DVS1 on the fast techno trend | RA Exchange 689

Check out the full conversation: ra.co/exchange/714
Host: Christine Kakaire
Production: ADE
Motion Graphics: Dan Derham
Track: DVS1 - Lower Wacker

[@george7141]

he basically roast all the tiktoktechno shiaaat in a gentle way

[@ThisPageIntentionallyLeftBlank]

A gentleman and scholar. DVS1 and Ben Klock are my two favorite DJs. Hands down.

[@george7141]

@@ThisPageIntentionallyLeftBlank don't forget Rødhad

[@Kevin-im1gj]

we love to see it

[@StereoAnthony]

Oh I like that! tiktoktechno. Its like a whole sub genre. Even extend it to tiktokrave

[@EugeakaEugene]

Ben Sims

[@DjCringefest]

This is the best and most nuanced take on the matter ive heard so far. Much better than the meme. You can't stop change and context matters is what can learn from this clip.

[@ludovikmarlak4109]

Agree hundred pourcent with you. There a meeting that could be very deep it's DVS1 and Jeff Mills dialoging about all those music electronic them.

[@DjCringefest]

@@ludovikmarlak4109 Jeff Mills. Now there's an electronic music philosopher if there ever was one.

[@eddiebradley7461]

The context provided in this full interview clip is so much more eye opening than the snippet I saw on instagram where he was speaking about Hard Techno in general. I fully agree with him here.

[@Brandon-se4wn]

DVS1 is the unchanging sound of reason in Techno

[@semblanceaux]

"Certain grooves even go away and actually your feet are planted, and all you can do is kinda shake" PREACH.

[@tawkinhedz]

When he said this i thought “awesome i want that” lol

[@user-ke5hr]

my favourite parties has always been with super slow tunes. produces a wonkier friendlier vibe. Can just wobble along to the music. don't peak too early. The music has space to breathe, not just in your face go go go. Generally brings out the best in djs, as they have to dig deep and curate an interesting set (helps that the dj will normally play longer) rather than shell it out. anyone can play the bangers, not everyone can set a mood, but keep the people dancing.

[@DelFlo]

For me a full night of slow tunes (I consider

[@manoelandreisfernandes8747]

@@DelFlo usually the slow "fast" tracks you mean are Groove and Syncopation driven, adding a dancing bass in between the kicks and with shorter notes thus feeling as faster.

[@full_nrs]

Each to their own i guess and i certainly agree that some tunes/djs are too 'in your face' with hard/heavy/fast minimal techno. But, im a Brit living in Hong Kong and am extremely tired of the lethargic techno sounds that ruled the clubs here for years. Im so glad to see this quicker, fuller, style of house/techno come through under the likes of Marlon Hoffstadt, DJ Heartstrings and Kettama to name a few. I'll admit though, these arent Berghain DJs/styles! But who knows in the future...

[@BurnBabylon_Selecta]

literally! I always pitch dnb a little bit down to give it more space to breath

[@sjoerdburger8743]

He articulates this feeling I had so well. I think with music it can be so hard to describe why you like something a certain, or why some sounds do not feel or sound right. In all interviews I’ve seen with him, DVS1 is always able to put the feeling of music into words so accurately and clearly. When I’m dj’ing myself I always found myself coming back to the 135-138 bpm range and now I finally know why. Thanks for the interview and big ups to Zak!

[@user-ob9zo9cr4c]

social media ruined this scene

[@zoiberg]

social media ruined everything

[@el_gguapito3420]

And shit promoters that allow it

[@josephstalinsmoustache1770]

be patient my friends. good things will stand the test of time ❤

[@peterdehaan3462]

In Holland we have a Loud an proud hardcore techno / gabber history of 3 decades, bpm goning from 150 (newstyle) to 220 (terror). I have seen 30.000 people rave to 180 bpm al night way before ‘Tik Tok, Covid etc’

[@Lala-cw7ez]

It was and always has been awful

[@stpedro-ht9ng]

Gabber was never good

[@morganjohnston5845]

For sure. DVS1 clearly hasn’t been to Bang Face, it’s an entire weekend consisting of Hardcore and Rave going right up to 200+ bpm. It’s all just subjective and depends on the listeners preference.

