Dylan Drazen

Techno Banger

pushpedal

Undergound music

Dylan Drazen Sets

Techno Files by Dylan Drazen

Dylan Drazen's "The Techno Files" showcases updated DJ mixes from the golden era of underground techno music that drove him hard from the late 90s through the mid-2000s. A podcast decades in the making, all tracks are hand-remastered, hifi analog to digital encodings from his personal vinyl library, the vast majority of which are not available online. Tune into the end of Episode 001 to hear a detailed description of the process Dylan underwent to get you these unique sounds!

For full tracklistings and more, head to: www.dylandrazen.com

For No Talk All Techno version, head exclusively to: mixcloud.com/dylandrazen

The Techno Files Podcast

I_Techno 4ever

TAKAAKI ITOH-Live At <KLUBNACHT>Berghain.Berlin.Germany.13.7.2013

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEIHsQ0F0oo

Explosion Fracture - Splinter (UA)

Ryo Murakami - Depth Of Decay C2 - Depth Of Decay
Aiken - Impatient - End Of Dayz
Norm Talley - Deep Consciousness Ness Rework - Phorma
Re:axis - Coil - Soma
Christian Wunsch - Fixed Fraction - Pole
S100 - Genesis - Semantica
Deepbass - Sequence Editselect Edit - Editselect
George Paar - Life Is Not Dead Yet Giorgio Gigli Variation - Par Wax
Victor Martinez - Anything Called Dead Consumerism Adriana Lopez Rmx - Rising
Scalameriya - Alternate Obserber Reeko Remix - Genesa
Lewis Fautzi - Binary Oscar Mulero Remix - Soma
Gonzalo MD - Modulat - Resort Imprint
Ness - Verso Pohjois - Informa
NX1 - 16 -NX1
Function - Modifier - Ostgutton
Iori - Calx - Prologue
Christian Wunsch - Flourescence - Pole
Ness And Claudio PRC - Cogas - Planet Rhythm UK
Dino Sabatini And Donato Dozzy - Penelope - Outis
Mark Broom - She Don't Like The Collar Mike Parker Dub Remix - Editselect
Claudio PRC - Kar - Prologue
Brando Lupi - Frame Of Thoght
Editselect - Distance - Prologue
Mikael Jonasson - Quater Audio Injection Remix - Ground Factory
Unam Zetineb - Jealous PVS Remix - 030Wax
Rodhad - Mines Of Mars - Dystopian
Ness - First Stage - M_Rec LTD Grey Series
Christian Wunsch - Ionized - Pole
Jon Hopkins - Collider Karenn Remix - Domino
BLNDR - Hyper Mental - Hypnus
Joechim Spieth - Aidan Arnaud Le Texier Remix - Affin LTD
Ben Gibson - Vapour - Chronicle
Wirrwarr - Drop The Cid - 030
Fabrizio Lapiana - Eisfabrik - Attic
Planetary Assault System - No Exit - Mote Evolver
Adriana Lopez - Permanent Condition - Semantica
Jeroen Search And Dimi Angelis - Radiation Belt - A&S
Damaskin - Kaona 2 - Concrete
Attemporal - ATT13 - Attseries
Jeff Derringer - Beat To Quarters Giorgio Gigli Remix - Electric Deluxe
Eric Fetcher - Modifier - LCR
Aubrey - Depth - One Off
Recondite - Nadsat - Dystopian
Illario Alicante - Wax Weapon Rodhad Remix - Cocoon
Claudio PRC And Ness - Alchemist Of The Planet - Phorma
Korova - Blow Out - RSVD
Woo York - I Am Against Phase Remix - Soma
Truncate - Bodega Ben Sims Remix - Truncate
Truncate - Dial Ben Sims Remix - Truncate
STL - One Day - Smallville
Ryo Murakami - Depth Of Decay - A2 - Depth Of Decay


TAKAAKI ITOH LIVE AT <UNDER SPACE>@Bar Take Sendai Miyagi Japan 07.06.2014

Check out my Tronic Radio on your favorite streaming platforms here: https://ssyncc.com/tronic-podcast

