How Techno was born: From Detroit to Berlin and back

As Berlin gears up for the Love Parade successor, Rave The Planet this weekend, we take a look at the beginnings of techno. Techno is the unofficial soundtrack of Berlin, intertwining with its vibrant and relentless party culture, but where did it all start? The real backstory of techno begins early 1980s in Detroit, a city struggling with industrial decline and social challenges. In this episode of Arts Unveiled, we take a look back at the birth of techno as a response to these hardships, as visionary artists like Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson fuse funk, electro, and synth-pop with futuristic visions from science fiction. The influence of European electronic music, particularly the iconic Kraftwerk, on the Detroit pioneers, who crafted a unique sound would revolutionize the music scene. Black and queer communities played a pivotal role in the genesis of techno, with their contributions building the genre and culture as we know it. We will take you to Berlin, where techno found its second home after the fall of the Wall in 1989 and to the electrifying atmosphere of dark basement clubs and run-down buildings where the hard and fast beats of techno first captivated audiences. From the Love Parade, a legendary music festival that took techno to the streets, drawing millions of ravers from around the world, to the legendary clubs of Berlin, such as Tresor and Berghain, where techno thrives with no curfew. Join us as we unearth forgotten history and hear from techno legends, including interviews with DJs from Detroit and Berlin and learn how every genre of music has its roots in something different and embrace the story behind techno's rise to global dominance. Get ready to dive into the captivating origins of techno and its incredible journey to become a socially acceptable genre, even finding its place in esteemed concert halls like the Berlin Philharmonic. Don't miss this immersive exploration of the genre that changed the world. Subscribe now and hit the notification bell to never miss an episode of our Arts Explainer series. #techno #berlintechno #dwhistoryandculture For more visit: https://www.dw.com/en/culture/s-1441 ⮞ Follow DW Culture on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dw.culture ⮞ Follow DW Culture on Twitter: twitter.com/DW_Culture Please follow DW's netiquette: https://p.dw.com/p/MF1G 00:00 Introduction 01:41 How Techno Came to Berlin 04:17 Detroit: Birthplace of Techno 08:23 From Underground to Mainstream 13:19 What Exactly is Techno? 17:06 From Clubs to Concert Halls