INTERVIEW: Marcus Watkins

Rooted in the birthplace of house and refined through the industrial pulse of Detroit, Marcus Watkins embodies a cross-generational dialogue within Black electronic music. Emerging from Chicago’s fiercely competitive underground at a young age—under the close influence of his cousin, the late Armando Gallop—Watkins developed a deep respect for the culture’s foundations: discipline, humility, and an unwavering focus on the dancefloor. Those early experiences, shaped by raw venues and tightly guarded circles, continue to inform a practice that privileges authenticity over spectacle.

Now based in Detroit, his sound navigates the tension between the warmth of Chicago house and the mechanical futurism forged by Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson. The result is a body of work that balances soulful minimalism with abstract, forward-facing structures—music that feels both rooted and exploratory.

With his latest release on HOH Records, Watkins leans further into a futuristic, textural language while maintaining the emotional core that defines his approach. Beyond production, his “Gruv Therapy” ethos positions music as a tool for healing and continuity, extending the lineage of house as both cultural expression and communal ritual.

You started DJing at a very young age in Chicago. What did those early environments teach you that still informs your work today?

Answer: Oh man, that’s a great question. Starting out DJing so young in Chicago really shaped everything for me. Those early days in the scene (house parties, underground spots, and the real gritty venues) taught me that it was all about the music first and foremost. Back then, it wasn’t so much about branding or chasing fame like it is today. You lived for the groove, the crowd’s reaction, and just making people move. That foundation keeps me grounded even now.

I was really blessed that Armando (Gallop) was my cousin. Before I even stepped into the scene myself, and yeah, I learned some lessons the hard way, I got to watch him and his DJ friends operate. Most of those guys are straight-up house music legends now. Seeing how they navigated Chicago, (the Mecca of and birthplace of house my), showed me how they carried themselves, how they handled business, the way they showed respect to those that came before them that paved the way, and the intimate love they gave to those that that supported them. It wasn’t flashy; it was just real and genuine.

I also recognized early on just how intense the competition was and the exclusivity that existed. Not everybody got in, even if you were super talented. Chicago has always been about who you know. The house scene was controlled by a couple of handful party groups. There was definitely a lot of gatekeeping. But once you broke the barrier, you had to earn your spot and prove yourself every single night. That taught me discipline, humility, and the importance of staying authentic. Those lessons still guide me today, whether I’m behind the decks or working on projects. I focus on the music, the connection with the crowd, and keeping that same integrity from the Chicago roots. It’s what separates just playing tracks from actually creating moments, you know?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Your productions often blend soulful textures with tech-driven structures. How do you approach that balance without losing emotional depth?

Answer: I always start with the emotion and feel first. I’ll sit with and start playing around with different sounds, loops and/or samples until I find something that actually moves me. Honestly, I like to keep things simple. I come from an era where a lot of tracks were more minimalist, so sometimes less is more and I stick to that principle. The goal is contrast, letting the soul breathe inside the structure of the track. When that tension feels alive, I know I’ve nailed the balance.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Detroit has clearly shaped your sonic identity. What does that city give you creatively that Chicago doesn’t—and vice versa?

Answer: Detroit gives me that raw, “I’m your face”  mechanical soul and futuristic edge that Chicago doesn’t quite match. No doubt about it that Chicago feeds me this warm, groovy, jackin’ energy that Detroit keeps a bit on the cooler side.

I’ve been truly blessed to had spent half my life in Chicago and the other in Detroit. It’s like the two cities are siblings in the Midwest electronic family, but with different personalities. Growing up in Chicago, I soaked up that house music vibes. The  music was so rich, spiritual, and straight-up hypnotic.There are so many colors of house music. It is so rich. You have soulful, deep, ghetto, acid, tracky, disco, and gospel-infused house, all of which finds its origins here. There is Ian incredible amount of influence everywhere you look. It taught me how to make tracks that move bodies with feeling, that jackin’ swing and soulful deep bounce. 

