Kerri Chandler

Though often eclipsed by New York’s storied club scene, New Jersey house and garage have their own proud history, and few artists encapsulate it better than Kerri Chandler. Born in East Orange, NJ, in 1969, Chandler grew up surrounded by records—his father was also a DJ—and began spinning as a young teen; by the late ’80s, he had landed a residency at Newark’s Club Zanzibar, whose disco heritage begat a style of house music steeped in soul and gospel. Chandler’s productions soaked up those influences, balancing lean, pumping grooves with rich chords and moody vocals in signature tracks like 1998’s “Rain”, a deep-house classic. In the 21st century, Chandler’s heavy European touring schedule—including a residency at Ibiza’s famed Circoloco parties—has made him something of an ambassador for New Jersey garage. And his travels have worked their way back into his own music: His 2022 album Spaces and Places was recorded in clubs around the world, channelling the vibe of legendary venues like Berlin’s Watergate and London’s Ministry of Sound into vibrant, varied house tracks that balance worldly influences with an intimate knowledge of their roots.