The Sound of Brooklyn: A Chat with Todd Terry

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DJ Sneak

Meet Todd Terry, the Grammy Award-nominated DJ/Producer who has been a driving force in the world of dance music since the late '80s. Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Todd Terry's journey into the world of electronic music began when he started listening to European dance records. This sparked his passion for turntables and a relentless pursuit of a unique sound.

Missing - Todd Terry Remix

In 1988, Todd Terry's music made waves in England and Europe, quickly gaining recognition and influence. He became known for his groundbreaking tracks like "A Day In The Life," "Weekend," and "Can You Party," released under various monikers like the Todd Terry Project, House Of Gypsies, and Royal House. These tracks are considered essential classics in the world of dance music.

Todd's impact extended beyond the dance floor as he ventured into remixing and producing. His remixes for artists such as SNAP, Annie Lennox, George Michael, and Bjork bridged the gap between club culture and commercial success. One of his most notable remixes was for Everything But The Girl's "Missing," which became a global hit.

This Is The Sound

In 1995, Todd Terry reached new heights with the anthem "Keep On Jumpin'," featuring powerhouse vocalists Martha Wash and Jocelyn Brown. This track became a top 10 UK crossover pop hit and a worldwide sensation. He continued to deliver chart-topping remixes for artists like Garbage, The Cardigans, and Jamiroquai.

Todd's musical journey evolved with the release of "The Todd Terry Trilogy: Past, Present & Future" in 2005, which showcased his classic hits and new tracks. He maintained his creative momentum with singles on Blanco y Negro, Elementary Group, and Manifesto/Mercury.

Todd's influence in dance music remains strong, with his classics like "Can You Party" being re-released by Ministry of Sound, and a collaboration with Kenny Dope, DJ Sneak, Terry Hunter, and Tara McDonald on "Get Down." His mix for "Strictly Todd Terry" on Strictly Rhythm continues to capture the essence of house music.

Baby Can You Reach (Roog & Dennis Quin Tribute to the Maestro Mix)

With nearly two decades of dance floor domination, Todd Terry stands as a celebrated figure in dance music. His dedication to the craft and ability to blend the underground with commercial success has solidified his place in the history of electronic music. Join the congregation of house music and become a believer in Todd the God.

Todd Terry

house

pop dance

United Kingdom

Eliza Rose

uk dance

Hannah Wants

uk house

Melé

tech house

uk tech house

Darius Syrossian

Dunmore Brothers

South Africa

south african house

Fka Mash

Spain

Ushuaïa Ibiza

Defected Week 20

Defected

Heidi Lawden

John Morales

chicago house

classic house

deep house

latin house

Louie Vega

chill lounge

deep chill

DJ Pippi

Katie Goodman

Hï Ibiza

Glitterbox Week 8

Glitterbox

soulful house

Kenny Dope

sicoli

Superior Ingredients Roof

Todd Terry x Kenny Dope [6 Hour Set]

Melvo Baptiste

Natasha Diggs

float house

techno

Floorplan

Jamie 3:26

disco house

Dave Lee

Glitterbox Week 11

Sunset Sessions: Todd Terry / Special Guest & More

Netherlands

deep groove house

Ferreck Dawn

Luna Mar

Malcolm Zeller

Ferreck Dawn x Todd Terry & Guests

Rika B

Honey Bun

Australia

australian electropop

indietronica

Rüfüs Du Sol

Germany

german dance

LOVRA

Italy

Riva Starr

melodic house

Eelke Kleijn

Route 94

afro house

organic house

melodic techno

Komashov

garage house

Larry Levan

S.A.M

When Todd Terry speaks, his words carry the weight of over three decades of dance music history. The Brooklyn-born artist stepped into house music in 1988 with “Party People.” His chopped and screwed version of Marshall Jefferson’s eponymous 1986 “Move Your Body” married Chicago house and hip-hop. It didn’t initially go down well with the Chicago heads he inadvertently sampled. But it established Terry as an innovative force in dance music. And it was an early example of Terry’s innate understanding of what moves a dance floor.

