Jon E. Thin has become one of San Diego’s most admired DJs, with his flawless mixing skills and impeccable track selection. Prior residencies include, Insomnia After hours (L.A.), The legendary San Diego after-hours, Romper-Room (95-98) and performing festivals such as Playskool (SD), Together as One (LA), Esthetic Evolution (ID), Konnexion Festival (ID) & more. Read more
Hailing from the underground of New Yorkâs 90âs rave scene as a teenage resident at the legendary Tunnel club, Cheyne Christian has been captivating dance floors the world over as a selector of all things tribal, Latin, and Afro house. Read more
Even though Belgian born Ahl Iver only witnessed the 90âs as a young kid, his music is reminiscent of the creative enthusiasm that is synonymous with that period. Read more
Quadrophonia is a Dutch/Belgian duo of rave artists who in the early 90s dominated dance floors across the world. In 1991, the duo released the self-titled track “Quadrophonia” which became one of their seminal pieces of music that played a role in inspiring the next generation of electronic music makers.
One such artist inspired by that track was UMEK, who today, is an iconic DJ and producer at the forefront of the worldâs techno scene; however, back then he was a youngster getting his first taste of electronic sounds. Fast forward three decades later, UMEK is about to celebrate his 30th-anniversary releasing music. He has also decided to remix the track that first inspired him, which is Quadrophoniaâs track “Quadrophonia”.
In the realm of raves, we all know the typical locations most dance floors tend to gather on. You have your established club venues, massively scaled festivals, the underground warehouse parties, and a plethora of other places around the city and surrounding areas to dance at. Those are good and fun as they are pretty standard these days, but theyâre not the only places to party. What about for those who are tired of the city vibes? For those adventurous ones that like to blaze the unbeaten path? For those that want to get away from the typical routine of societal living in general? If you find yourself feeling like that, have no fear; you may just be a renegade, and in that case itâs about time you get yourself to a renegade party. Read more
Dance music as a genre that has evolved from the European electro-pop and American House music and Techno scene from the 70s-80s â typically, with a BPM range from 120 to 140+. Interestingly, the techno and dance music today we know today cannot be compared to the music years and years prior.
As far as change goes, we know that no matter the location, the techno music and general dance music scene has always been a relentless and powerful one from the DJs, producers, listenersâŠetc. Definitely, all aspects of the techno and dance music community have brought about an essence of âweâre here to stayâ â and to add, one thing that can be said about the community is that fashion has stayed prevalent throughout the scene as well.
House Music was born in the 1980’s from the ashes of funk and disco, and really grew into an entire culture along with the whole rave scene in the 1990’s. I myself was born in 1998, and didn’t grow old enough to get into a club until 2019. When most people look back at the 90’s, they see it through lenses tinted with nostalgia and remember the good ol’ days. But when I try to reminisce of the days of the 90’s, I can’t remember anything because I wasn’t old enough to remember things until 2001. While the OG old-school ravers were popping off back then, I was just popping out into this crazy world, with no idea what I would be popping off to 24 years later: house music. Read more
Watch a short film about Berlin’s party scene in the ’90s and ’00s. Directed by filmmaker and DJ Leonie Gerner (AKA Moogli), Beyond Sound charts the evolution of the city’s world-famous scene through the story of two veteran DJs: Heimlich KnĂŒller and Madmotormiquel.
Welcome class, get ready to dive straight into another techno sub-genre lesson with 6AM. On today’s slate, weâre going to learn about the wonderful world of acid. No, weâre not talking about the type of acid that will burn a hole through your wall, nor the type that will burn a hole through your brain and make you talk to aliens. Weâre talking about that 303, that screeching synthesizer, that classic, iconic sound that just screams, âRave!â So put down the blotter paper and pull up a speaker as we take a look into one of the most quintessential sub-genres of techno, acid. Read more
The 90s were a special time in rave history. Though some may describe the period as the glory days of the rave scene, all can agree the 90s laid the foundation for the rise of techno music and its various sub-genres. This is your guide to 90s Techno, covering the history, artists, and labels that have shaped the rave scene we know and love today.
Early 90s techno music was influenced by experimental music being crafted in Europe in the late 80s. This sound migrated to North America and soon dominated underground dance parties or “raves.” In the United States, raves often took place at illegal and alternative venues like warehouses, sound stages, roller-skating rinks, beaches, deserts, fields and mountains. The 90s rave scene reflected the 60s counterculture movement in many aspects. Whether escaping realities or creating new and better ones, both cultural movements embraced music as means of radical acceptance and community-building.
