Chip E
"SUBPAC means I don’t have to compromise when I’m making music late at night, or wherever I travel, and behind the decks, the bass moves with me"
This artistic workout has kept Chip E, born Irwin Larry Eberhart II, in the vanguard of futuristic electronic music for as long as it has existed. Born and raised in Chicago, he is one of the originators of its legendary house music scene. (The term “jacking” originated from one of his early records, the evergreen floor-filler ‘Time To Jack’.)
His devotion to dance music began as a teenager. “In high school, DJing was one way to get into parties for free,” he chuckles. “It didn’t save me any money though, because I wanted to control the sound.” Chip E chased obscure records to ensure his sets stood out in a scene where DJs competed to “play the music made tomorrow.” He got a job at a record shop that sourced rare imports, and saved his allowance to buy studio equipment. Soon, he was making his own rhythm tracks, then full records.
Chip E quickly developed a signature style: he always starts with drums. “If the beat ain’t there, you gotta send everyone home,” he says, quoting James Brown. Once he lays a four-four foundation, he builds the structure with a driving bassline. From there, he follows the muse, adding vocals, strings, piano, or whatever moves him. “My music changes,” he says. “From every shade of house to darker techno, but the way I make it doesn’t.” Notably, his records have become a font of inspiration (and samples) for other artists. Listen close and you’ll hear Chip E’s beats on DJ Sneak’s remix of Eddie Amador’s classic “House Music”, Jeff Mills’ “Skin Deep”, Paul Johnson’s “It’s House” (bootleg), and the Nintendo “Sonic Rush” video game, as well as a collaboration with Scottish techno kingpins Slam on “Like This”.
