At the end of the disco era, many producers started to create new ways for their audience to continue dancing, leading to the creation of house music. Starting in urban cultural centers like Chicago and New York, house shifted a change in music with its innovation in technology and style - changing favourite genres like pop, hip-hop, and EDM. Atlanta based producer, SE7EN, recently released his album Hous of Divine that honed back to early house and his producing roots. As best described from SE7EN himself, “Early house music contained positive, uplifting messages for all people, from every different walk of life but spoke especially to those who were considered to be outsiders, especially African-Americans, Latinos, and the gay subculture.” SE7EN focused on Hous of Divine showcasing his artistic side with his creative messaging on each Hous of Divine song and its visualizer “Text Me: A Love Story.”

The five track album presents an individual chapter to each song, depicting a love story. Overall, the album highlights the basics of house with its prevalent four on the floor drums and heavy synthesizers. The opening track “Magnetic Love” starts strong with its heavy four on the floor drums providing the symbolism of the heart beat for the album's story. “Magnetic Love” evokes the feeling of curiosity, interest, and adventure as you’re meeting someone new; the piano melody of this track evokes the feeling of falling in love. Immediately you are drawn into the story, especially in his video story “Text Me: A Love Story”, as artist SE7EN showcases a phone number for you to text him - super cool!

The subsequent tracks in Hous of Divine present the riveting storyline with feelings such as love, heartbreak, lust, and the ending track “Forwards” with the feeling of harmony. You can specifically hear pioneer house sounds throughout the album, particularly in the self-titled track “Hous of Divine” with heavy Chicago style synthesizers. I was a personal fan of “Forwards” as this track felt like more of a reprise to the whole story and gave a more modern touch to the house genre too. You can’t go wrong with this album as each track provides the feelings as stated earlier from SE7EN: positive, uplifting; and personally makes you want to dance. Be sure to check out the whole visualizer of “Text Me: A Love Story” and watch the story of Hous of Divine unfold.

A creative, an innovator, and an originator are a few words to describe SE7EN. Hous of Divine is only the beginning for the rising Atlanta producer, as he starts to pave a new path for the house genre. For me, the importance of SE7EN bringing house back to its roots created an original touch to the genre. The rising star can be easily compared to tenured DJs such as Kerri Chandler, JoVonn, and Frankie Knuckles. SE7EN has already started his big year with a major release party in Atlanta showcasing his sound/story to new fans; it would be amazing to see him continue this showcasing in other major house-centric cities.

Be sure to check out SE7EN on all streaming platforms as well all his social media @worldof7_. Please give his album a listen and as well the visualizer its own listen and let me know what you think! My favourite was “Forwards” - share yours with me @jaake_cooper!