Larry Heard aka Mr. Fingers debuts iconic deep house vibes in South Korea

House music pioneer Larry Heard has a career that spans decades. He’s been accredited with having played a significant role in shaping the genre’s early sound in the 1980s via his tunes that are characterised by a more emotional, atmospheric approach rather than the more intense, mechanical styles of some of his contemporaries.

He made his debut in 1985 with the classic record ‘Mystery of Love’ which he recorded a year before within days of purchasing a Roland synthesizer and TR-909 drum machine.

Under his renowned alias Mr. Fingers, Trax Records released his debut album ‘Amnesia’ in 1989, showcasing to the world his penchant for deep house with its smooth melodies and soulful undertones.

In it his hit ‘Can You Feel It?’, which is considered one of the quintessential house music tracks with its sweet-sounding melodies, emotive synth lines, and iconic spoken word lyrics.

Initially, the album was released without the producer’s permission; in 2022, Heard reissued ‘Amnesia’ via his own label, Alleviated Records.

His latest drop was last year’s ‘Around the Sun Pt. 2’ — a follow-up to the previous year’s ‘Around the Sun Pt. 1’, presenting ten tracks of smooth yet edgy jazz-infused house and brooding electro. It's an album that, though decades after his debut, still remains true to his classic sound.

Read this next: Larry Heard and Robert Owens win rights to back catalogue from Trax Records

Despite changes in the musical landscape, he remains an enduring figure in the electronic music community thanks to his timeless sonic repertoire and innovative approach.

Read this next: Audio Asia: timely re-issue for Larry Heard's classic remixes of Kuniyuki's 'Earth Beats'

The deep house pioneer will present his soulful sound at Seoul’s MODECi on May 4 — a premiere performance in the country.

For more information on the event, follow MODECi on Instagram here.

Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.