Doc Martin’s West Coast House Essentials: 10 Independent Picks
Cameron Holbrook
The legendary Doc Martin has been holding down American house music for over three decades, long before it was festival mainstage currency. Between The Bay and Los Angeles. he came up through indie record shops, early rave warehouses, and sweat-soaked West Coast dance floors, helping shape the deep, rolling sound that became a defining force in U.S. underground club culture while later launching Sublevel Music, his long-running and distinguished outlet for forward-thinking house music.
His sets have always been about groove, feel, and that late-night lock where the floor moves as one. A true mainstay of the scene, Doc isn’t just part of the culture, he helped build it brick by brick, championing artists and sounds that still ripple through dance floors today. Now he’s pulling back the curtain on some of his favorite independent house records that define the true West Coast spirit.
The West Coast, to me, is an amalgamation of sounds. These are a few songs that represent the overall feeling of the dance floor, that capture the mood and vibe. This list was really hard to make. I could have done 100 tracks for it! - Doc Martin
Tony Hewitt and I did this originally in the late '90s. Tommy turned this into a late-night rocker. It hits all the right spots and never fails.
I had to give some love to our fallen brother Buck. So few of his songs are available digital. This one was featured on my Fabric CD, and keeps the floor moving. As did all his songs. 100% Respect Buck!!!!
When this song came out it spoke to me. It engulfed everything West Coast. You couldn’t walk into a club without hearing it. I originally put it on my Moonshine CD. This particular mix of it was made for the late-night dance floor. Garth and ETI, you really outdid yourselves on this one!
I believe I was given this record on a promo Hector Morales. I dropped it and it created a certain energy on the floor. It was bumping and yet held an emotional content. It still rocks floors today. I even got to do a Remix of it, but the original is gold. Great job!
This is a personal favorite of mine. D'Julez nailed the groove, and drive on this remix big time. Hippie, and Halo made so many big records under the H-Foundation moniker. We even got our residencies at Fabric together. This always seems to make its way back on to my playlist.
This was like the super friends of West Coast music. Hippie/Halo/Tony Hewitt on my boys Deep Dishes' label. This record sounds so good when played out. It was a very proud papa moment for me when this came out.
This was our first release on Sublevel. It was just a hand stamp that said Sublevel -Just Us. It was Blakkat, Myself and Lillia (RIP) on vocals, with Onions on congas. This record sold over 15,000 copies with just a hand stamp on it. I put it on my Fabric CD, and people are still buying the original and the remixes to this day.
It would be criminal not to mention Miguel on this list. He definitely made his impact on the music scene here in California, and beyond. His style transcends, and he is a zero-attitude person, who loves the music. Also, I’m told he can rock a bass guitar. Big love Miguel!
What can I say about my brother from New York. He is one of the hardest working guys that I know. He made a big impact on the West Coast. He has mastered producing and playing many different styles. We’ve made some great records together. This is a newer release of his, but is fitting for the time we are in.
When I heard the demo version of this, I knew this had to come out. They have a cult following. They don’t make cut and paste music, and their love of deep house shows. We were lucky enough to have Radio Slave on this, along with Andreas Henneberg. Elise’s vocals, and Dmitri’s production work makes this a great record.
