A journey at light speed through the universe of Akua, focusing on old school techno from the ’90s and early 2000s.
Over the past numerous years, Ghanian-American artist Akua hasactually developed herself both as a component of the New York’s dance music neighborhood at places consistingof Basement and Public Records, and as an globally renowned techno DJ who has played at celebrations such as Draaimolen and Dekmantel, and clubs like Berghain and C12. Central to her method is triggering classic pressures of raw, mechanized expression while likewise informing her audiences on the Black futurity that lies at the structures of techno, as she told Fact in 2019.
In keeping with this focus on Black artistry, Akua’s sets are regularly filled with fundamental UnitedStates techno from Detroit and Midwest artists, music she feels is raw and uncomplicated yet deeply immersive for the listener. “I’m interested with old school techno duetothefactthat it appeared the just thing that genuinely mattered then was finding and following one’s genuine groove and I yearn for this energy so much in the present day,” Akua informs Fact. “I see the opposite extremely typically in the present day as DJs and artists are so connected to accomplishing excellence and following patterns in what they share with their audiences particularly because of innovations we engage with through our practice.”
It’s this age that Akua sharpens in on for our veryfirst Fact Mix of 2023, an all-vinyl, high-octane journey through the universe that offers a shock of much-needed energy for the brand-new year. “The mix is certainly a journey through my universe at light speed,” Akua states. “It clocks in at around 146bpm the entire time. It begins out a bit extreme however by the end of it after lotsof twists and turns has a blissful ending assoonas it’s reached its location.” Featuring classic tracks from K.Hand, Robert Hood and Spank Spank of Chicago acid innovators Phuture, as well as artists who were motivated by American techno development like Surgeon and Steve Bicknell, it looks resolutely to Akua’s vision for techno’s future while referencing the past.
Akua’s interest in the age likewise stems from a deep dedication to lookinginto the large archives of techno’s past – not simply the traditional tracks however the art of the techno mix itself. “I am constantly listening to and searching for ’90s techno mixtapes and I desired to produce something that imitates the ambiance and energy of all of my preferred promotion blends,” Akua states of her Fact mix. “Some [of the mixes] that have motivated me the most haveactually been by artists consistingof Jay Denham, Claude Young, and Jeff Mills (all who have tracks are included in the mix), Mike Dearborn, and DJ Hyperactive. I love how carefree and courageous they were in their blending and how they were not so focused on technical excellence however rather on developing a engaging story that links and resonates deeply with dancers.”
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Tracklist:
Sean Deason – ‘Feel It’ (Matrix, 1994)
(Unknown white label)
Silvershower – ‘Ice Fractions 2-1’ (Plus 8, 1996)
The Mar