Jesse Saunders

This is the sound of a revolution starting in a basement. Jesse Saunders' music is defined by the heavy, insistent thud of the Roland TR-808 and the hypnotic repetition of analog basslines. It carries the warmth of early 1980s synthesizers but strips away the excess of disco to find something leaner, tougher, and more infectious. It feels like the moment a DJ stops just playing records and starts building a new world out of them.

What makes Saunders distinctive is his 'turntable trickery' translated into studio production. He focuses on the 'breaks' - those moments where the melody drops out and only the rhythm remains - and stretches them into entire songs. This creates a sense of perpetual motion, a groove that feels like it could go on forever without ever losing its grip on the room. It is functional music designed for the body, yet it possesses a soulful, human core.

Start with 'On & On' to hear the literal birth of house music on vinyl. It’s a masterclass in how much energy can be squeezed out of a few simple elements. From there, move to 'Funk U Up' to hear how he bridged the gap between the glitz of disco and the gritty, electronic future of the Chicago club scene.