The Birth of Techno

In the beginning

Techno music originated in the United States in the 1980s. It is characterised by its repetitive beats, synthesised sounds, and a futuristic vibe. While it can be easily regarded as an evolution of Chicago house, Techno's birth can be traced back to the city of Detroit, where a group of innovative musicians and DJs laid the foundation for this groundbreaking genre.

In the 80s, DJs in Chicago began experimenting with drum machines and synthesisers, creating a new sound that would later evolve into techno. Sometimes described as the first true techno song, Strings of Life" by Derrick May leaped across the Atlantic and became a club favourite of the following years.

Let there be house

While house music typically combined electronic elements with soulful vocals and melodies, techno took these electronic elements and pushed them to new limits. For the first few years, the differences between house and techno were ambiguous, techno was almost a sub-genre.

As time went on, listeners began to appreciate it as a separate style of dance music, it incorporated more complex rhythms, futuristic sounds, and a heavier emphasis on synthesisers. The result was a genre that was more experimental and avant-garde than its predecessor.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, techno music found its home in the underground rave scene springing up in the UK. Originally starting out in the acid-house movement, raves were all-night dance parties that took place in warehouses, abandoned buildings, and outdoor locations.
As the music became more popular, nightclubs in European cities began to hold regular nights dedicated to techno, many of these rapidly achieving cult status. These events were known for their energetic atmosphere, immersive visuals, and mind-altering experiences.

The thrills

Techno music became the soundtrack of the 1990s youth, with DJs and producers creating tracks specifically designed to be played in these high-energy environments. The repetitive beats and hypnotic melodies of techno music were perfectly suited for the non-stop dancing and euphoric atmosphere of raves.

The rave scene provided a platform for techno music to reach a wider audience. As word spread about these underground parties, more people became interested in the music and the culture surrounding it. Techno began to gain mainstream recognition, and its influence started to extend beyond the confines of the rave scene.

The Spanish island of Ibiza had played a catalyst in the UK rave scene, when in 1987, a small group of English DJs on vacation encountered local Spanish DJs playing Chicago and Detroit sounds to holiday makers.
Immediately realising the potential for the popularity of the music in the UK, they formed club nights of their own starting in London, and then expanding outwards until towns and cities from across the UK would host rave events of their own.

Ibiza in turn became internationally famous as a party island, and every summer, all night dance events would host clubbers from around the world, making their pilgrimage to 'The island'. Certain songs became associated with the island, and the 'balearic' sound became familiar to listeners with ears accustomed to the differing sounds of a rapidly evolving form of music.

The Pills

Drugs played a significant role in the rave subculture and had a profound influence on the development of techno music. Many partygoers used substances such as ecstasy, LSD, and speed to enhance their experience on the dance floor. These drugs heightened their senses, increased their energy levels, and allowed them to feel a deeper connection with each other, through a shared appreciation of the music. and the ideals of the culture.

The use of drugs in the rave scene shaped the sound and aesthetic of techno music. DJs and producers began creating tracks that would complement the psychedelic and euphoric effects of these substances. The repetitive beats and hypnotic melodies of techno music became the perfect accompaniment to the sensory overload experienced by ravers under the influence.


The end (of the beginning)

As the music continued to develop, techno (predictably) began to separate into it's own sub-genres. Intelligent techno, gabba techno, industrial techno, trance: The number of definitions were only limited by the vocabulary used to describe them, although the original term of 'techno' still remained a popular way to describe your preferred style of dance music.

By the turn of the century, techno was firmly established as a form of music that would continue to exist as long as people will enjoy listening to electronic music with powerful rhythmic beats.

The rave scene changed. Many of the original ravers felt the mass appeal and subsequent commercialisation had ruined the magic. Many more felt burned out - dancing all night weekend after weekend is an activity for the younger generations and few people wanted to be "the old person in the club".

The popularity of techno continues today, nearly 40 years after its humble origins. Digital Audio Workstations are freely downloadable onto home computers and everyone with access can create music limited only by their imagination. The rave scene that went hand in hand with techno for some 20 years evolved as well, and is still the basis for all night dance parties and festivals, most of which are heavily regulated by authorities.

While every generation seems to have their own defining form of music and subculture, you'll have a hard time convincing aficionados of the 90s techno scene that they weren't a part of something special and unique.