01.Franck Kartell - Fragile [Tronic]
02.Victor Calderone - Inner Rhythm [Matter+]
03.M. Fukuda - Spiral Staircase (Bianka Banks Remix) [Hydrozoa]
04.Adoo - After Seven Years (Drunken Kong Remix) [Tronic]
05.Linear System, Yrsen - Gomorra [KR Records]
06.Ramiro Lopez - Shira  [Odd Recordings]
07.Dubfire, Flug - Rampart [DCLTD]
08.Alex Stein & Victor Ruiz - Human Robot [Volta]
09.Kaiserdisco - Crystal Dynamite [KD RAW]
10.Sinisa Tamamovic - Tension [Tronic]
11.Oliver Huntemann, Dubfire - Amor (Devoción Mix) [Senso Sounds]
12.Drunken Kong - Hypnosis [KD Raw]
13.Victor Ruiz - Touch The Darkness [Volta]
14.Carl Bee - Tunnel [There is a Light]
15.Drunken Kong - Unreleased

This show is syndicated & distributed exclusively by Syndicast. If you are a radio station interested in airing the show or would like to distribute your podcast / radio show please register here: https://syndicast.co.uk/distribution/registration

Stream/Download

Tronic Podcast 586 with Drunken Kong

Peace Please [mix]

PETER VAN HOESEN - HELIOTROPE - MUSIC FOR YOUR LEGS
NUEL - 1.1 - AQUAPLANO
MODUS - PL2 - HYPNUS
CLAUDIO PRC - TER - TROLLDANS
OSCAR MULERO - ELECTRIC STORM - POLE
KNS -NIGRUM - SEMANTICA
KWARTZ - FIRST FUNCTION - RSVD
S100 - REVOKE - SEMANTICA
EDIT SELECT - DISTANCE - PROLOGUE
ADRIANA LOPEZ- LINES OF FRACTURE - GREY REPORT
SPHERICAL COORDINATES - SCFLS12 - TOKEN
DEEPBASS&NESS - DIMENSION - DYNAMIC REFLECTION
NORTHERN STRUCTURES - SESSION 4 - SONIC GROOVE
FUTURE16 - ALPHARD DEEPBASS REMIX - HYPNOTIC ROOM
SHIFTED&EDIT SELECT - NNN1 - SEMANTICA
SURVEX - STAP VILIX REMIX - REAKTIVATE
PLANETARY ASSAULT SYSTEM - SERC - MOTE EVOLVER
ADRIANA LOPEZ - PERMANENT CONDITION - SEMANTICA
SVRECA - OVERGANG - WARM UP
PHASE - BINARY OPPSITIONS SIGHA REMIX - TOKEN
TAKAAKI ITOH - INFORMA EXPERIMENTS 2 - INFORMA
LEWIS FAUTZI - BINARY - SOMA
MIKE PARKER - PULSE TRADER - PROLOGUE
MENTAL RESONANCE - 31.0 JOTON REMIX - SERIAL NUMBER 849
LEWIS FAUTZI - BLOCKER - FIGURE
FABRIZIO LAPIANA - COBOLTS - ATTIC 
SUBJECTED&SAWLIN - TEXTURE 4 - ELECTRIC DELUXE
AIKEN - DISMAL - SEMANTICA
KWARTZ - SECOND FUNCTION - RSVD
VON GRALL - MIGRATION - SEMANTICA
RODHAD - HAYMEA - TOKEN
OSCAR MULERO - GRAVITY - WARM UP
CLAUDIO PRC - 992HPA - TROLLDANS
VON GRALL - A VECTOR PARALELL - PLANET RHYTHM
AIKEN - GATHERED - SEMANTICA
NX1 - IREXP001 - INFORMA
ELYAS - ADDICCION - MODULARZ
DEEPBASS - SLEEPWALKER - RISING
ADRIANA LOPEZ - ACTA - MODULARZ
KWARTZ - FORM AND VOID - POLE
SURVEX - STAP - REAKTIVATE
VON GRALL - AS A CONSEQUENCE - PLANET RHYTHM
FABRIZIO LAPIANA - OSMOSIS - ATTIC
CLAUDIO PRC - OES - PROLOGUE
DONATO DOZZY - EL CANTO DELLA MEGA 2 - STROBOSCOPIC  ARTEFACTS
VOICES FROM THE LAKE - REPTILICUS - GEOPHONE
SIGHA - LOOP4 - AVIAN
TESTE - THE WIPE RROSE VERSION - EDIT SELECT
IMUGEM ORIHASAM - TEXTURE
GIORGIO GIGLI&EDIT SELECT - SUBSTANCE - EDIT SELECT
DEEPBASS - SEQUENCE 2 - EDIT SELECT
KWARTZ - FORM AND VOID REEKO REMIX - POLE
TAKAAKI ITOH - ADD OFF OSCAR MULERO REMIX - WOLS
CHRISTIAN WUNSCH - IONIZED - POLE
ROBERT HOOD - ELEVEN - M PLANT
HIRONORI TAKAHASHI - FOREAV
DONATO DOZZY - 2003 - ELECTRONIQUE IT
KINY - DAMAGED MEMORY IORI REMIX - LAST DROP
FUNCTION - UNTITLED - SANDWELL DISTRICT