[@JUICEBOX1512]

no-soul-music

[@pooramateurvideo]

if gabber was any good, it would have caught on in the 90s

[@lukamester4953]

The two times I have seen him play have been nothing short of phenomenal; magic in its purest form. Truly an icon not just in the scene, but as a well-balanced and decent, well meaning human being.

[@zenluiz]

What a pleasure to hear a legend speaking

[@acidkriminalakaramiro3114]

Thank thank you DvS1 suwoooo love from Chicago

[@Jukeboksi]

New years eve was at a local party and this guy Rigid (runs Sewage parties) played a 'Groove Techno' set that was @ 150bpm or so...that was the first time this faster style hit me HARD, had the best time dancing since forever.

[@MaicPiani]

In the last 10 years I went from thinking "DVS1 plays fast" to "Fast Forward parties in Copenhangen are really fast" to "Wtf, everything is too fast". There's much need of mavericks pushing what is possible on dance-floors by going slower and deeper. @DVS1, if you read this: I have heard of a legendary disco djset of yours someplace in Italy many years ago. I don't think you often play genres other than techno, but I'd love dancing to your take on disco sooner or later.

[@maitlember1942]

Do you happen to know any disco sets to recommend for listening?

[@papunamaisuradze]

An absolute Legend !!

[@olivermoore4898]

Always on point man

[@hiddentechno8266]

I was at a recent club event and was basically bored by the same BPM of fast techno all night 😴. The problem is people habituate to any stimulus over time so there needs to be variation over time otherwise boredom sets in. Since that club experience I've went in the opposite direction of listening to and making slower tracks under 120 BPM. He's right about drum and bass having at least two time signatures for dancing to which techno generally doesn't. But when so many people don't even dance to techno now it's not surprising music that's hardly danceable is the current trend

[@arnoldheer2778]

thank you!

[@rorydonohue9851]

I’ve been saying this for so long. He’s so fucking right about this

[@_tjoeaon]

Absolute legend

[@ritec]

Could not agree more. What a legend.

[@postmodernsleaze4238]

never thought of it this way, I chilled out this year going from 150 bpm to the 135 range.

[@marcus268]

I am a somewhat older Techno geek, and i agree on all points he made. And i do enjoy some of the fast BPM stuff too. Most important is the groove.

[@djshiva]

Ahhhh, yessss... 133.3 is the perfect BPM. Zak understands why.

[@landwirtschaft2116]

Naa soo slow…

[@partialobject]

Sure played at 140 when I heard him last summer. Killer set, too.

[@sergeaboutrad4305]

Living legend! Some people just wont get this!

[@itsruiguerreiro]

Wise words!!

[@matthale6996]

He’s so right about not being able to get in the grove. There’s definitely a sweet spot with bpm and what’s good and fun to dance to

[@bomdedebop1749]

Such wise words

[@nme-starfucker]

I think that the trend of regressing in development was created by those who did not experience it in their youth and only heard about it from those who stopped in their tracks. I'm 45, I've been there, I've done that and I want to experience new adventures and not travel into sentimental traps for lazy people. Don't fall for fashions created only to make money, but look for what distinguishes your times.

[@jamesfish]

preachhhhh!!!! so well said

[@fredremotion]

Legend

[@aquiatic]

Never heard his music but he seems like a pretty cool guy so I’m gonna start listening.

[@BKJ-88]

Watch him DJ. One of the best.

[@lukamester4953]

Can confirm he is both super humble and nice to speak with and will also wreak havoc on any dancefloor he touches (in the absolutely best way possible). I won’t ever forget the 2 times I saw him… especially the latter. Single best experience of life I’ve ever lived.

[@housebrigade]

His live sets are badass. Check em out. Real techno

[@mennovanwijk2967]

Yooo that’s so true about faster BPMs in those hard techno parties nowadays feeling off to dance to. Maybe it’s me but I feel like hard techno was so much more before the pandemic. Less saturated that’s for sure. Zac is spitting straight fire here hahaha. Got to see him at De School at last weekend! He was on a roll for hours at a time. Closed w a Prince track. Suxh a wholesome dude!!❤

[@viliger3038]

What Prince Track did he play?

