Though the term ‘Detroit techno’ is ingrained in the fabric of the European club scene, having helped launch the ‘88 acid house explosion in the UK via the joyful vocal anthems of Inner City, and inspired hordes of Roland 909 devoted acolytes from Belgium to Germany, its place in the current US EDM explosion seems largely untold. But were it not for the Belleville Three of Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May and Juan Atkins adding the ceaseless mechanized rhythms of the Motor City to their interpretation of funk and synth pop, it’s unlikely that electronic music would be the force that it is today.
Detroit’s so called second wave of producers were no less influential, Robert Hood – part of the shadowy, politically charged Underground Resistance alongside Mike Banks and Jeff Mills – helping set the template for the boom in mini- mal techno in the 2000s (read our 60 Seconds interview with him on p.008). House producer MK, meanwhile, is still going strong today producing with Lee Foss from the Hot Natured crew, his cut up sound a huge building block for what would become UK garage in the ‘90s.
Keeping this history alive is the Movement Elec- tronic Music Festival, the city’s annual homegrown party which takes place over Memorial Weekend. Rooted in Detroit’s trailblazing techno heritage, but with a line-up that takes in everything from dubstep to deep house, it encapsulates the inde- pendent spirit of the producers, DJs, promoters and party people that spawned it. So if you believe that house – and indeed techno - is a feeling, while EDM is just a light show, then this may well be the best festival in the country.
DETROIT SPECIAL
TECHNO MUSIC
DETROIT STATE OF MIND Sam Fotias from Movement Electronic
Music Festival organizers, Paxahau, tells us what makes their event so unique. p. 020
INNER CITY LIFE From helping found techno to
inadvertently becoming a major influence in drum and bass, Kevin Saunderson’s mark is everywhere in electronic music. Now his family is following in his footsteps... p. 022
THE GHETTO
GODFATHER Detroit’s ghettotech legend DJ Godfather proves to DJ Mag USA just exactly why his moniker is so apt.. p. 024
NOTES FROM THE
MASTER With the release of a triple CD ‘Masterpiece’ compilation, Carl Craig shows why he’s one of Detroit’s most travelled and respect prodigies. p. 028
MOVEMENT REVIEW We give you the lowdown on the best
actions from this year’s Movement. p. 060
WAX LYRICAL – MK The Detroit house producer and DJ runs
back through the most important parties and tracks of his career. p. 064
djmag.com 19
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