Throughout the 2010s, Tech House carved out a defining chapter in modern club culture. A sound rooted in groove, swing and sub-heavy basslines, it flourished in the underground even as House music pushed further into the mainstream. From sweat-soaked London basements like Fabric to marathon Ibiza sessions at Sankeys and the hedonistic Mondays of Circoloco, the genre became the pulse of European dance floors. Scarlett O’Malley remembers this time well. 

The DJ, broadcaster, producer and head of the Club Cowgirl record label has advocated for Tech House through her sets for years, taking her to festival takeovers at Glastonbury, Lost Village, We Out Here and more. With a new single, ‘5AM Operator’ out now via the Fabric Selects compilation series, and with a soft spot in her heart, we asked her to give us a rundown of Tech House.

Nathan Coles – Wiggle For 20 Years!

Nathan Coles is one third of Wiggle, a record label and party alongside Terry Francis and Evil Eddie Richards. They’ve been active for over 25 years, pushing out the most imaginative dance music out there. Scarlett takes it back to their 20th anniversary celebration – Wiggle For 20 Years! – where the crew not only had a memorable party but also dropped a compilation album of cuts from their catalogue. This mix is “true UK Tech House for the heads,” according to O’Malley.

Circoloco Ibiza – Circoloco Radio 003: Tania Vulcano 

Circoloco is a party and radio station powered by the venue DC10, a legendary club in the heart of Ibiza. Through the station, you can get your daily fix of all things Tech House. Scarlett points to resident Tania Vulcano’s live set from DC10 in 2018. This is a mix dripping with bounce. Enough four to the floor to make you actually fall on the floor. “I like how deep and heavy she gets,” Scarlett says. “Also, she’s been a Circo resident since I’ve been going there over the last 12 years, no small feat!”

Steve Lawler Live From Warriors at Sankeys In Ibiza 2016 

Steve Lawler is a professional crowd mover. A child of the Acid House generation, he lends that kinetic energy to his iconic sets. He blends House music of all disciplines from around the world. Taking his skills to Ibiza in 2016 – from the now closed Sankeys – Lawler unleashes a euphoric mix of sliding bass and hip-moving drum patterns to coincide with the blazing sun. This mix holds sentimental value for O’Malley. “Steve Lawler’s party happened every single Sunday on the island,” she shares. “I can almost bet I was there in the crowd, as this is when I was working and literally living a stone’s throw away from Sankeys.” 

Electronic Groove – EG.558: Santé B2B Sidney Charles 

Based in Miami, the Electronic Groove podcast has been running for over 1000 editions, featuring exclusive mixes from the premier DJs and musicians of the day. Here, two titans combine as Santé and Sidney Charles go back and forth in a memorable 80-minute session from 2016. What a year. “This is very much my kind of Tech House,” Scarlett says. “Very sub-laden groovy basslines, vocal chops and a lot of swing, which is really nice. A lot of percussion and hats throughout the whole mix. Two of the Tech House greats from this era.”

Jamie Jones Live At Ultra 2015 

Jamie Jones needs no introduction at this point. One of the most recognisable names in all of dance music, he cultivates DJ sets that feel like out of body experiences. You feel every groove, kick and snare right down to your bones. Paying homage to his greatness, Scarlett earmarks his Ultra Music Festival set from 2015 as one not to miss. She puts it very simply: “You can’t talk about Tech House from this era and not include a mix from Jamie Jones in it!” We tend to agree. “This is a perfect atmospheric Tech House mix as you can see hear the crowd alongside the mix which I only think adds to its greatness,” she continues. “Too many groovy basslines in this one!”

Follow Scarlett O’Malley on Mixcloud and Instagram and check out her new single, ‘5AM Operator,’ out now.