A Brief Introduction to Techno in Berlin
- Izzie Claudio
- Jul 1
- 4 min read
Cover image by Alex Griffioen
Berlin has become known as the capital of techno. The image you may conjure of Berlin nightlife is likely a dark warehouse, everyone dressed in black, and a deep, bumping bass radiating off the walls. That is mostly true. One thread that ties most of Berlin’s clubs together is the music: relentlessly hypnotic, unapologetically techno.
Techno has been a long-developing subgenre of electronic music and is characterized as “electronic dance music that features a fast beat and synthesized sounds usually without vocals or a conventional popular song structure." The techno we know today developed out of the 'four-to-the-floor' beats of house music in the U.S. and the electronic innovations of musicians like Kraftwerk. The synthesizer is a fascinating musical tool that has been at the center of an entire genre. Its large range of sounds is booming in clubs around the world at this very moment.
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked not just a political shift, but a cultural renaissance. After decades of division and upheaval, Berlin emerged as a unified city ready to reclaim its identity through art and sound. The 1990s became a pivotal era for dance music globally, and Berlin was right at the heart of it. DJs were pushing boundaries, producing innovative tracks, and carving out raw, transformative spaces where music and movement became a new form of expression.
Step into a Berlin club and the pulse of techno grabs you instantly. The bass shakes your bones, and your body begins to move almost instinctively. On that dancefloor, everyone is present in the moment, and everyone is moving their body. There’s no need to shove past the giant group of party-goers standing still and talking in the middle of the dance floor; there is an understanding that the dance space is simply for enjoying the music. You let loose, you get happily lost in the beat.
As opposed to top 40 hits, the music you hear is almost always some form of techno, allowing you to dive into the hypnotic spirals of beats. The DJ seamlessly blends tracks that maintain the rich, thumping techno bass. Whether the DJ is mixing industrial, trance, or house, there is always a throughline of techno. Addicting beats, exciting beat drops, and a never-ending stream of sound, the magic of techno draws you in, and you never want to leave.
At first glance, it seems simple. A series of electronic noises blended together to form a hypnotic dance beat. But that’s exactly where the magic lies. The more you listen to the sounds and let yourself dive headfirst into the non-stop beat you’ve been dancing to, you realize how intricate these beats can be. The rapid high-hats make a difference; the synth drag elevates the track. Techno is a genre of infinite possibility, and in Berlin’s clubs, DJs are its alchemists.
Techno is a behemoth of a genre to sift through, but nothing compares to experiencing it live in the city that has championed its evolution. The music travels through your body and leaves your heart pounding for more. It’s truly unforgettable.
Here are some of my favorite techno tracks that cover only some of the immense range of sounds that are born from techno.
“The Robots” - Kraftwerk (1978)
As mentioned earlier, Kraftwerk is an important pioneer in electronic music. Formed in Dusseldorf, Germany, in 1970, Kraftwerk is one band that paved the way for much of the electronic music we hear today. Computers come to life in their music, and industrial themes often appear in their lyrics and album covers. “The Robots,” from their 1978 album The Man-Machine, reveals the roots of the techno we know and love.
"Box Energy" - DJ Pierre (1988)
Chicago-born DJ Pierre is one of the pioneers of acid house, which straddles characteristics from the already established house music and the growing capabilities of synthesizers as music-makers. He introduced wobbly growls and gritty slides into the “four-to-the-floor” beat, opening doors for sound experimentation. Early acid house has developed into the techno sound. I had the pleasure of hearing the most during my time in the Berlin club scene.
"Atmosféra" - Brutalismus 3000 (2022)
Brustalismus 3000 is a duo from Berlin that began releasing music in 2020. Their techno style is rougher and often includes Victoria Vassiliki Daldas’s raw vocals. The deep techno bass beat is present in almost all of their tracks alongside gravel-like synth drones. “Atmosféra” utilizes vocals as synth stabs, creating a unique instrumentation. The title of the 2022 tune is fitting because a clear and intriguing atmosphere is instantly created. Brutalismus 3000 knows how to command a space with their music.
It’s nearly impossible to create a comprehensive playlist that covers all the techno classics and the constant stream of new beats that DJs are playing around with. So, I leave you with these three entrance tracks, and you can decide which door you want to enter. Happy exploring! Remember: Let go, listen deeply, and dance, dance, dance.
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