Terry was already an experienced producer. He was heavy into hip-hop and had already piqued the interest of Profile Records, the early home of Run-D.M.C. Unable to raise funds for studio time, he let things fizzle. His feet stayed planted in broken beats as he switched focus to the work of breakbeat innovators John Robbie and Arthur Baker.

That is, until one day when a friend showed up at his house with a tape of Chicago house beats from Marshall Jefferson, Kevin Saunderson, and Juan Atkins. Terry admits that he thought it sounded repetitive. But after watching his friend jump around the living room with excitement insisting that Todd make some house music, he decided to give it a go.

Greatest Hits

“I didn't know what I was doing. I did it as a joke," Terry says as he recalls his entry into dance music. "You know, it worked.”

His background in broken beats and hip-hop helped him break the cycle of repetition. His records moved through motifs, popping and stuttering with the energy of a dance battle. “Party People” and “Can You Party” were quickly picked up and rose to the top 100 dance charts in the UK.

It’s not hard to measure the impact Todd Terry had on the history of house music. He is to New York what the Belleville Three are to Detroit. He’s one of the architects of New York house music. He influenced so many of the pivotal artists at the time, including Kenny Dope and Louie Vega, whose Masters At Work name first belonged to Terry. 

In 1988 house music was in its infancy. By the end of the year, Terry gave the genre one of its first commercial success stories. He produced "I'll House You" for The Jungle Brothers. The single shot up to number 16 in Billboard's "Hot Rap Singles" chart and 28 in its "Hot Dance Music" chart. It was the first time a non-Chicago house record had broken through the mainstream.  

I'll House You

There’s a raw and unfiltered element to Terry’s work from that era. It’s something about which he remains intentional. While many producers insist that every element must be perfect, Terry feels that overproducing a record removes its soul.

“I leave the mistakes. Yeah, leave the noise. Leave the drum roll fucked up,” he explains. He likes to keep things simple, it's the most effective way to get the dance floor jackin'. 

And he tries to make other producers understand how keeping it a little bit dirty makes a more compelling record. 

“I'm like, yo, what are you doing? The shit is done. Why are you adding 17 synthesizers on so you can't get the snare drums to sound a certain way? Now this shit sounds like nothing. No attitude."

Terry has contributed to every era of dance music’s evolution. He's been one of its most vocal champions and helped give it a voice in the mainstream. So, I assume that he'd be overjoyed to witness house music's growing popularity in the US in a post-EDM world. And while he's grateful for the journey he states simply, "It's good. Not there yet.”

He insists that dance music needs true commercial hits that expose the wide expanse of sounds that exist. “We need a Robin S. We need a Crystal Waters. We need a Snap! - ‘The Power.' We need something that helps us a little bit here, makes us come to the dance floor. We need to get something out there to mix it up a little bit.”

He references these artists not to look back, but to explain the magnitude of those records as game-changers. Terry believes that commercial radio needs to pay respect to dance music properly. 

Insanity

"Break some new records. Stop catering to the same piano sound all the time. We got enough piano records. Okay, you guys found the piano in the last three years. Good job. There's other shit.

His advice is as much a call to action to A&R as it is to producers who insist on following trends. His honesty only further confirms how much he cares.

But then again, he posits, “Maybe it's not supposed to be on the radio like that.”

When he first entered dance music in the '80s, he realized it had the power to make an impact. He watched as dancefloors all over the world erupted in joy when he played certain records. It’s a feeling with which we’re all familiar. Yet, for some reason, the true sound is surprisingly absent from commercial radio. 

Terry made it possible for mainstream audiences to understand the true power of dance music. He made house records accessible to everyone and stayed true to the underground.

He’s a champion of the culture through and through. And as our conversation draws to a close he tells me, “I'm still here. I just fight every day, trying to prove my point that dance records are just as powerful as a hip-hop record.”

