Dee Diggs in The Lab NYC
Dee Diggs' set in The Lab NYC is a welcome reminder that house music, at its core, is about joy, soul, and the kind of basslines that make you shuffle without thinking. It's the soundtrack to a proper, sweat-drenched party where genre pedantry is left at the door. The vibe is raw and energetic, with a sound system doing justice to classic drum machines and disco samples.
This is a dynamic journey through house, disco, and classic garage, with a BPM average of 131 and a key structure leaning heavily on 12A and 3B for harmonic cohesion. Diggs masterfully modulates energy, weaving between deep, jacking grooves and explosive, piano-led peaks, using quick cuts and long blends to keep the floor on its toes. The technical prowess lies in the balance—the low-end is funky and driving, the mid-range packed with vocal hooks and melodic stabs, creating a set that's both physically engaging and emotionally resonant.
For the crate diggers, this is gold: opening with The 5th Dimension's 'Dimension 5Ive' is a bold, soulful statement, while Kerri Chandler's 'Useless' is a timeless, deep house essential. Paperclip People's 'Throw' in Slam's RTM remix is a relentless, percussive weapon, and the inclusion of X-Press 2's 'Say What!' adds a shot of classic UK house energy. The journey kicks off with that lush, remastered soul, builds to a peak with the anthemic 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)', and sends us home buzzing with that classic house uplift.