TAKAAKI ITOH - LIVE AT OVeR!_TITTYTWISTER TSURUOKA YAMAGATA JAPAN 25.10.2014

Kaiserdisco @ KD Studios in Hamburg / Germany (30-04-2024)

01. Holger Zilske, Martin Landsky - Projectionist (Original Mix) - Kneaded Pains
02. Christian Smith - Jack in The Box (Original Mix) - Jeton Records
03. Risa Taniguchi - Emission (Original Mix) - CLR
04. Oscar Escapa & Linear Phase - Fractal Encription (Original Mix) - Planet Rhythm
05. Drumcell & Luis Flores - Stuck In My Mind (Truncate Remix) - Black Code
06. The Southern - Memories (Original Mix) - CLR
07. Slam -Exhibit 1 (LUMERTZ Remix) - Soma
08. Pina Tesla - Situation Critical (Original Mix) - KD RAW
09. Gustavo Bassani - Collision (Original Mix) - Planet Rhythm
10. Axel Karakasis - Stunned (Original Mix) - Jeton Records
11. Marck D - Neuma (Original Mix) - On Edge Society
12. Filterheadz - Seatle (Original Mix) - Tronic
13. Hertz - Baby (Original Mix) - Sway
14. Julian Jeweil -  Basement (Original Mix) - Factory 93 Records

This show is syndicated & distributed exclusively by Syndicast. If you are a radio station interested in airing the show or would like to distribute your podcast / radio show please register here: https://syndicast.co.uk/distribution/registration

KDR132 - KD Music Radio - Kaiserdisco

I wrap things up with more NY inspired tech-house, a few updates on some of my favorite classics, followed by some nostalgic melodies. By the very end, the small group that remained paid me an ovation that left me a little stunned and emotional. It takes years to cultivate local support like this, and it’s something I’ll never forget.

With music from: M.Rodriguez; Frankie Bones; Todd Terry; Angel Heredia; Mabel Caamal; DJ Gregory & more.

Pig Dance 2 (Part 3: For Me)

The meat of the night features the nastiest tech, tribal, ny_drumz and jackin’ house I could dig out my library from over the past year, along with some fresh goodies, bookended every hour or so with a progressive breather. I hit them over the head with all kinds of energy and exactly what I’d want to feel if I were dancing in the middle of that sweaty mayhem.

With music from: David Tort; Siwell; Rossweisse; DJ Wady; Chris Child; Johnny Vicious & more.

Pig Dance 2 (Part 2: Furious Jumping)

I usually need to open my all night sets at Ramrod more gradually as the crowd slowly shuffles in. Not so during the monthly Pig Dance, where the club is visually and sonically transformed into a more high profile affair. The place was packed by 10:30 and the opening couple of hours of this set represents my vision of what opening tracks should be on a big night. Certain sounds that hype and beckon the crowd in, setting up what’s to come during peak hours.

“Here They Come!” is a quote from a documentary about Junior Vasquez during the peak of his career in the early 90s when he’d play Sound Factory every Saturday. He was filmed from the booth shouting this to the camera early in the night. There is something special about being the only DJ on the night, and as his crowd filed in early as well, he knew what he was going to deliver to those happy folks some hours later.

With music from: Matteo Dentone; Norty Cotto; Rick Silva; DJ PP; Italobros; Gabriel Rojas & more.

Pig Dance 2 (Part 1: Here They Come!)

Groove Podcast 38 - Robert Hood

The Techno Files is a podcast showcasing the golden era of techno that drove me hard from the late 90s through the mid-2000s. All tracks are remastered hifi encodings from my personal vinyl library.

Inaugural episode includes music from: Ignition Technician; Paul Mac; Len Faki; Chris Liebing; Technosforza; DJ Olive & more.