Read Next: #TBT Series: The 1990s Rave Heydays
House music originated in Chicago, and Techno was birthed in Detroit during the early 90s. Techno emerged in response to a bleak urban crisis and economic recession facing Detroiters in the 90s. Techno pioneers invented a new kind of sound, one that challenged the environment that surrounded them and inspired others to redefine themselves. Techno was (and perhaps still is) the sound of resistance.
In New York City, venue owners took advantage of the emerging soundscape. Super clubs in New York City like Twilo, Limelight and the Tunnel fueled the rave culture’s expansion into the mainstream. On the other side of the United States, the rave scene found its epicenter in Los Angeles. For example, Electric Daisy Carnival began in 1997 as a warehouse party in Los Angeles. Movie soundtracks, video games, candy raver fashion, rave fliers, and print coverage all popularized Techno and its various offshoots on the West Coast.
While the United States fostered pure Techno and an acid house and dance community, the epicenter for Techno in Europe was fast becoming Berlin, Germany. Detroit Techno was imported into Berlin via figures such as âDimitriâ Hegemann, the founder of legendary club Tresor. After East and West Berlin became reunited after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the city became one large and adventurous playground. For Berliners, Techno was the sound of new beginnings.
It was during the 90s that Techno proliferated and evolved to such a degree that it had birthed countless other sub-genres. For instance, the Netherlands created gabber, while Goa, India became the spiritual epicenter of trance music. In the United Kingdom, “intelligent dance music” or IDM was being pioneered by figures such as Aphex Twin.Â
Read Next: Is Modern Techno Resurrecting 90s Trance?Â
The artists and DJs of the 90s Techno scene are considered today’s legends. Think Juan Atkins, Jeff Mills, Carl Cox, Robert Hood, Monika Kruse, and  Sven VĂ€th. Although there are many others, here’s a few names that’ll get you started down the rabbit hole.
Plastikman is the alias of Richie Hawtin. As the 90s dawned, Plastikman helmed some of the most intense, mind-bending parties underground electronic music has ever known. They took place in and around Detroit, as well as Hawtin’s home town of Windsor, Ontario. The parties were based on those Hawtin experienced as a teenager at Detroitâs legendary Music Institute; a black sweatbox of a room, a single strobe light, and the phattest sound system.
K-Hand, aka Kelli Hand, was one of few female Techno artists of the 90s. In 2017, K-Hand was officially recognized as âThe First Lady of Detroit.â She was awarded the cityâs Testimonial Resolution certificate which mentioned her notable âskills within a male-dominated industry.â
Read Next: Remembering Detroit Techno & House Legend K-Hand
Basic Channel consisted of German techno artists Moritz von Oswald andMark Ernestus. The pair reduced Techno to to its basic elements and melded it with reggae production techniques. The free flow of static textures, echo chambers, swirling dub clouds, and bass drums eventually characterized an entirely new genre: dub techno.
It’s difficult to choose the best 90s Techno songs or ones that were the most popular 90s Techno songs. There are many, many tracks that could be included on those lists. Here’s a few 90s Techno songs that characterized the sound of the time.Â
Read Next: 10 House & Techno Tracks Turning 30 in 2021
Dr. Motte organized the first acid house parties in Berlin. Most notably, he was the inventor and founder of the Loveparade there, too. Dr. Motte’s “Der Klang Der Familie” on Tresor Records became one of the most important German releases because it helped leverage Berlin’s electronic music to international success.Â
“Go” is a single by American Techno artist Moby. “Go” was the B-side to Moby’s debut single “Mobility in 1990 on Instict Records. The track put Moby on the map, and to this day remains a timeless dance floor staple.Â
“Jaguar” was released on Detroit’s Underground Resistance in 1999. The debut came from The Aztec Mystic, better known today as DJ Rolando. After the track was released, it hypnotized the world.Â
The 90s were an exceptional time for Techno music. In less than ten years, Techno had been invented, distributed around the world, and developed into numerous other sub-genres. For these reasons as well as others, 90s Techno should have a special place in every raver’s heart.Â
Read Next: A Beginnerâs Techno Music Guide: Brief History, Artists & Clubs
