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Techno

Techno has come to dominate the music scene in Germany, especially in the capital city Berlin. But the blueprint of techno music originates in Detroit.

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All Content on this topic

DW Arts Unveiled (Sendungslogo Composite)

How techno was born

What are the origins of this hard and fast dance music genre, and how did it conquer the world?
CultureMarch 23, 202426:06 min
A person celebrates at the "Rave the Planet" techno parade with a poster reading -techno is my culture for UNESCO heritage-

Berlin techno on Germany's intangible cultural heritage list

Berlin's techno scene has been added to a list of cultural traditions in Germany to be preserved and kept alive.
CultureMarch 13, 2024
DW Dokumentationen | Kiews Techno-Szene packt an

Kyiv's Techno scene rebuilds - Reconstruction, to the beats

They are young, they love music and they are living in a time of war.
MusicNovember 3, 202326:06 min
DW Arts Unveiled (Sendungslogo Composite)

How techno shapes the future

Techno is harder, faster and more diverse than ever.The genre is evolving — even into pop music.
CultureOctober 14, 202326:06 min
Revellers attend the 'Rave The Planet' techno parade near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, July 8, 2023.

Ravers dance through Berlin despite the heat

Thousands attended the Rave the Planet street parade, celebrating a love of techno music at a huge outdoor party.
MusicJuly 8, 2023
A crowd of smiley people wearing with colored glasses, rain ponchos and umbrellas walk in the street; one man is bare-chest, wringing his T-shirt.

Rave the Planet gets go-ahead after cancellation threats

It was unclear until the last minute: The successor to the famous Love Parade will take place in Berlin this weekend.
MusicJuly 7, 2023
File photo from an illegal rave in Brittany in 2021

Thousands descend on French village for illegal 'Teknival'

Tens of thousands flock to a French village for illegal "Teknival" dance party.
SocietyMay 20, 2023
Rave in Riad - Aufbruch für Frauen

Rave in Riyadh: Women and the bassline

Only a few years ago, it was hard to imagine a Saudi woman working in the music industry.
MusicMarch 27, 202312:36 min
Men and women dancing at a party

How Frankfurt became an early techno music hub

In the 1980s, Frankfurt shaped the techno music scene. Alex Azary, one of the movement's pioneers, explains how.
CultureMarch 15, 2023
The Berlin skyline with the television tower in the foreground

9 reasons why Berlin isn't typically German

Berlin is the German capital — but in many respects it's quite different to the rest of the country.
SocietySeptember 10, 202203:14 min
external

Kyiv techno club K41 reopens

Before the Russian invasion K41 was one of the hottest nightspots in Ukraine. Now it has reopened outdoors.
ConflictsSeptember 4, 202201:52 min
DJ August Akpeji, Nigeria

Blind DJ Akpeji Ayodele mixes up Nigeria's music scene

DJ Aus J is shaking up Nigeria's music scene and has made a name for the positive vibes of his music.
SocietyAugust 4, 202201:59 min
DW Euromaxx (Sendungslogo)

Euromaxx - Lifestyle Europe

Rave The Planet: Berlin celebrates its electronic music culture. Also: saffron and gold leaf make a gelato creation with a 70-Euro price tag. And: travel tips for the Norwegian capital, Oslo.
LifestyleJuly 16, 202226:06 min
Euromaxx 16.07.2022 | KW 28

Berlin: Capital of techno and club culture

Electronic music as a cultural asset: Events like Rave The Planet present the case.
MusicJuly 16, 202204:19 min
People dance on a truck

Berlin dances at reprised Love Parade

Tens of thousands of revelers raved down Berlin's central boulevards for the first time in 16 years.
CultureJuly 9, 2022
Love Parade in Berlin in 2006

'Love Parade' returns as 'Rave the Planet'

DJ Dr. Motte, creator of Love Parade, wants make clubbing part of UNESCO World Heritage with Rave the Planet.
CultureJuly 8, 2022
Club K41, large building on a street

Kyiv's K41 club staff find refuge in Berlin

It is renowned as one of the hottest clubs in Ukraine. Many of the Kyiv club's employees have fled to Berlin.
CultureMarch 18, 2022
Kraftwerk band on stage

More than techno: A history of electronic music

From early sound experiments to dub, Krautrock and techno, electronic music has a long musical lineage.
MusicDecember 13, 2021
Berghain club, large building

What makes Berlin's Berghain club special

After 19 months, Berlin's famous techno club reopened for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
CultureOctober 2, 2021
external

Berlin's illegal lockdown raves

DW's Anne-Sophie Brändlin reports from inside Berlin's secret techno rave scene.
SocietySeptember 30, 202102:25 min
a man walks towards Berghain in the morning

Berlin's Berghain to fully reopen on October 2

It's the first time since March 2020 that partygoers will be able to dance inside the world-famous techno club.
SocietySeptember 25, 2021
DW Euromaxx | MEUTE

Brass instruments go techno

Hamburg-based brass band Meute put their own spin on techno and house hits by renowned DJs.
LifestyleSeptember 7, 202103:56 min
external

Berlin's illegal raves

DW meets up with four ravers who organized, photographed and partied at illegal raves in forests and bunkers.
LifestyleJuly 21, 202105:50 min
DW Sendung Euromaxx | KW 27 | Moritz Simon Geist

Futuristic robot music

Moritz Simon Geist crafts techno tunes, with the help of robots.
MusicJuly 9, 202104:51 min
Günther Krabbenhöft

Berlin's invincible dance icon

At 76,Günther Krabbenhöft is a living landmark not just famous for his dapper outfits, but also his love of techno music
SocietyJuly 1, 202102:31 min
Pianist Olga Scheps

