Flying High

Seth Troxler is to Detroit techno what Kanye West is to hip hop. He’s an eccentric rebel. And Troxler is “down with” Yeezus’ unwavering self-belief. “People think he’s completely insane and egocentric – I mean, he is completely insane and egocentric – but he’s also just really driven,” Troxler enthuses. “I respect that.”

Troxler, tricky to pin down for interviews, has just woken. Yet the DJ/producer is as wittily direct as ever. “You’ve got me in the morning, so I’m being really cheeky.” Currently based in London, he’s returning to Australia for his first club (not festival) tour.

The last 12 months have represented a watershed for Troxler. He graced the March cover of Mixmag after readers voted him the DJ of 2013. Beyond that, he “stepped out” of Visionquest – the label he founded with Detroit homies Shaun Reeves, Ryan Crosson and Lee Curtiss. “I wanted to do different things and it was getting to a point where it was kinda messing up the friendship.” Logistically, it was difficult. “We all wanted different things.” Moreover, the others resented being in his “shadow” – something he understands.
 

“Techno was – and always has been – a revolt for me against pop culture. That was the reason why I got into it."

Troxler is now developing no less than three new concerns of his own: the “indie-rock” Soft Touch, dancefloor-oriented Play It Say It and, with New York’s Martinez Brothers, Tuskegee – named for America’s black airmen in WWII, its roster exclusively artists of colour. Tuskegee is intended to be symbolic – and about acknowledging dance music’s “heritage”. Indeed, Troxler is perturbed that the EDM revolution has further marginalised African-American house and techno innovators. Alas, not everyone gets it. “A few people have called us racist!”

Troxler, originally from regional Kalamazoo, Michigan, was raised in a techno family. His mother and the-stepfather-he-considers-his-dad both worked for techno DJ Jay Denham – and Dad is a radio jock. Young Troxler landed a gig at Detroit record store Melodies & Memories – and it was through hustling there that the Visionquest crew formed, all members soon after moving to Europe. Lately, the foodie-cum-chef has entered the restaurant trade with a pop-up barbecue, Smokey Tails, in London. Troxler regards this as his “back-up plan”. “I just wanted to figure out a way to quit techno one day,” he quips.

Some older Detroit techno fans are suss on Troxler, deeming him a beef-monger – but they’re forgetting the shade once thrown collectively by Detroit’s First Wavers at Moby for ‘co-opting’ the music. He’s active on social media. Where today’s “EDM” DJs like Avicii are hyper-conscious about ‘image’, Troxler is fearless. “These guys are created by their management companies – they’re not real artists,” he asserts. Troxler keeps it real. “Techno was – and always has been – a revolt for me against pop culture. That was the reason why I got into it. I didn’t wanna have to identify myself with any of the kinda BS that went along with that corporate entertainment world. [Techno] was something completely outside of it… I don’t give a fuck, really!”