Detroit, where I live now, is different. It’s post-industrial grit meeting Motown legacy and the Belleville Three-Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson, forging techno in the ‘80s out of abandoned factories, Kraftwerk influences, and a need to escape the decay and hard blue-collar work. That city gives you space to get futuristic, minimal, and driving, like the machines took over but kept the Black funk underneath. Creatively, it pushes me toward deeper tech, hypnotic layers, and this sense of resilience and innovation that feels somewhat colder on the surface, but burns with purpose. Chicago doesn’t quite give you quite that dystopian-to-utopian machine poetry. 

Vice versa, Chicago keeps me grounded in soul, groove and warmth. Detroit can get austere if you’re not careful. Together though, they make the music feel complete. I wouldn’t trade either influence.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Your new release on HOH Records introduces a more futuristic, almost abstract dimension. Was that an intentional shift or a natural progression?

Answer: I’ve have a few tracks with that futuristic, abstract edge. I’m a versatile producer; I don’t chase “a signature sound” or stick to rigid genre rules. My goal is always to make music that feels meaningful, that moves people and grooves, whether it’s deep house, abstract, techy, or something in between. I’ve got a wide range of “styles” I’ve composed over the years, and that’s just how I’ve always been.

This EP came together when I shared the track “Love is the Answer” with my good friend NkazyZulu the Force. She’s an A&R with serious influence in the South African scene and puts together killer compilations. She immediately suggested submitting it to HOH Records, saying it fit their vibe perfectly. She is an A& R for the label. I agreed right away. I already love and follow everything on the label. Droid-10 and I had crossed paths before on The Deep House Space, so I was already familiar with his high-quality standards and love for creative music with an abstract edge. I had a few more tracks laying around that I had finished within the past year or so that I felt would go well with “Love Is the Answer.” I submitted them NkazyZulu. Thank goodness Droid-10 loved them and the rest is history.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ It’s like it was meant to be. 

You’ve spoken about preserving the legacy of Black underground dance music. What does that responsibility look like in practice?

Answer: It means recognizing that House Music is Black Music at its core—from the pioneering Black queer and working-class creators in Chicago who birthed it in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. To keep that legacy alive in practice, I stay rooted by making music that’s deeply influenced by those originators, while pushing content that highlights the OGs and their stories. I shout them out every chance I get, especially in interviews. I also make it a point to pass down the beautiful history of the music and share the lessons they taught us (both directly and indirectly), so the culture doesn’t get diluted or forgotten.

These days, I find it extremely important to work with the South African prospering house music scene because it’s one of the most exciting, soulful extensions of that same Black underground house music lineage. The raw, percussive energy coming out of the Jo’burg and Cape Town areas feels like a living evolution of what started back home. Collaborating there keeps the spirit moving forward in music, instead of letting it sit in the past. That connection fuels me more than ever.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The “Gruv Therapy” concept suggests music as a healing process. How important is that idea when you’re building tracks or DJ sets?

Answer: It’s central, honestly. When I’m building tracks or crafting a DJ set, the "Gruv Therapy" idea is always in the back of my mind. House music has this unique power to heal both spiritually and emotionally. Spiritually by lifting you into a higher state of flow and connection, and emotionally by letting you release whatever’s weighing you down on the dance floor. 

That’s why I named my podcast ‘GRUV Therapy Sessions’ the way I did. It’s not just mixes; its intentional sessions designed to move people through those layers.

Since I’m retired now from playing at events, this has become my way of still giving back to the culture. I pour that healing intention into mixing every track and every transition. It keeps me connected and, hopefully, helps somebody else feel a little lighter too.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Looking forward, what still excites you about electronic music—and where do you see your role within its future?

Answer: Electronic music still excites me. It’s that constant evolution. New sounds, fresh fusions, and the way a single track can still light up a dancefloor or hit you right in the chest. That spark hasn’t faded.

Looking ahead, I see myself as a connector and consistent creator in the scene. I’m looking forward to evolving the podcast by bringing in other DJs for guest mixes with different styles, new energy, and real community vibes. It keeps things fresh and gives listeners more to discover.

I’m also staying deep in the studio, making music that feels genuine and high quality. No rushing it. Collaborating with other producers is a huge part of what’s next for me. Working with others always pushes me further and offers fresh new perspectives. 

Oh, and I’ve got something cooking with Comfort Deep that will be released in the near future. Keep an eye out for that one.

Overall, I’m just excited to keep contributing good music and helping the scene thrive. The future feels wide open.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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