[@EPmessi9800]

For me it’s about the sound selection and rhythms

[@etiennephilippe8439]

could not agree more

[@Cybercowboy_69]

facts

[@nemethblanka89]

So true- i feel the beating/ hurting while listening to hard techno without nuance and depth.. and i really like deep and hard but with context and a meaning and a journey- let’s hope those kids find their way to quality over quantity 🙏🤗

[@mitsubishievo6251]

everything is individual

[@aytekindurmus2142]

Todays Fast or Hardtechno is = Tiktok Popmusic

[@mitsubishievo6251]

Not all tracks

[@LARDJ-om4ro]

I remember seeing Devilfish in a multi level room/space and I had to leave to find something else because like he said it began to hurt. I walked to another room and discovered Alton Miller and danced my tits off for his whole set

[@OldOnes666]

It's not only that it's fast, it's trancy. Everything is so fuckin trancy these days. I just can't take it anymore...

[@senssum2296]

golden*

[@nurbracer4569]

Truth all DVS1 said

[@its_jawnney]

techno over 140 bpm is just awkward to dance to imo

[@markomijac1995]

I agree with pretty much everything DVS1 says here but I'm really against this fast techno "trend" discussions happening so much lately. Coming from someone who mainly plays and listens to old school Techno its quite refreshing artists are starting to pick up the pace after years and years of 128 - 132 Techno. I do have beefs with the trends of remixing pop music or rap music and chucking a super fast beat over it but there's nothing wrong fast Techno, it's always been fast ;)

[@andrewveto]

Where's the full interview!?

[@bright___clouds]

soundcloud

[@andrewveto]

@@bright___clouds thx

[@djthabo]

word

[@MrFunktone]

Business techno is always fast because it needs to be dungeon style bollox

[@Cp_9900]

Can anyone explain what he means that 133.3 bpm is a locked groove?

[@matt23012301]

getting a vinyl to loop at the end

[@rokoi3]

Standard vinyl spins at 33.3 rpm, or one revolution every 1.8 seconds. A record played at 133.3 bpm for 1.8 seconds plays exactly 4 beats

[@etdj909]

​@@rokoi3 Adding to this absolutely correct comment, it's where the groove on a piece of vinyl joins back onto itself to form a circle rather than being a spiral towards the centre as is normally the case.

[@hiddentechno8266]

Lock groove was a genre of techno in the 90s

[@Trdat]

2022 Bonus festival Boiler room hard techno at least to me was between 140 and 150BPM now the same Dj's in 2023 are playing at least 10bpm faster. Like you said, you can dance to that beat at around 140 but once it gets past 150 you can't get into a groove. Pointless at best, such a great new genre bringing back the remnants of early 00's hard trance and fuck it up by playing it faster than how it was originally designed by the creater. It would be great for someone to analyse this, I waited 20 years for a genre this good and its been ruined within a year of gaining popularity, just check the BPM of Bonus festival boiler room 2022 and then all the new techno parties that have popped up in 2023.

[@user-ob9zo9cr4c]

boiler room and term techno.. c'mon.

[@Trdat]

Same DJ's same music. Check out Alignment in 2022 and then 2023 also Lee Ann Roberts from 2022 then in 2023 notice the difference and look for early hard techno on youtube it was even slower. Maybe the Boiler room aspect has something to do with it, I am not arguing but if it does please explain? @@user-ob9zo9cr4c

[@Ian__]

​@@user-ob9zo9cr4cI would recommend not falling into the "boiler room = commerical so everything they do is whack" trap. There are plenty of gems, both of "real techno" veterans (whatever that means), and up and coming talent with an eye for what came before them. Open your mind :)

[@EugeakaEugene]

Hard techno is the most boring techno genre. Not talking about peak time/driving or raw/deep/hypnotic. I like Ben Sims, Coyu, Oscar Mulero who play so called oldschool techno (raw/deep/hypnotic) and they are best, but even their mixes are similar and moat tracks lack of groove, bass lines. This is why peak time/driving/hard (which is not hard) techno is more versatile and you have more than just business Drumcode which sounds the same.Try to listen to amazing project like Drunken Kong. Their tracks and mixes are amazing. Also what I love about peak time/driving/hard is that it can sound funky, melodic like Sven Vath mixes

[@PipiaRahma]

He like lectured from my parents and other boomers, it teaches about faith and obedience but doesn't teach about pleasure and freedom

