Jeff Mills: "Futurism isn't supposed to come from black guys in Detroit"

Jeff Mills has discussed the contrasting music interests between Europe and North America, touching upon the lack of bookings he gets in the latter.

Speaking to the Guardian, Mills reckons people in America aren't interested in black electronic music unless it's coming from those living through struggles.

He said: "There is very little in Detroit electronic music that is negative, and I think that America - especially when thinking about black men - when it's not negative, if we're not poor and broke and desperate and coming from the ghetto, it's not as appealing to the public because there isn't this great story, this very compassionate story."

Known for his experimental live performances, such as Time Tunnel in Paris, Mills is far from the norm musically, but claims his ideas and concepts don't match his, or his contemporaries, origins.

"Planets and stars and futurism and time travel - these types of visions aren't supposed to come from black guys from Detroit."

He does, however, acknowledge that progress is being made, highlighted by the 2,000-plus people in attendance at the recent Derrick May and Detroit Symphonic Orchestra show at Chene Park in the city, by saying it "says a lot".

You'll be able to catch Mills' performance with the BBC Symphonic Orchestra at the Barbican in London on October 24.