Best House Music Artists 2024: Upcoming Talents and House Legends

Published 12am, 27 May 2024

The who's who of House Music 2024

Welcome to our exploration of the Best House Music Artists, the creators behind the tunes that have made house music the driving force in EDM over four decades.

We’re going to be sharing who we think are 10 of the best house music artists of all time, from groundbreaking legends through to the most up and coming producers working right now. We’ll run down the artists who have shaped the past, present and future of house music as we know it.

Introduction: a journey through the world of house music

There’s no doubt that house music has been front and center of the EDM scene since its earliest days in the 1980s.

From its underground roots to the influence on massive pop stars, some of the most popular house music EDM artists have been at the forefront of many major developments of popular music.

Whether it’s solo artists like Marshall Jefferson defining the genre, or house music bands like Daft Punk crossing over into the stadium arena, house music is here to stay.

But before we jump into our list of the best house music artists, let’s go back to where it all began.

The roots of house music: where it all started

The roots of house music trace back to the early 1980s, emerging from the underground clubs of Chicago. It was here that popular house music artists like Frankie Knuckles, often referred to as the “Godfather of House Music,” alongside Marshall Jefferson, Larry Heard (Mr. Fingers), and Farley “Jackmaster” Funk, began laying the foundations of what would become a global phenomenon.

These pioneers are celebrated as some of the biggest house music artists of all time. Their work in blending genres, experimenting with synthesizers, and utilizing vocal samples in innovative ways created the sounds that defined the early days of house music.

Their groundbreaking work set the stage for countless innovations, influencing generations and establishing house music as a pivotal force in the music industry.

Before we dive into our top ten, and look at who are the most popular house music EDM artists over the years, let us pause a second to remind you that we have hundreds of house music tutorials on our site looking at many of the most popular house music subgenres, hosted by some of the greatest producers working in music today.

Check them them out, and get your own house bangers under way!

Our top-10 of the best house music artists

We could debate this all day, but here are 10 of the most famous house music artists that we believe changed the game, bringing their own special sauce to the mix, whether it be some of the pioneers of the sound, or current young guns who are looking back as much as they look forward, mashing up genres and taking house music to new levels and the next generation.

Frankie Knuckles

The undisputed “Godfather of House” and one of the most famous house music artists of all time. Frankie was even responsible for coining the name “house music” as the name came from an abbreviation of “Warehouse” which is the name of the club that Frankie first started DJing.

People started hounding the local record store for tracks that Franie played in The Warehouse, so they created a section in the store for ‘House Music and a gene was born right there!

Masters at Work

Hailing from New York City and comprised of DJs and producers “Little” Louie Vega and Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez, MAW are towering figures among the top house artists in the music world.

Renowned for their innovative blending of genres—from house to hip-hop, funk to soul—they have significantly influenced not just the landscape of dance music, but popular music itself.

Their genre busting releases under such names as Kenlou and nu Yorican Soul, has led to them collaborating with legends of the music world, and being revered for pushing the boundaries of house music with every track and remix.

Daft Punk

Pioneers of the “French Touch” scene that came out of France in the late 1990s, Daft Punk when from two kids met in a punk rock band, but loved playing around with samplers and drum machines, to being arguably the biggest house music act of all time, with their multi million album sales and huge sell out stadium and festival shows.

Instant classics like Da Funk, One More Time and Get Lucky, have become beloved beyond the house music fan base, and into the general consciousness.

One of Daft Punk’s signature sounds is their vocoder vocals, Matt from King Unique created a tutorial for us showing you how the robots create this classic effect.

DJ Sneak

DJ Sneak, a Puerto Rican-born DJ and producer, has firmly established himself as one of the top house artists with his infectious blend of Chicago house and funky disco influences. Known for his raw, upbeat tracks and pioneering ‘jacking’ groove, Sneak has been a major influence on the house music scene since the 90s.

