West Coast Swingaz: A Deep House Lovestory

West Coast Swingaz aka Tanel Matsalu from Estonia makes his debut on the label and boy are we glad to have him! Oldschool Deep House with a groove and swing we just love so much. We met him through Brawther's Patreon producer challenge (which just launched a second challenge). Now we asked him what is it about House music that drives him to make these deep and groovy cuts, so here are 10 tracks that shaped the sound of West Coast Swingaz.

I love house music, simple as that. I adore it. I think about it all the time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Sometimes I think it's just too much, but I just can't help it - just like Deee-lite used to sing, "Groove Is In The Heart".
Every artist has his influences and inspiration, and very often you can see the manifestation of an artist's background, journey, and exploration in the world of artistic creation through other artists which have inspired them.
I would like to share 10 of my favorite house tracks from amazingly talented artists which I feel have shaped me as a musical artist, both DJ and producer, throughout the years the most.

1. Kings Of Tomorrow Feat. Julie McKnight - Finally (Original Extended Mix) [Distance, 2001]

I have always said, that "Finally" is probably one of the best, if not truly the very best house song ever created. It has all the good qualities of a great house track: the drums are simple and clean, classic drum machine beats. The bass is deep and addicting. The production is effective, it's minimal with no unnecessary sounds cluttered. The vocals are very deep and meaningful. It doesn't sound mainstream and pop, but has potential to crossover. It fits to an underground house set. There aren't many house songs out there quite just like it!

2. Tyree Cooper Feat. Kool Rock Steady - Turn Up The Bass (Scratch It Up Mix) [D.J. International Records, 1988]

"Tyree Cooper! The producer! Awesome super-dooper-trooper!". A prime example of the fusion between hip hop & house, a track I feel sounds as fresh as it gets, after all these years it has not worn out, a great dancefloor crowd puller.

3. Sound Waves - I Wanna Feel The Music (Smooth Mix) [Strictly Rhythm, 1991]

So many times I almost forget how much I love this track. Then it springs into my mind without a warning. This really is the template for the mid-90s deep house music. Strictly Rhythm is just one the best house labels ever, because they have so much gems in their discography. You can always trust that red brick wall when choosing house records!

4. Physics - The Most Beautiful Boy In Brazil [Deeplay Music, 2002]

One of the most deepest, well crafted, soulful instrumental house tracks of all time, in all its 11 minute glory. The synth leads seem to be inspired by Kool & The Gang's "Summer Madness". Perfect summer season track. That saxophone solo is just so irresistibly luscious.

5. R.I.P. Productions - Deep Inspiration [Ice Cream Records, 1996]

DJ Omar Adimara and Tim Deluxe as R.I.P. Productions are probably one of the greatest house production duos of all time who made the best US influenced 90s house tracks in the UK, which are now highly sought after. I often wonder, is this track the finest UK garage house track ever created? It sure is certainly one of the prime examples from that style.

6. NY's Finest - Do You Feel Me (Club Mix) [Bassline Records, 1993]

Super classic early 90's NY House production by the master Victor Simonelli. A proper house track which still feels so fresh like it was done just yesterday. Considered by some house music enthusiasts as one of the best ever, it never gets old. Sampling the vocals from Zhana's "Sanctuary Of Love" which is an early 90s rave track, but Victor Simonelli's track makes it all sound much deeper and smoother in a deep house key. The bass, melody, and piano riff is also sampled, or possibly replayed from the 1982 Salsoul disco cut "Moment Of My Life" by Inner Life. But it's all put together very classy and fine sounding.

7. House Of Jezebel - Love & Happiness (Vocal Mix) [Rush Hour, 2010]

Let's re-jack the Warehouse! A wonderful Legowelt remake of an original track played by Ron Hardy at the Muzic Box. Ron Hardy took elements from First Choice and Al Green's versions of "Love And Happiness" and layered them over Marshall Jefferson's unreleased track "Destination". Legowelt remade the track faithfully, replicating the unreleased poorly sounding live recording from Ron Hardy, which has now also been released as a bootleg for the strongly devoted collectors of early Chicago house.

8. 2nd Shift Feat. Heather - Something Else [Seasons Recordings, 2000]

Deep driving groove with disco and a jazzy element on drums and a laid back vocal from Chicago's DJ Heather which work so well. I think this song is truly the personification of every single element that defines deep house.

9. Industry Standard - Shine Bright In The Night [Industry Standard, 1997]

An outstanding track, possibly among the most memorable UK deep garage house tracks. It was a rare record for years, but fortunately enough it has been repressed recently by Plastik People. What I like about this track, is that it goes through many changes in the mood and feeling. It never gets boring! One of those tracks you just can't wait to play again.

10. Fibre Foundation - Free Your Mind (NJ Mix) [Big Big Trax, 1995]

Deep as deep can be. Produced by Victor Simonelli and Mac Quayle, supported heavily by Mark Farina when it came out, I consider this track being the perfect intro track to a house music set.