For full tracklistings and more, head to my website: www.dylandrazen.com

For No Talk All Techno version, head exclusively to my Mixcloud page: mixcloud.com/dylandrazen

The Techno Files | 001

Sciahri & Hertz Collision are the 390th guests of our original HATE Podcast series.

Sciahri & Hertz Collision join forces to deliver a mix that encapsulates their unique style of minimal, refined, and versatile techno. This progressive journey steadily builds in rhythm and intensity, offering listeners a deep and immersive experience. Throughout the mix, you will encounter a selection of exclusive and unreleased tracks from their upcoming projects, providing a glimpse into the future sounds that these two artists are crafting.

Download available.

Follow #Sciahri here:
https://www.instagram.com/sciahri__sublunar/
https://soundcloud.com/sciahri
https://www.instagram.com/sciahri__sublunar/
https://www.facebook.com/Sciahri/

Follow #HertzCollision here
https://soundcloud.com/hertz-collision
https://www.instagram.com/hertzcollision/

Follow #Sublunar here:
https://linktr.ee/sublunar_records
https://www.instagram.com/sublunar_records/
https://www.facebook.com/sublunarrecords/

HATE Podcast

HATE Podcast 390

Follow Sciahri

Sciahri & Hertz Collision - HATE Podcast 390

Karachi-born DJ/producer, Measure Divide, dominates the dance floors of his adopted hometown Toronto with playful and experimental techno, showcased in this mix recorded at Boiler Room Toronto.

Measure Divide | World Tour Mix: Toronto

Check out my Tronic Radio on your favorite streaming platforms here: https://ssyncc.com/tronic-podcast
01.Gary Beck - Get Far [Code]
02.Mark Broom - Satellite (2024 Remix) [Beard Man]
03.Ken Ishii - Unreleased
04.Hertz - Go Back (Raw Mix) [Sway]
05.STIPP - Jungle Fever (The Miller Remix) [Anaoh] 
06.Hertz - The Badman [Sway]
07.Madben & Kosme - We Hit Drums [EPM]
08.Pushmann & Fixon - Tribalism 01 [RSPX]
09.Andres Gil - Light Dub [Unrilis]
10.Command Control - Nazar [Manual Smiles]
11.Alessandro Grops - Hydro [Tronic]
12.Gary Beck - Video Siren (Remco Beekwilder Remix) [BEK Audio]
13.DBFB - Luminescence [Planet Rhythm]
14.Tomaz vs Filterheadz - Sunshine (Gary Beck Remix) [Loopglow]
15.Gunjack - MDUB9 [Resilient]
16.Miss Electric - Visions (Ken Ishii Remix) [Black Codes Experiments]
17.Dast (Italy) - Bye Romy [Illegal Alien]
18.The Chronics - By My Soul [TRSN]
19.S-File - Function [Virgo]

This show is syndicated & distributed exclusively by Syndicast. If you are a radio station interested in airing the show or would like to distribute your podcast / radio show please register here: https://syndicast.co.uk/distribution/registration

Tronic Podcast 621 with Ken Ishii

Here comes episode 002 of The Techno Files, a podcast showcasing the golden era of techno that drove me hard from the late 90s through the mid-2000s. All tracks are remastered hifi encodings from my personal vinyl library.

On this one we go a little deeper and darker to ramp things up because episode three is going to get a little nuts. But these more minimal tracks come through so warm and punchy. I’m very happy with the overall sound of these digital transfers.

This episode features music from: Olga+Jozef; Steve Stoll; Patrik Skoog; Mike Humphries; Raoul Delgardo; Fanon Flowers & more.

For full tracklistings and more, head to my website: www.dylandrazen.com

For No Talk All Techno version, head exclusively to my Mixcloud page: mixcloud.com/dylandrazen

The Techno Files | 002

Since 15 years Miss, myself and I - we celebrate life and music with ROBOLOCO. 
This party concept started on 20th of June 2009 at Club ESCAPE (DOM today), dedicated to Bulgarian DJ's. 

Miss Lidiya won me BEST SEEME  FEMALE DJ in the beginning of June . Famous  as ULTRA359 with our RAVE events HARD LOVE we took the next step into the future bringing to the advancing Bulgarian music scene the idea for  own party club night with  local heroes only . With my partner in hard techno crime DJ Smurf  we followed the new minimal techno wave evolving at the moment . 

