Richie Hawtin heads a masterclass at the University of Huddersfield

In 2015, Richie Hawtin was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree from the University of Huddersfield, an institution known for its leadership in electronic music and technology research and education.

In a recent visit to the university, Hawtin brought along his highly sought after playDIFFERENTLY Model One mixer, which he designed after feeling frustration with the tools available to him after using the same equipment for 15 years.

"We can’t push forward if everybody is doing the same thing. That’s not why I got involved in electronic music. At some point you realise that the way to be like them is to be as much yourself as possible, so you become individual and unique," he said to the class.

Hawtin was introduced by Professor Michael Clarke, Dean of Music, Humanities and Media, and Dr. Rupert Till, the Senior Lecturer in Music Technology at the university.