Mix of the Week Week 40 2026 - Hed Kandi Special - An Introduction to the Sound
Various Hed Kandi & Chicago House DJs
When I went to Ibiza two years on the run at 16 and 17 years old, the first year I went Lola's Theme came out and took over the island, then when I got there at 17 years old, Put 'Em High came out that year and took over the island, and these were released from Hed Kandi, well Put 'Em High definitely was.
Ok my house lovin guys and gals and everyone, I want to introduce you to some music genres I listened to growing up. After the UK was filled with Bassline House (otherwise known as Niche music), 2 Step, UK Garage, Donk, Scouse House, the list goes on, but me personally I listened to Niche, then UK Garage, then Hed Kandi, as they all came in that order over the years. I'm talking late 90s to early 2000s.
Now of course I listened to all genres, as I'm big on hip-hop and even dance music, you name it, if it sounds good I'm gonna listen. But this mix of the week is about Hed Kandi and an introduction to it if you never heard it before.
Hed Kandi (2009) A Taste of Kandi Summer 2009 - Hed Kandi
I'll be honest, I listened to Hed Kandi a lot, as always that chill beach type house vibe, and it had that UK garage sound blended in now and again, and also artists such as MJ Cole dropping on it with the same sub genre of music Hed Kandi welcomes. So the chill type women vocal led tracks which you can put on at the beach bar while lying on a sunbed, sipping on a cocktail, feeling the vibe.
Hed Kandi: Beach House - Hed Kandi
Again the cool laid back sounds of Hed Kandi with that Chicago type house bump in it.
Hed Kandi (2009) The Mix Spring 2009 - Friday Night Mix - Hed Kandi
Damnn homie, this mix starts off with a bang, no catching your breath here, it came to set the vibe right out the gate.
Ok I promised I would show you what Chicago House is, so I will dig into it fast, as one day I may make a new section about it on a mix of the week, so I will briefly cover what it is.
Frankie Knuckles - Your Love - Frankie Knuckles
Ok, I won't get further into this, as I'm trying to keep it brief, so let's see some Chicago House. Here is the biggest Chicago House track EVER, coming right out of that time, the 80s, 1987 to be precise, what a classic. Enjoy, as it still goes hard today, art like this never dies.
If you want to hear the best ever Chicago House mix by a DJ, see pick 3, it's the best set I've seen that deals with house, and I'll explain why in pick 2's notes.
Honey Dijon Boiler Room x Sugar Mountain 2018 DJ Set - Honey Dijon
Ok, if you have pioneers who birthed Chicago House it would be Frankie Knuckles and Larry Heard in the 1980s, but the woman who carries the flag today is Honey Dijon. She is arguably the biggest, most culturally prominent contemporary DJ carrying the torch for the Chicago House genre today.
I'm not going to lie, this is the best Boiler Room set I've seen, and up there with being in the top 7 best, as you crank up the speakers and not only is it a flawless set, all mixed well, but it makes you want to dance even if you don't dance haha. It's a great DJ set tbh and has that 80s Chicago rhythm to it, keeping it alive for close to 5 decades later.
It's amazing to see, with her being a transgender woman, carry the torch and have crazy success, and this specific mix she makes a political statement as a black trans woman from Chicago. She gives everyone a reminder of where house truly comes from.
Have you ever seen a DJ set by Black Coffee? This is my all time favourite.
This is my 1st best ever DJ set, it's done at the oldest colosseum ballroom in France, legendary. Some sets are legendary, and this one is by Honey Dijon, it's a legendary set that will live on forever.
Also she shows you what music should be, a place where no matter your color, religion, sex or political views, you leave all that by the door on the way in and listen to the music, then go collect all that on the way out if you must.
The goal of music should be to unite people, it's been this way since BC (before Christ), so why change its core message and add all negative energy into what music was made for.
Defected Worldwide - Chicago House Music DJ Mix (Deep, Acid, Vocal & Classic House) - Defected Worldwide
Here a Chicago House mix by Defected Records, a massive label in the EDM world.