Culture
Celebrating Black History: Detroit techno icons
The birth of a genre inspired by one city's culture
Blake Baxter
Blake Baxter is an influential producer in the Detroit techno realm who's remained fairly under the radar throughout his 30-year career. Even though two of his productions - 'Forever And A Day' and 'Ride Em' Boy' - feature on seminal 1988 compilation 'Techno! The New Dance Sound Of Detroit', he chose to keep himself out of the limelight, later moving to Berlin.
He's also released on Kevin Saunderson's KMS label ('When We Used To Play'), Underground Resistance ('The Prince Of Techno') and Berlin label Tresor, where he released debut album 'Dream Sequence' and 'The Project' with Eddie Fowlkes.
Octave One
Conceptualized by Lenny and Lawrence Burden in the developmental years of Detroit techno, Octave One is a pioneering family affair, including revolving members Lynell, Lorne, and Lance, that has contributed hugely to the techno culture.
They first appeared with ‘I Believe’ on Derrick May’s Transmat label and have been prolific on their own 430 West imprint since the early '90s. Their live sets are still coveted, sporting a complex hardware setup and holding a unforgettable stage presence comparable to their Detroit legacy. This footage with an orchestra proves they've still got it.
Sydney is Mixmag's US Digital Content Editor. Follow her on Twitter here
