Who invented techno?

A deep dive into the techno scene, who invented it, and how we got to where we are today.

Born in the 1980’s, techno was invented in Detroit, Michigan. Trailblazers from the “Belleville Three” included Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson. They got their inspiration from European acts like Kraftwerk. Blending elements of funk, electro, and futuristic sounds, the U.S. takes credit for originating the sound of techno. Although, Europe’s contribution to the evolution is not going unnoticed.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Germany became a major hub for the techno scene. To this day, it holds its reigns in the underground. Famed clubs like Berghain and Tresor have a stake in the techno evolution. It didn’t take long for the Netherlands and the U.K. to rise in prominence. Their techno scenes eventually became global leaders in the nightclub industry.

The history of techno shows in Germany held one of the first major gatherings, the “Love Parade”. Techno was the start of a movement. It was known for gathering people to come together and symbolize unity, and freedom, and quickly grew to be a massive event. The techno scene became a place where those could escape, spread peace, and enjoy the shared passion for the music.

To add, as rave culture grew in the U.K., elements of jungle and acid house began to come to life. This brought a new style to the forefront of electronic dance music. The rise of raves in abandoned warehouses, fields, and secret locations began to spread. The techno scene brings all walks of life for all night-long dance events.

Moreover, the U.K. pushed back on the public and began the Criminal Justice Act (1994). This restricted gatherings with repetitive music. However, this did not stop the progression of the movement. Techno music festivals like Awakenings launched in the Netherlands in 1997. Today, people globally respect this event as one of the most recognized techno music festivals in the world.

These early festivals laid out the blueprint for other festivals like Tomorrowland, Time Warp, and Sonar to take the spotlight. The techno scene builds off community, unity, and peace, and continues to evolve into music, fashion, and art. Since techno was invented, it has connected people from all over the world, a movement that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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Megan Naymik

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