What is hard house?

Hard House is a sub-genre of electronic dance music that originated in the early to mid-1990s in the UK. It is characterized by its fast tempo, heavy basslines, and aggressive use of synths and samples.

Hard House originally started as a fusion of house music and techno, but it has since evolved to include elements of trance, acid, and even hardcore. The genre is often associated with its signature 303 acid sound and the use of distorted kick drum samples.

Some of the pioneers of the genre include Tony De Vit, Lisa Lashes, BK, Paul Glazby, and the Tidy Boys. Hard House gained significant popularity in the UK during the late 1990s and early 2000s, with events such as Trade, Storm, and Goodgreef attracting large crowds of dedicated fans.

Despite losing some of its mainstream appeal in recent years, Hard House continues to be popular in underground dance communities and has spawned a number of dedicated labels, events and DJs.