When Todd Terry speaks, his words carry the weight of over three decades of dance music history. The Brooklyn-born artist stepped into house music in 1988 with “Party People.” His chopped and screwed version of Marshall Jefferson’s eponymous 1986 “Move Your Body” married Chicago house and hip-hop. It didn’t initially go down well with the Chicago heads he inadvertently sampled. But it established Terry as an innovative force in dance music. And it was an early example of Terry’s innate understanding of what moves a dance floor.

Terry was already an experienced producer. He was heavy into hip-hop and had already piqued the interest of Profile Records, the early home of Run-D.M.C. Unable to raise funds for studio time, he let things fizzle. His feet stayed planted in broken beats as he switched focus to the work of breakbeat innovators John Robbie and Arthur Baker.

That is, until one day when a friend showed up at his house with a tape of Chicago house beats from Marshall Jefferson, Kevin Saunderson, and Juan Atkins. Terry admits that he thought it sounded repetitive. But after watching his friend jump around the living room with excitement insisting that Todd make some house music, he decided to give it a go.

“I didn't know what I was doing. I did it as a joke," Terry says as he recalls his entry into dance music. "You know, it worked.”

His background in broken beats and hip-hop helped him break the cycle of repetition. His records moved through motifs, popping and stuttering with the energy of a dance battle. “Party People” and “Can You Party” were quickly picked up and rose to the top 100 dance charts in the UK.

It’s not hard to measure the impact Todd Terry had on the history of house music. He is to New York what the Belleville Three are to Detroit. He’s one of the architects of New York house music. He influenced so many of the pivotal artists at the time, including Kenny Dope and Louie Vega, whose Masters At Work name first belonged to Terry. 

In 1988 house music was in its infancy. By the end of the year, Terry gave the genre one of its first commercial success stories. He produced "I'll House You" for The Jungle Brothers. The single shot up to number 16 in Billboard's "Hot Rap Singles" chart and 28 in its "Hot Dance Music" chart. It was the first time a non-Chicago house record had broken through the mainstream.  

There’s a raw and unfiltered element to Terry’s work from that era. It’s something about which he remains intentional. While many producers insist that every element must be perfect, Terry feels that overproducing a record removes its soul.

“I leave the mistakes. Yeah, leave the noise. Leave the drum roll fucked up,” he explains. He likes to keep things simple, it's the most effective way to get the dance floor jackin'. 

And he tries to make other producers understand how keeping it a little bit dirty makes a more compelling record. 

“I'm like, yo, what are you doing? The shit is done. Why are you adding 17 synthesizers on so you can't get the snare drums to sound a certain way? Now this shit sounds like nothing. No attitude."

Terry has contributed to every era of dance music’s evolution. He's been one of its most vocal champions and helped give it a voice in the mainstream. So, I assume that he'd be overjoyed to witness house music's growing popularity in the US in a post-EDM world. And while he's grateful for the journey he states simply, "It's good. Not there yet.”

He insists that dance music needs true commercial hits that expose the wide expanse of sounds that exist. “We need a Robin S. We need a Crystal Waters. We need a Snap! - ‘The Power.' We need something that helps us a little bit here, makes us come to the dance floor. We need to get something out there to mix it up a little bit.”

He references these artists not to look back, but to explain the magnitude of those records as game-changers. Terry believes that commercial radio needs to pay respect to dance music properly. 

"Break some new records. Stop catering to the same piano sound all the time. We got enough piano records. Okay, you guys found the piano in the last three years. Good job. There's other shit.

His advice is as much a call to action to A&R as it is to producers who insist on following trends. His honesty only further confirms how much he cares.

But then again, he posits, “Maybe it's not supposed to be on the radio like that.”

When he first entered dance music in the '80s, he realized it had the power to make an impact. He watched as dancefloors all over the world erupted in joy when he played certain records. It’s a feeling with which we’re all familiar. Yet, for some reason, the true sound is surprisingly absent from commercial radio. 

Terry made it possible for mainstream audiences to understand the true power of dance music. He made house records accessible to everyone and stayed true to the underground.

He’s a champion of the culture through and through. And as our conversation draws to a close he tells me, “I'm still here. I just fight every day, trying to prove my point that dance records are just as powerful as a hip-hop record.”

Todd Terry

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