![[Column] Why is techno an ideology?](/../assets/images/column-the-philosophy-of-techno.webp)
Why is techno called ideology?
Text: mmr｜Theme: Future thoughts behind the repeated beats. Cities, machines, bodies, communities. Deciphering from history the reason why techno is more than music and is called ideology.
A 4/4 beat that continues to play in the darkness of the club. repeating rhythm. Inorganic synthesizer sound.
At first glance, techno appears to be just dance music.
However, this music was not created just for entertainment.
Collapse of the city. mechanized society. Imagination for the future.
Techno was born in connection with this social background.
And before you know it, people will start saying this.
Techno is not music, but ““thought.’’
These words are by no means an exaggeration.
This is because techno has always been music for thinking about the future and society.
Techno is a rhythm for imagining the future.
The encounter between machines and music
In order to understand the philosophy of techno, it is first necessary to look back at the relationship between machines and music.
At the beginning of the 20th century, music underwent major changes.
This was the advent of recording technology.
Until then, music existed only in the moment it was played. However, through recording, the sound becomes preserved.
This change changed the very concept of music.
Electronic musical instruments were born in the 1920s.
- theremin
- Ondes Martenot
These instruments used electricity to produce sound.
Music has become something created not only by the body but also by technology.
Furthermore, after World War II, when magnetic tape became popular, new music was born.
Music made by cutting and pasting tape.
Music that combines electronic sounds.
These were later called “electronic music.”
Electronic music has liberated music from the concept of performance.
Composers began to treat sound itself as a material.
This idea was the basis of techno.
The origin of techno lies in the idea that music is viewed as a ““construction” rather than a ““performance”.
Kraftwerk and the sounds of the future
In the 1970s, new music was born in Germany.
That is Kraftwerk.
They broke away from rock tradition and created music that incorporated mechanical rhythms.
- drum machine
- synthesizer
- Vocoder
Using these electronic devices, they created a futuristic sound.
The theme was also unique.
- Highway
- computer
- robot
Whereas previous pop music was about love and emotion, their theme was technology itself.
Music has become a medium that depicts the city of the future.
Even more important was their aesthetic.
- A singing voice that is devoid of emotion.
- Uniform rhythm.
- Minimalist structure.
This was music that expressed the relationship between humans and machines.
This idea would later become a central element of techno.
The aesthetics of techno lies in expressing the coexistence of humans and machines through sound.
The city of Detroit
In the 1980s, techno was born in the American city of Detroit.
This city had a special background.
Detroit was once the center of the automobile industry.
- Ford
- General Motors
- Chrysler
Huge factories supported the city.
However, after the 1970s, the industry declined.
Factories were closed and the population decreased.
The city is filled with vacant lots and ruins.
In this situation, young people began to create new music.
They created their own style while being influenced by European electronic music.
That’s Detroit techno.
This music reflected the reality of the city.
- Beats like a factory machine.
- Futuristic city-like synth sounds.
- Inorganic yet emotional atmosphere.
Techno was the sound of the city.
Techno was born from urban decay and the imagination of the future.
Three founders of techno
The history of Detroit techno begins with three people.
They are commonly known as the “Belleville Three.”
They started making music in high school.
The influences were diverse.
- european electronic music
- Funk
- disco
- SF culture
When these are mixed together, a new sound is born.
Their music was not only music for clubs, but also music for imagining future cities.
- universe.
- Technology.
- artificial intelligence.
These themes become important motifs in techno.
This music was also a new form of black music.
While having a tradition of jazz and funk, they incorporate electronic music.
In other words, techno was a fusion of black music and futuristic ideas.
Techno was born at the intersection of black musical tradition and futuristic technology.
Philosophy of repetition
The biggest characteristic of techno is repetition.
The same beat continues for minutes.
The melody hardly changes.
Why was this structure created?
One of the reasons is dance.
In the club, we needed long grooves.
However, another reason lies in the philosophy of music.
Repetition changes human consciousness.
If the same rhythm continues, the listener loses sense of time.
This is a phenomenon found in many cultures.
- religious rituals
- trance music
- Shamanism
Repetitive rhythms lead humans into a trance state.
Techno was a reconstruction of this old musical principle using electronic sounds.
In other words, techno is the most futuristic music, but also the most primitive.
Techno repetition is a device for changing time and consciousness.
A community called a club
The philosophy of techno is also deeply connected to club culture.
Clubs are not just entertainment facilities.
New social relationships are born there.
- race
- Gender
- Occupation
On the club floor, these differences temporarily disappear.
In the darkness, everyone surrenders to the same rhythm.
This experience has been called “temporary community” by sociologists.
On the techno floor, collective energy is more important than individual energy.
DJs are the ones who control that energy.
Design the floor time while connecting the songs.
In other words, DJs are both composers and architects.
Clubs were spaces created by music.
Techno clubs are temporary societies created by music.
Minimalism and techno
Another characteristic of techno is minimalism.
Build music with few elements.
- kick
- Hi-hat
- base
- Synth
This alone makes the song complete.
This structure has something in common with minimalism in contemporary music.
Composers in the 1960s began creating music that used repetition.
Repeat short phrases and change them little by little.
Techno uses the same method.
Small changes produce big effects over a long period of time.
This is especially powerful on the club floor.
- Slight filter changes.
- Added hi-hat.
That alone changes the atmosphere.
Minimal music sharpens the listener’s senses.
Techno minimalism turns small changes into maximum experiences.
Techno spreading around the world
In the 1990s, techno spread all over the world.
- Berlin
- London
- Tokyo
- Amsterdam
Each city created its own style.
Berlin produces a darker, more minimal sound.
In London, it is associated with rave culture.
Japan has developed its own club scene.
This is how techno becomes a global music.
But the important thing is that all cities shared the same ideology.
- Imagination for the future.
- Interest in technology.
- A community called a club.
These were the core of techno culture.
Techno is an ideological network that extends beyond cities.
Thought structure of techno
The idea of techno was formed at the intersection of music, cities, and technology.
Techno history chronology
| Years | Events |
|---|---|
| 1920s | Birth of electronic musical instruments |
| 1940s | Magnetic tape music |
| 1970s | Development of German electronic music |
| 1980s | Birth of Detroit Techno |
| 1990s | Expansion of global club culture |
| 2000s | Minimal techno trend |
| 2010s | Festivalization and globalization |
| 2020s | Streaming and online DJ culture |
Techno is built on the evolution of electronic music over 100 years.
Techno as the music of the future
Techno has always imagined the future.
- Space City
- artificial intelligence
- Cyberpunk
These themes have been depicted in music for decades.
But what’s interesting is that the real world is moving closer to that future.
- A.I.
- Digital society
- Automation
The world envisioned by techno is gradually becoming reality.
That’s why techno continues to have new meaning.
This music is not a genre of the past.
Rather, it is a culture for thinking about the future.
Techno is music from a world that doesn’t exist yet.
At the end
Techno is not just a genre.
- It’s about how to make music.
- How the city feels.
- Imagination of the future.
It is a culture that includes these things.
Amidst the repeated beats, people imagine the future.
And on the floor of a dark club, they share the same rhythm.
At that moment, music becomes more than just entertainment.
It becomes a thought.
Techno is music for thinking about the future.
Techno is an ideological rhythm for imagining the future.
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