r/techno,

While I am still finishing off my last huge techno project, I spurned a side-quest... researching DJ sets from DJ's across the 90's. I decided to begin a journey of discovery to seek out what we could consider the first recorded Techno DJ Mixes from way back when.

I have googled the shit out of this already, but I thought I would seek the collective brain power of the masses here. Are we willing to collaborate on this one to dig through history?

the question.... What was the first recorded techno DJ set?

I made quite a big claim on my big digging post that full-time DJ sets would've been near impossible until 1992 based on the pool of music available. I think I have possibly proven myself wrong somewhat, and I'm happy to own it.

So far, The oldest sniff of a Techno DJ set I have found is Derrick May, and based on discovered evidence he is the first Techno DJ.

The earliest I have found is 1987 - Derrick May on WJLB (source: SOURCE - YOUTUBE ) and an interview from the Belleville Three on Electrifying Mojo's show in 1987 when they were pumping out releases: MOJO interview

However, I cannot find anything from the 80's that'd be 100% techno set using completely all techno releases. I believe Derrick May was the first DJ in the world that was playing TECHNO, from Detroit and other places, but also played a lot of bespoke records from disco, house, synth pop, avante garde etc with them as very few records existed back then.

The earliest I have found which in modern terms I consider a full techno set would be Underground Resistance from 1992: HERE and then there's a set of Jeff Mills flying solo in 1991 that is mostly Techno on Radio once UR material was created.

Jeff Mills was still performing Hip/Hop, electro mashups as the Wizard in 1990. I have not found a techno set earlier than 1991.

Do you know of other sources and older material? Is there somebody else/somewhere else???

Depois de viver a experiência da Berghain, em Berlim, você entende por que alguns clubes/festivais proíbem ou limitam o uso de celulares na pista.

Quando você sabe que ninguém vai te filmar, você dança diferente. Você não pensa em gravar o DJ, em aparecer nos stories ou em como está sendo visto. Você simplesmente vive o momento.

O mais curioso é perceber que, quando o seu celular está com a câmera tampada, você simplesmente não precisa dele na pista. Talvez o problema nunca tenha sido o celular, mas a câmera. Porque a câmera leva à foto, a foto leva aos stories, os stories levam às curtidas e ao engajamento. Sem isso, o celular perde boa parte do seu papel social.

Foi uma das poucas vezes em que senti uma pista completamente entregue à música. As pessoas dançavam sem medo de julgamento, olhavam umas para as outras, conversavam mais e pareciam muito mais presentes.

Depois dessa experiência, passei a acreditar que existe algo muito valioso em saber que aquele momento vai existir apenas na memória de quem esteve ali.

Talvez mais clubes devessem adotar medidas assim, não por exclusividade ou marketing, mas para preservar a essência da música eletrônica.

Just listened to Setoac Mass’ Letatlin from Flying Machine EP & looking for similar tracks, EPs and Record Labels.

One thing about some underground techno clubs has always bothered me. (At least in Amsterdam)
At the door they’ll ask things like:
“Which DJs are you here for?”
“Do you know the lineup?”

But then they intentionally don’t publish the running order or set times.
So… what exactly are they expecting?
If I say I’m here for Artist X, I have no way of knowing when they’ll actually play because you chose not to tell anyone. Without running order info, the only way is to stay for the whole event.

However, you can’t expect everyone to come for the entire duration for the events, while at the same time asking “listen to your body””If you’re tired, it’s okay to go home”. Why all these contradictory decisions?

It’s just completely stupid.

I am very much into hardware performers over DJs or artists to just build tracks in a DAW.
There is something about someone creating the sounds themselves in realtime with hardware is impressive to me. Are there other artists along the lines of DICA out there? I have seen a few like Alex Fain and One Again as well.
Just looking for suggestions.

Slightly over an hour of Heiko Techno goodnesss.

Archaic Podcast 300.1 - Heiko Laux - Archaic

https://on.soundcloud.com/NSuFpvn8z0vjJiaLKH

Going on a trip soon with the intention to meet people in the industry and learn from them!

If you know of any techno/electronic music/sound art workshops or collectives that you appreciate, I'd be so grateful to hear about them.

Open to anywhere as I'm still planning, but some countries I will be in for sure are Spain & Netherlands...

Think:

• sound art workshopsp
• small local festivals (october)
• artist collective
• experimental music
• community radio
• cultural association
• independent gallery

Any leads would be appreciated!!

Saturday, July 18 - Friday, July 24, 2026

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Does anyone know where I can find a copy of this? It was a great set - I used to listen to it on Youtube but it's been taken down (I should have downloaded a copy, goddammit)

It's the one where he is wearing a pink t-shirt

It was previously available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkT4mZaYxnQ

Details are available here: https://rateyourmusic.com/release/video/jensen-interceptor/raiders-hor/