An Interview with Olga Scheps

Renowned pianist Olga Scheps explains that classical music can also be very entertaining.  
CultureJanuary 23, 202106:00 min
DW Euromaxx 40 KW - Techno, Ellen Allien

Techno: The soundtrack to German reunification

In the early 1990s Berlin became a hotbed of techno.
LifestyleOctober 3, 202004:20 min
DW Euromaxx (Sendunglogo)

Euromaxx - Lifestyle Europe

We mark 30 years of German unity with Jim Avignon, DJ Ellen Allien and East German traffic light men.
LifestyleOctober 3, 202026:06 min
Rubbish left behind following a rave at Daisy Nook Park in Manchester in the UK

COVID raves and the joy of rebellion

Across Europe, people have been going to raves and block parties, despite lockdown measures banning mass gatherings.
ScienceJuly 30, 2020
Euromaxx 25.07.2020 KW 30

Sound installation at techno club Berghain

Listening instead of dancing: In Berlin the Technoclub Berghain presents an impressive sound installation.
LifestyleJuly 27, 202004:41 min
Shrines at the scene of the tragedy

Loveparade stampede: Who was responsible?

Twenty-one people were killed, but no one has been held accountable. A new documentary sheds some light on the matter.
Law and JusticeJuly 23, 2020
Berghain club

Berlin's party scene takes hit amid coronavirus

The pandemic has been hard on Berlin's party scene and tourism. But Berlin's spirit is still going strong.
SocietyJuly 11, 2020
DW Euromaxx (Sendunglogo)

Euromaxx - Lifestyle Europe

DJ Paul van Dyk working at home, original Neapolitan pizza, and Europe in miniature.
LifestyleJune 20, 202026:06 min
DW Euromaxx 20.06.2020 | KW 25

Private house concert with DJ star Paul van Dyk

During the pandemic, Paul van Dyk has moved his international performances to his home.
LifestyleJune 20, 202004:43 min
1996 Loveparade festival in Berlin

German DJ wants to reboot Loveparade

The iconic electronic dance festival may make a comeback as part of an effort to preserve techno culture in Germany.
MusicJanuary 13, 2020
Kölner Philharmonie Romboy Orchestra

DJ Marc Romboy gives Baroque composer electronic update

Bach is techno: DJ Marc Romboy takes classical masterpieces and gives them a 21st century, electronic music face-lift.
MusicDecember 12, 2019
Kölner Philharmonie Marc Romboy

Techno meets Bach

Techno meets Bach - DJ Marc Romboy turns to an old master.
MusicDecember 11, 201903:52 min
'Loveparade Ku’damm, 1992,' photo from the C/O Berlin exhibition 'No Photos on the Dance Floor! Berlin 1989-Today'

How reunified Berlin birthed a club culture revolution

The fall of the Berlin Wall was not only a political revolution but the start of a cultural awakening in the club scene.
CultureNovember 1, 2019
Berliner Technoclub Griessmuehle

Endangered subculture

Free spaces & creativity vs. gentrification & club tourism – how to keep the club scene pulsating.
CultureOctober 12, 201905:16 min
external

USA: Can techno music boost Detroit's economy?

In the US city of Detroit, one of the birthplaces of techno, nightlife is a lot more restricted. The Detroit-Berlin Connection has an ongoing petition to get the city government to lift its 2am dancing curfew.
October 2, 201903:02 min
external

Investors vs. Berlin's club scene

With big property developers eyeing Berlin's city center - many think techno culture is under threat.
July 5, 201903:26 min
Berlin Techno Musik

Techno in Berlin: After the hype, the downfall?

Berlin is considered the mecca of free, untamed techno. But for how long?
MusicJuly 1, 2019
Bootshaus Köln Bildergalerie

A visit to Germany's top club, the Bootshaus

Berlin's Berghain is no longer Germany's top club, but rather the Bootshaus in Cologne, according to DJ Mag. A visit.
CultureApril 12, 2019
DW Global 3000 | Georgien - das junge Tiflis

Georgia: The battle for the soul of Tbilisi

Georgia is home to a thriving youth culture but also to right-wing extremists and strict Orthodox Christians.
CultureMarch 30, 201905:33 min
Veranstaltung "Arab Beats" in Berlin

Berlin's Balkan DJs initiate Arab parties

The creator of Berlin's legendary Balkan Beats nights has now launched Arab Beats for his fellow refugees.
CultureMarch 14, 2019
People stuck in the love parade crowd crush

Charges dropped for 7 Love Parade defendants

Seven accused have exited Germany's Love Parade trial, with three others still defending negligence charges.
Law and JusticeFebruary 6, 2019
Zivilprozess Loveparade

Love Parade trial set to end without guilty verdicts?

Prosecutors call for an early end to the trial, with small donations to charity from three people deemed most at fault.
Law and JusticeFebruary 5, 2019
DW Popxport Special (Sendunglsogo)

PopXport Special: Paul van Dyk

How a boy from the GDR with big dreams became a world famous brand: German star-DJ Paul van Dyk.
MusicJanuary 12, 201926:00 min
DW Popxport Sendungslogo

Popxport - The German Music Magazine

Techno marching band Meute, Alin Coen’s folk pop with an orchestra and Motanka’s mystical metal.
MusicNovember 24, 201826:01 min
popxport Meute

Meute - Techno with a tuba and a trumpet

Meute's recipe is simple: acoustic bass and lots of brass. We met them before their tour.
MusicNovember 24, 201804:02 min