We had no idea at that time that our future will be stronger out of the clubs, on our own territory ( The Loft 2012-2016).  The techno story continues today with 6th season at NUTONE ( 2019-2024), compact concrete space with massive sound at Vasil Levski Stadium.

The show must go on!
Enjoy my 90 minutes techno ride as I always do .)

MISS LIDIYA at 15 YRS RBLC / NUTONE SOFIA 22 JUNE 2024

Let the madness begin with episode 003 of The Techno Files, a podcast showcasing the golden era of techno that drove me hard from the late 90s through the mid-2000s. All tracks are remastered hifi encodings from my personal vinyl library.

Now we’re getting into the meat of my collection, and some manic tracks that really defined the sound I was touring with between 2000 and 2004. A few of these also appeared on my 2001 mix “High Heel Techno.” Some pretty beat up vinyl required lots of TLC but they come through sounding as clean as ever. I close it out focusing on the mad genius called Invexis from Germany.

This episode features music from: Gennaro Le Fosse; Gaetano Parisio; The Advent; Andreas Kremer; Paul Damage; Invexis & more.

For full tracklistings and more, head to my website: www.dylandrazen.com

For No Talk All Techno version, head exclusively to my Mixcloud page: mixcloud.com/dylandrazen

The Techno Files | 003

Not letting up the gas on episode 004 of The Techno Files, a podcast showcasing the golden era of techno that drove me hard from the late 90s through the mid-2000s. All tracks are remastered hifi encodings from my personal vinyl library.

Consider this an extension to the last episode with equal intensity, with more tracks from “High Heel Techno” as well as my 2002 followup “No Carrier” with most tracks falling between 2000 and 2002.

Featuring music from: Deetron; DJ Shufflemaster; Clemens Neufeld; Stigmata; Michael Forshaw; Umek & more.

For full tracklistings and more, head to my website: www.dylandrazen.com

For No Talk All Techno version, head exclusively to my Mixcloud page: mixcloud.com/dylandrazen

The Techno Files | 004

Trying something a little different this week, and dipping my toes into some modern waters on episode 005 of The Techno Files.

This time on the dark and atmospheric side, I’ll be giving a modern take every 5th episode for perspective and to keep things interesting. At the halfway mark I share a funny encounter I had while playing this very set at an odd private event in Miami.

Featuring music from: Linear System; S-File; _asstnt & Roll Dann; Justin Schumacher; Inigo Kennedy; Hertz & more.

For full tracklistings and more, head to my website: www.dylandrazen.com

For No Talk All Techno version, head exclusively to my Mixcloud page: mixcloud.com/dylandrazen

The Techno Files | 005

Digging deep into the 90s crates on episode 006 of The Techno Files, a podcast showcasing the golden era of techno that drove me hard from the late 90s through the mid-2000s. All tracks are remastered hifi encodings from my personal vinyl library.

I wanted to do an episode of some earlier “pre golden era” techno, to give a sense of the experimentation that went on before the scene exploded, sampling sounds that survived the test of time. It’s easy to forget where we came from, but these formative beats were the underpinnings of what would become.

Featuring music from: Petar Dundov; Bandulu; DJ Ze Mig L; Marco Carola; Cari Lekebusch; Dylan Drazen & Tim Xavier; and more.

For full tracklistings and more, head to my website: www.dylandrazen.com

For No Talk All Techno version, head exclusively to my Mixcloud page: mixcloud.com/dylandrazen

The Techno Files | 006

Andrei Morant - Transmissions (Virulent Remix) [Ill Bomb] **FREE DOWNLOAD**

Full stream of "Devine Right," taken from Dax J's 'Shades of Black' LP, which is scheduled for October 30 release via the Monnom Black imprint. 

Premiere:  Dax J - Devine Right

Project AKC delivers a massive techno gem to Dema's Redrum Music imprint.

https://soundcloud.com/projectakc / https://soundcloud.com/redrummusiclabel


Soundspace

Premiere: Project AKC - Bird Cage (Redrum)

Dj Tennis - Divisions (Roman Flügel Remix)

This is Dylan's first attempt at creating a mixtape. He was 19 then, fresh and new full of ideas. Even then you could see he had his tastes set out - comparing the mixes from today to this one shows lots in common. Part one is hard and fast, while part two shows his early influences of the detroit style - the melodic and soulful techno sound from the early '90s. 

dd01 - No Hope (Part 1) - 1995

dd01 - No Hope (Part 2) - 1995

Things were getting hot and heavy in Spain, and the music was getting relentless.

