EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
B2’s breakthrough as an artist in the techno scene has been remarkable. Delving deeper into the key moments or decisions believed to have contributed most to his rise, B2 reflects,
“Like many others, I started my career as a local DJ without really thinking about becoming an international artist.”
However, a pivotal decision to explore harder sounds led to his departure from the local DJ scene, eventually propelling them into the in- ternational spotlight. B2 humorously recalls,
“Back then, everything above 135 BPM was already hard. That was a decision that led me to leave the local DJ scene in the medium term as I was considered too hard, but in the long term, it seems to have brought me a lot (laugh).”
The release of the track “Ghetto Patron,” played by I Hate Models during a set published on YouTube, marked a turning point, garne- ring attention and inquiries about potential EP releases. B2 reflects on this moment, stating,
“I noticed a significant increase in attention. I then received multiple enquiries about potential first EP releases.”
Subsequent releases like the EP “Hymnen an die Nacht” on COUP further solidified B2’s popularity as an artist, with endorsements from prominent figures in the techno scene prope- lling them to newfound heights. B2 expresses his gratitude, saying,
“Big artists highlighted the track on various platforms and suddenly wanted promos from me, and I’m talking about almost all S-tier artists.”
“I constantly strive to explore and produce various genres, as it immensely helps me relea- se consistently interesting material. I’ve always made a point not to confine myself to a single category. Even with my first EP (Hymnen an die Nacht), I included tracks with a dark aura, but also melancholic or even groovy ones.
To this day, I’m a fan of producing variations. This approach has been consistent throughout my career. I’ve released techno tracks (many now call them groove) that have been well- re- ceived, such as “Fast Life” (on Parallx’s label ISARN) or “Yeah Boy” (Twice Infinity). But mo- dern hard techno tracks also do very well in the scene, like the new 9x9 EP.”
Regarding his latest vinyl release with 999999999, it was highly anticipated and a re- sult of nearly two years of work, reflecting a blend of modern techno and techno from past eras. B2 shares his approach to crafting tracks for vinyl, stating,
“I tried to release an EP that people will look back on in 15 years and say, ‘What a great re- cord,’ almost like timeless music.”
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Hosting event series like Monark and Die Rake- tte is a significant endeavor for B2, driven by a desire to establish respected platforms for techno in his city. B2 explains,
“To be honest, I just wanted to give the city I come from an established and respected platform for
techno.The goal is to create an event where people come for the community and not for the lineup.
However, my city sometimes lags a little behind, not only in terms of club culture but also politi- cally. The Rakete, for example, is never allowed to be open past 5 o’clock on Fridays, which naturally poses a challenge for
because the lineup has to be more compressed. Fewer DJ slots, with longer playtime - or vice versa?
I opted for the former and it was a complete success. The first two events were completely sold out. Standing on the floor and seeing how well attended my event was in the club where I started listening to techno was something I’ll remember forever. My All Night Long was also an absolute success.
I try to create something special for every event, for example at Kalte Liebe we put an extra stage in front of the DJ booth for
performance, which has never been done before in the club”.
Despite challenges such as venue restrictions, B2’s events have been met with success, with sold-out shows and memorable All Night Long sets.
Looking ahead, B2 is excited about parti- cipating in upcoming festivals like Soenda, Tegendraads, and Free your Mind Festival & Verknipt Croatia. B2 shares his anticipation, stating,
“The events differ
clubs in the vibe alone, as you can definitely play more variations. On overseas tours I usually stay around 10 days to get to know the culture better. Of course, even as an up-and- coming artist it is relevant to observe trends internationally, but the current challenge is to strike a balance between your own signature style and a trend. That’s the challenge I and many other artists are facing at the moment. I then let the results speak for themselves on stage when I perform, this approach never disappointed anyone so far”.
Reflecting on the current state of the techno scene, B2 acknowledges the trend towards harder, faster techno post-COVID, while ex- pressing a preference for melodic hard techno and techno from the 2000s era. B2 notes,
from the otherwise dark the the event
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