City Drum Ensemble

Download the set here: 
https://corenews.me/andrew-weatherall-essential-mix-2020-02-22/
Tracklist over here:
https://tracklists.thomaslaupstad.com/andrew-weatherall-essential-mix-2020-02-22-tracklist-playlist/

Andrew Weatherall - Essential Mix 2020-02-22

Five hours of funk and soul recorded live in Hackney.

Read more: https://www.residentadvisor.net/podcast-episode.aspx?id=759

@andrew-ashong

RA.830 Roy Davis Jr

Resident Advisor