Performed April 1999 in The Cervix, Brooklyn

 side a

Martial - Meteorite Wave - Taka 
Oxia - Fresh - GoodLife 
Grain - B2 - Fat Cat 
Sapiano and the Partycrashers - Body Parts - Klang 
Punisher - Extinction - Seismic 
Chris Jackson - Make 'Em Work - Resource 
Visco Space - Part 3 - Konsequent 
Pitch Invasion - In The Box - Core 
Petter Fripp - Structural Pump 
South Operations - Draining Faces - Evil Deception 
Cari Lekebusch - This Way - Access 58 
Olga + Josef - A1 - OJ 002 
M. Lloyd - The Jump - Sub Octave 
Clemens Neufeld - Impact - POD 10 
Smith & Selway - Thunder - Primate 
Raoul Delgardo - Steelworks - Sheep 

 side b

Alba Patera - Tog - Monoïd 
Umek - Halcion - XS 
Inigo Kennedy - Preliminary Statements - Aesimetrik 
Cio - Talkin' With Juanito - Ongaku 
Oszillator5 - S8084#02 - Planet Pump 
VCO - Mind Test - Thrust 
Stanlee - Klangphase - Planet Pump 
Icepack - Schwama - Solid 
P. Leroy - Outlast - Gelstat 
Tomito Satori - Manalive - Exhibit 
Olga + Josef - A2 - OJ 002 
Clemens Neufeld - Inappropriate Relations - Spiel-Zeug Schallplatten 
Musicolor - Violet - Musicolor 
Photonic - Impact - Universal Prime Breaks

dd19 - The Matrix (1999)

What was originally created as a promotional requirement for a small gig in Budapest became one of my more talked about mixes during the hard techno years.  I don't play like this anymore, but I can still appreciate the insanity.

In 2002, I wrote:
"this little promotional mini mix CD was given to the first 100 entrants into the coldwar party in budapest, hungary on december 14, 2002. it's unsettlingly hard."

recorded at tetanus studio, december 2002 - brooklyn 

AeoX - Nuclear Winter - Null 
Boss - Jahoda - Palica Vonzvreca 
Andreas Kremer - Rock Them (DJ Boss rmx) - Lifeform 
Dylan Drazen - Baba - Remains 
Simon Krach - Current Value - Null 
Polytechnique - Free Mind - Salpeter 
Next Level feat. Dylan Drazen - Doch - Unreleased 
Henrik B - Seven A - Illgo Rhythm

20 Minutes of Hell (2002)

This mix was recorded live from Reaktor's Katharsis event in 2017.  For those that don't know, Katharsis happens once a year and is dedicated to the faster, harder and more industrial side of techno.  This was my entire 3 hour set from that night.

Over the last few years we have built a steady relationship doing events together and sharing our passion for this music.  We are teaming up once again for ADE 2018 and releasing this mix as a thank you to all our followers and supporters.

Link to event here
https://www.facebook.com/events/460615404404076/

DVS1 live at katharsis 2017

DVS1 live from Katharsis 2017

My first live performance in Holland in three years, this set was played on 100% vinyl, comprised of my favorite techno from the last decade. I went through my entire record collection and found the best of the best. Apologies for the crappy sound quality; the turntables used at the event must have been shot, despite having new needles.



Dylan Drazen - Concept - Live at Ahoy, Rotterdam

Artist: Alan Fitzpatrick
Title: Skeksis For An Endless Night
Genre: Techno
Date: 07 November 2012


Alan Fitzpatrick - For An Endless Night

Last minute back to back set we did at Life Festival after British Airways forgot to bring Karenn's gear over on their flight. Apologies for the sharp cut off at end of recording, sound guy turned it straight off. Thought we'd get one more :)

Recorded by 2FM in the Red Bull Music Tent at Life Festival Ireland (24/5/13)


Blawan b2b Sunil Sharpe @ Life Festival 2013

No discussion of underground techno purism and technical DJ mastery would be complete without the mention of Dylan Drazen’s uniquely remarkable life and career, and the myriad of musical influences it has brought. Conforming to no one person, genre or entity, Dylan has fiercely charted his own path since his sonic journey began over thirty years ago.

