House Music Royalty

House Music Royalty | Official Soundtrack

To celebrate the relaunch of one of house music’s most significant labels, King Street Sounds, Armada Music and Beatport Films present House Music Royalty: The Story of King Street Sounds.

The film explores the label’s rich history and lasting influence, from humble beginnings in a New York living room all the way to global recognition. Founded by Hisa Ishioka in 1993, King Street Sounds emerged as a transformative force in the global house music scene, rooted in the vibrant underground cultures of NYC and Hisa’s home country of Japan.

This documentary, filmed across New York, London, Manchester and Ibiza and soundtracked by some of the label’s most iconic and influential records from artists such as Kerri Chandler, Dennis Ferrer and Mood II Swing, chronicles the label’s evolution from its foundations in NYC’s underground house music scene, its successes during the pivotal 1990s-2000s through to its future under the guidance of Armada Music.

Featuring rare footage from the final party at the Paradise Garage – the legendary nightclub that gave rise to the soulful house music movement— artist studio sessions, and interviews with leading figures including Barbara Tucker, David Morales, Ultra Naté, Blaze, DJ Spinna, Danny Krivit, Joe Claussell along with contemporary perspectives from Kasango and House Gospel Choir’s Natalie Maddix.

🎧 Check out the full soundtrack here: Beatport

About King Street Sounds

The story of King Street Sounds starts at the Paradise Garage in New York City in 1993, the iconic nightclub that birthed the soulful house music movement. Once home to the late DJ Larry Levan, the Paradise Garage has had a major influence on the career choice and artistic style of house royalty such as David Morales, Louie Vega and Junior Vasquez, and was a keystone for the region’s LGBT culture, particularly for Black and Latin American men. Japanese founder Hisa Ishioka continues to spearhead the label’s output, maintaining King Street Sounds’ position at the forefront of dance culture. Predominantly focusing on its roots in house music whilst also pushing the sonic boundaries of the label to include Afro, Latin, jazz and tech-infused records, King Street Sounds has a global repertoire with a worldwide following. Household names such as Blaze, Barbara Tucker and Ultra Nate released exceedingly successful records such as ‘Most Precious Love’ and ‘Party Girl’ on the label, while house legends Kerri Chandler and Dennis Ferrer signed their seminal albums ‘Trionisphere’ and ‘The World As I See It’ to King Street Sounds. Fast forward to today, King Street Sounds continues to honor the legacy of the past thirty years, weaving its music into the modern ecosystem to educate and entertain new ears and existing fans. Through the continued work of label founder Hisa and a dedicated team of dance music experts, a new wave of talent pumps the beating heart of this legendary label.

The story was first posted on Beatport – © 2024 Beatport LLC & Armada Music B.V. All Rights Reserved.