His disco samping tracks like “You Can’t Hide From Your Bud’’ set the standard for house music sampling that has continued to this day. Anytime you hear a house track that samples a loop from an old disco tune, you can trace its lineage back to DJ Sneak.

Armand Van Helden

Armand Van Helden, an American DJ and producer, is a seminal figure among the most famous house music artists, known for his innovative use of sampling and role in defining many house sub genres like speed garage and disco house.

With classic hits like “You Don’t Know Me” and “My My My,” Van Helden has a knack for making tracks that blend elements of house, funk, and soul, and has produced massive club hits and remixes across five decades, from early bangers on legendary label Strictly Rhythm right up to his Duck Sauce collaboration with turntablist A-Track.

Eric Prydz

Eric Prydz, a Swedish DJ and producer, has created a unique space for himself among the top house artists in the world with his distinct sound that draws as much from house as it does from tech house and progressive.

Known for massive hits like “Call on Me” and “Pjanoo,” Prydz has a knack for creating tracks that break free from the dancefloor to land at the top of the pop charts. His innovative use of visuals in live performances has also set new standards within the industry, and seen him headline festivals around the world.

Prydz is easily one of the best house music EDM artists working in the 21st century.

Swedish House Mafia

Swedish House Mafia, a trio consisting of Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso, are are one of the most beloved house music bands due to their huge impact on the electronic music scene.

Their anthemic tracks, such as “Don’t You Worry Child” and “Save the World,” have not only dominated international charts but also defined a generation of house music and arguably created EDM as we know it today.

Their unforgettable performances at some of the world’s biggest festivals and collaborations with some of the biggest artists around, bookmarked their place in house music history.

You can check out Sonic’s own Phil Johnston’s breakdown of Swedish House Mafia’s One riff - it’s an oldie, but its a goodie!

Deadmau5

Deadmau5, the stage name of Joel Zimmerman, is one of the key figure among top house artists of the 21st century., due to his groundbreaking contributions to progressive and electro house music.

With his iconic mouse helmet and impeccable productions, Deadmau5 is beloved by music fans and fellow producers alike. Tracks like “Strobe” and “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff” showcase his talent for creating complex tracks that stretch the boundaries of house music, making him a beloved icon in the electronic music scene.

If you want to make music like one of the top house artists of all time? Then check out some of the amazing house music tutorials on our site. One of our regular tutors is producer Dom Kane, who was approached by Deadmau5 himself to supply a remix for his Caritas track.

Fisher

Bringing things right up to date, we have Fisher, an Australian DJ and producer, who has quickly risen to prominence among the biggest house music artists with his distinctive tech-house sound.

Bangers like “Losing It” and “You Little Beauty” have become anthems in clubs and festivals worldwide, showcasing his ability to blend catchy hooks with massive chunky beats.

FISHER’s energetic DJ sets and charismatic presence have made him a standout in the field of current DJs and producers, where your Insta profile can be just as important as your Beatport page!

If you want to learn how to make music like Fisher, check out this amazing course from ace producer Haterade.

Peggy Gou

Peggy Gou, hailing from South Korea, is currently one of the most famous house music artists with her eclectic mix of house, disco, and techno. Her tracks, such as “Starry Night” and “It Goes Like,” showcase a unique blend of infectious melodies and rhythms that have been killing it on dance floors around the world.

The fact that Peggy is one of the most globally in demand DJs right now!

Want to get the inside track on how an amazing house music artist like Peggy Gou makes her tracks? Check out the first class tutorials from our expert tutor P-Lask.

Conclusion

So there we are, our choices for the best house music artists across the decades from out and out legends, right up to some of the freshest artists pushing the boundaries of house music right now.

There’s no doubt that the legacy of these house music artists will continue to inspire future generations of producers around the world.

If you want to start making your own house music, and possibly ending up on a list like this yourself one day, then make sure to get on our amazing selection of incredible house music courses available on our site right now.

You can also grab our brand new House DNA sample pack, to kick start your own tracks!