With the outset of Drazen’s path arriving in the early 90’s at the age of 18, a crescendo would already manifest by the late 90’s when Spain took note of his visionary methods and pioneering sound during the earliest days of the Internet, and he quickly became an originating stalwart of its nationwide underground techno scene for years, putting in over a million air miles commuting from his New York base, crisscrossing the Iberian peninsula many times over, as fans couldn’t get enough of his relentlessly energetic, organic and authentic rhythms that were so novel to a generation of partygoers.

Yet at the height of all this in the mid 2000s Dylan became swept up in the worldwide poker boom and found himself at a crossroads with dual careers. Maintaining both for nearly a decade, he decided to relocate to South Florida in 2012 to take poker more seriously and music took a back seat. By 2020, Dylan’s poker talent would bring him over $1 million in cash and tournament winnings. Then the pandemic hit, the world ground to a halt and everything was reset as he noticed fans begging for his return, bringing him to yet another crossroads…

So let’s reset.

Dylan’s exposure to multiple forms of music began at the age of 16 getting his first job working at his local record store on Long Island, NY. He quickly gravitated to electronic music, heavily inspired by what New York’s FM airwaves had to offer well before the hiphop era would take over. That summer he would sneak out to NYC and into his first club experience, The Limelight, where he instantly fell in love with its debaucherous environment and DJ booth, which he vowed to get into.

By graduation in 1993 he was beyond hooked. Before heading off to college, he took that summer to intern at a few Manhattan based labels: Todd Terry’s Freeze Records, as well as Astralwerks and Instinct Records. All the while insatiably crate digging through NY’s various vinyl shops, Dylan’s teen self was already swimming in local contacts and influences.

But college awaited, and throughout his time at Boston’s Emerson College (obtaining a degree in audio engineering) he launched a weekly radio mix show called “Underground 88” on WERS 88.9 FM through 1997, working his contacts and continuing to hone his technical skills live on air. During these formative years Dylan maintained working at various vinyl shops in NY and Boston doggedly advancing his exposure to every genre imaginable, thus contributing to his encyclopedic knowledge of electronic dance music and all of the wide-ranging influences it would bring him. As a byproduct, his position enabled him to recommend tracks to and influence the taste of bedroom DJs and a myriad of luminaries alike.

Through these years, he even made good on his promise to play at The Limelight before it shuttered, as well as other infamous New York megaclubs like The Tunnel, Twilo and Save The Robots. And thanks to his stint as assistant engineer at The Looking Glass Studios where David Bowie was recording his latest album in 1997, Dylan was hired to DJ Mr. Bowie’s private 50th birthday party after his sold out birthday performance at Madison Square Garden.

But by the turn of the millennium it was off to the races and Dylan was spending more time on the road than at home, as he found himself in demand not only in Spain, but also in The Netherlands headlining the Awakenings festival three times, as well as other major events and festivals in Germany, Brazil, Japan, and Colombia, spreading his unique form of techno gospel one city at a time. 

Between journeys Dylan made the most of his audio degree by building out his own studio in Brooklyn, releasing a handful of original releases and remixes on some of America’s more influential labels of the era: François K.’s Clicktracks; Ascend; Blueline; Remains; and Ultra Records. Even after moving to South Florida in 2012, Dylan continued to work on remixes for other Spanish and European labels.

Then as Dylan began to go dark quietly diving head first into South Florida’s world of high stakes poker, he made sure to finalize the curation of his life’s work on his website and SoundCloud page, with that nagging feeling he would one day return…

That day arrived in 2021 when Dylan decided to look for work as a local DJ in Fort Lauderdale and its saturation of gay nightlife. His bimonthly residency at the legendary Ramrod helped pave his way back, growing just as comfortable in today’s booths as he did 20 years prior.

After a couple years of this and then launching The Techno Files podcast, he realized it was time for more. So in 2025 Dylan decided to relocate once again, this time to the birthplace of where it all began: Detroit.

Within his first year as Detroit resident, Dylan was already playing events for Detroit Techno Militia & Bang Tech 12, along with multiple appearances at Spot Lite, Spkrbox & TV Lounge.

New York-born, Miami-tested, now Detroit-welcomed: Dylan Drazen is primed and ready to return to the world’s electronic stage showing modern audiences how 30 years of sonic mastery, experience and musical influence can be put on brilliant display in a single set.