[@Morrsoda]

I dont even see people dance anymore just strange movements 😂😂

[@astahesta123]

“but being faster and harder just to say I am does nothing for the culture of dance music, does nothing for the growth of artistry, at that point its just entertainment and an arms race of who can say I play faster and harder and I think unfortunately covid enhanced a certain moment of Tik Tok and Instagram viewing 30 second clips of like Harder Faster “let me show you what I can do” but put that on a dance floor for a certain amount of hours to a crowd and I just think, you know, unless you’re really pushing Sonic boundaries and blowing you know some consciousness out of people's brains at some point you're just beating on them you're just hurting them” We're looking at you, Charlotte De Shitte

[@luisgustavopecanha5507]

Don’t really think she’s in this boat. Not that her sounds are creative. I’d say he’s talking more about the guys that are really known for TikTok like nico moreno, 9x9 and etc

[@dorsia6938]

Yeah i agree, faster dance music is generally more boring on the dance floor.

[@kile577]

it's so hard to dance to drumb and bass even at halftime i feel, at least when you compare it to 116bpm house (incredibly easy to dance / sway too) (also the music i make)

[@adamwilson951]

lil texas fans seething rn

[@ritchierich2793]

Somehow someway, russsian probably catalyst the rise of this fast techno.. They really expedite it after lockdown, they were on the cusp before it.. They play fast they play whatever too, a bit of IDGAF genres type..

[@mr-iz8cx]

I would apply the same to youtube gear nerds who post their little synth workouts on youtube too. It gives little to the culture and is basically just feeding electronic music into another trivial and consumerist hobby. It's like watching fetishists use the latest iphone/tech release live. Or deconstructing people aesthetic and techniques for beginners, just to satisfy some egotistical need to be on camera and in the public domain. It's super goofy and toy

[@assvibes3866]

Preach. Music at its best for me has a mystique to it which is entirely missed by that kinda KZbin “techno jam”, sound recreation tutorial fixated culture.

[@theyarmgambletyg925]

He talking about hard techno right?

[@rodrigolemosdj]

Idk but for me was about Business Techno, that flirts with those horrible hardstyle presets

[@Absmnd647]

ahh, its just Techno History repeating itself! around 2003 Sound also went harder,faster and faster until everything broke down to boring 129bpm Sound ...just listen to any Techno Set of that Era, it was 138Bpm + and Raw, harder Techno! ;) harder Djs were ar 144bpm upwards.

[@maximilianweling477]

120 Bpm is where its at

[@Absmnd647]

120bpm is what? Just In 2008 a few djs played at 120bpm

[@djmadwax]

Waiting for the return of gabba!

[@mchlselects]

good conversation. i have lost interest in going to dance since gen z raced off with their 'scenes'. it's less and less about groove and nuance now and basically about loud noises for fashionistas. and way too much irony - not enough sincerity in the sounds chosen.

[@pimespo]

Without coming off as an a-hole (hopefully I'm not) I honestly think that should never be a reason to lose interest in going to raves/dance events. I can't speak for you of course so if that is the reason, then I fully respect that. In my 38 year old mind, the following counts for me: my physique should allow it, I have to enjoy myself and I have to like the music and artists at an event. Letting my interest depend on something I have no influence on is something I would never let happen. I can understand where you're coming from though and the statements you're making I agree with. I had those same thoughts at several parties, during and after. Just don't let something silly you don't have control over ruin something you might be passionate about.

[@whatsinaname33]

:)

[@ezydoesit993]

For fuck sake! Post the whole video interview!

[@17vmrivas]

I can dance at 145bpm, including feet, but I do admit all my friends can't, they can only dance without moving their feet Jaja

[@altberg__]

My sweetspot is actually 140-145. But when it is going beyond 150 that. I´am out.

[@17vmrivas]

@@altberg__ yeah 145 is my limit as well.

[@landwirtschaft2116]

Absolutely! 145 is nice, you can transition into this dancing style where you basically just jump. It's quiet intense and most people seem to be not energetic enough for it, so the feet stay on the ground and they just shift their bodyweight from one side to another… It can also go beyond 150 but this is really kinda intense, i need breaks often and next day definitely muscles are sore. But yeah… idk… many people don't keep up, i don't get why. Maybe they need a good pill or something.

