Tropical House vs Deep House
By Alan More
Deep house took shape in Chicago in the 1980s as a jazz-influenced, soulful strain of house.[5][6][8] Tropical house grew out of deep house in the 2010s, adding steel drums and pan flutes.[1][2][3][4]
| Tropical House | Deep House | |
|---|---|---|
| Era | Became a trend in the 2010s, led by producers such as Kygo and Thomas Jack.[1][2][3] | Took shape in Chicago in the 1980s, with Larry Heard as a key early producer.[5][6][7] |
| Sound | Steel drums and pan flutes, often synthesized.[2][4] | Jazz-influenced and soulful.[5][7][8] |
| Tempo | Slow for dance music, often around 100 BPM.[1][2][4] |
Sources
- [1] Wikipedia: Tropical house (accessed 2026-10-27)
- [2] Vice: How Kygo's Instagram House Became the Soundtrack to Millennial Daydreams (accessed 2026-10-27)
- [3] LA Weekly: Tropical House Is Hot Now, But Will It Last? (accessed 2026-10-27)
- [4] NPR: Digital Pan Flutes And Marvin Gaye: The Blissed-Out Rise Of Kygo (accessed 2026-10-27)
- [5] Wikipedia: Deep house (accessed 2026-10-27)
- [6] Red Bull Music Academy: Larry Heard lecture (accessed 2026-10-27)
- [7] Beatportal: Beatport's Definitive History of House Music (accessed 2026-10-27)
- [8] WDET: Five Deep House Tracks (accessed 2026-10-27)
Frequently asked questions
Is tropical house a type of deep house?
It grew out of it. Tropical house is described as a derivation of deep house, with a sunnier, holiday feel and steel drums and pan flutes on top.
Who made tropical house popular?
Kygo is the name most tied to it, alongside producers such as Thomas Jack, Robin Schulz and Klingande.
Where did deep house come from?
Chicago in the 1980s, where producers such as Larry Heard brought jazz and soul into house music.
How fast is tropical house?
Slow for dance music: tracks often sit somewhere around 100 BPM.