COLUMBUS, Ohio — DJ Whitney Taylor Ray is from a small town in Ohio, but music has inspired her to travel the world.
What You Need To Know
- House music started after disco
- DJs and producers from the East Coast and Midwest, started the upbeat genre
- Popular artists, like Beyonce and Drake, recently created tracks with House beats
- There are various subgenres of house music
She has performed everywhere from the Caribbean to Qatar, and Dance and House music are the focal point in every set.
“I like to move in my sets and I like to actually have fun and enjoy what I’m listening to so I’m looking for the best dance tracks,” said Ray. “No matter the country or the genre I want the best dance tracks.”
House started post disco, with DJs like Larry Levan of New York and Frankie Knuckles of Chicago. Both took the upbeat tempos and made tracks with mainstream artists like Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson. Now mainstream artists like Beyonce are dropping tracks with classic house beats, which Ray said is an example of Black artists returning to their roots.
“Too often we don’t see ourselves represented in mainstream music when we were the originators, so I’m just so excited that Beyonce got a mainstream dance record,” said Ray.
She almost always incorporates house music in her sets, but she said it’s important to read the audience to see what kind of house will help set the mood.
“House is like the main thing, like a house and then you have rooms and the rooms each have different vibes,” said Ray. “So am I going to start off with a down tempo house, big room house, or am I just going to do some loungy stuff? It’s just all about the vibe you want to create.”
Ray’s sets aren’t just about the tracks either. She likes to build on the beats, incorporating ad libs and live drums. For a set at a rooftop she uses a more up tempo, party vibe, causing music lovers like Cherece Harris to dance and move.
“I just love music, and it’s like house has this nice happy feel and it makes you want to move, makes you want to smile, makes you want to dance,” said Harris.
Beyonce isn’t the only one dropping house tracks. Popular artist, Drake, recently dropped an entire album filled with dance and house beats.
Ray said artists are being intentional about the music they’re putting out, hoping it will make people forget about the stress of everyday life and just feel good.
“Coming out of the pandemic, people just want to feel uplifted and House is doing that, so I’m just super excited,” said Ray. “We’re back mainstream and it’s only up from here.”
Last month, President Joe Biden proclaimed June as Black Music Appreciation Month, urging public officials and educators to honor Black music and Black musicians.