[@lukemate2783]

140-148 works best

[@nofood1]

@@altberg__ I like my Psytrance at 150, but my techno at 132 134... depends the style

[@Techy1210]

Hate to be the old guy complaining about the new trend, but i can't help what i like and don't like - to me the new fast techno stuff is absolute nonsense! 🤷‍♂️

[@user-ob9zo9cr4c]

TikTok & Drugs

[@radiscalisation6194]

i listen to speedcore and find this... errrrr hype-centered ? if you are an artist, do not try to adjust to what others are showing on social media nor theorizing about what makes composition superior, do your own thing, get inspiration from the elite your heart chooses (not the one media chooses for you) and even then don't think it's all there is and push your own boundaries. in the end, two 300+bpm tracks can have hugely different feelings and be danced to in a variety of ways, as a funk group once stated : free your mind, your ass will follow ! (not "mind your freedom, follow some asses")

[@morganjohnston5845]

I love people who are out of touch with music but can’t admit it and instead just talk a load of sh*t to compensate

[@geraldgoodiii6993]

Yea that hard trance nonsense is ridiculous

[@matteandrews3994]

He talks a lot of sense. These days techno seems to be played so quickly for the shock effect - to divert more attention towards WHO is djing, as opposed to WHAT they are djing! Sounds so cliche, but it needs to go back to being about the music; where it’s not being played so fucking hard and fast that you can’t even hear the grooves. That’s not techno.. that’s just noise…

[@Kenny_-_]

What about goatrance its the best groove. Why does techno hates psy trance

[@Nite85]

i dont agree with any of this lol

[@Froggyfrunk]

sara landry is a great example of temporary. that sound does not live long

[@mattsmith3989]

Wtf is he talking about?What “new” hype🤷🏻‍♂️. Faster techno existed and was very popular in the 90s. And don’t get me started on that Berghain. Most overhyped club of all time.

[@drumcode420]

Hard techno of the 90’s was never as popular as shit being played today. It’s a fact.

[@sheldondrake8935]

cheesy kiddie trance, bouncy bullshit...give me DVS1...Takaaki Itoh...Surgeon...Denise Rabe...ADR LPZ...

[@dpen6849]

is dvs1 the biggest Karen of techno?

[@houdinistare7095]

What a load of jot

[@RoboSlaughter]

oh my god go to bed man. Arms races over who can go the fastest or heaviest have been going on long before techno even existed. And yes it's art.

[@bodmon]

🤡

[@RoboSlaughter]

It's so prescriptive

[@RoboSlaughter]

Like what's he's saying only applies at all for music with a 4x4 stomp and even then it's largely dependent on his cultural context having come up in 00s berlin

[@RoboSlaughter]

But yea it's the same spirit in gabber and breakcore as in bebop, hard bop, punk, thrash, grindcore whatever. Transcendental intensity when done right!

[@RoboSlaughter]

And if he likes drum and bass he should know people can dance to fast music very easily by just moving the hips in halftime! But this doesnt work so well with untz untz which is of course the only valid club music

[@datdude89]

Old man yells at clouds but does so in a calm manner so it appears as intellect. He’s boring. His music is boring.

[@lw7822]

Somebody is sour lol

[@drumcode420]

His music is boring? Then you don’t like techno, genius. He’s one of the most talented DJ’s on the planet in the genre. Sit down.

[@datdude89]

@@lw7822then by your logic dvs1 is also sour.

[@datdude89]

@@drumcode420I love techno. He is not the only techno artist. I enjoy other techno artists but I’ve never enjoyed his music. Now I understand why. He’s not making music that feels good he’s making music he can talk about later. He’s making music to feel superior not out of enjoyment

[@ButaneBear]

DSV1 announcing this whole HOR Berlin 140bpm streamer meta is garbage basically

[@Cp_9900]

Just seems more image obsessed and superficial to me than anything else

[@ButaneBear]

@@Cp_9900 yes because that's what it is

[@PinchHarmonic69]

DVS1 live is pretty boring. He plays vanilla techno with that 2011 berghain sound. 4 to the floor constantly. Nothing special for me.

[@drumcode420]

That’s because what he plays requires musical maturity.