Juneteenth marks the anniversary of emancipation, and across the United States today, that history is being celebrated through a surge of musical joy. Below, we highlight a curated calendar of community events from Black Techno Matters, many of which may be happening near you, alongside two recent releases you should stream immediately. This holiday is a vital moment for Black communities to honour their liberation, while serving as a crucial opportunity for others to actively dismantle systemic racism in all its forms. In a week where Europe has embraced mass deportations reminiscent of ICE tactics, the timing is particularly urgent. Even in the bleakest of times, our collective survival depends on working for one another’s freedom.
While I am currently in Berlin, there is a distinct thrill in witnessing these events unfold across the US, especially as a powerful political antidote to the current climate. Stripping people of joy is the primary tool of authoritarianism, so seizing it back is essential. This comes at a time when many techno producers and enthusiasts feel disheartened by finance-backed homogenisation and Eurocentrism. The cure for that mood is always to seek out more and better music. The reason the music feels lacking is because the industry remains exclusive and racist. Here is the music plus the event calendar:
Stop, listen to these now
Black Techno Matters continues to deliver as always. I appreciate their work because I know how much talent goes unnoticed due to who has access to the music industry complex, and because so many of the best producers operate outside hyperinflated cultural capitals. I simply love the music; it is refreshing to visit their Bandcamp page and immediately find what is missing from the promotional inbox. Hell yeah.
Let’s begin with Xav, straight out of the BTM crew in Richmond, Virginia. This release is a perfect example of how DJing can translate into taste and vision as a producer, marked by attention to detail and craft. “Fishing (Dub)” is a dubby, gentle wetland-style masterpiece to start the release. “Temporal Inertia” is heavy and groovy; I have no more eloquent words than to say I want to be behind decks somewhere I can play this out. “My Way” is an ass-wiggling, Detroit-inspired pure perfection. “Coalescence” and “Funhouse” show the full range, each a hypnotic b-side.
yNOTi out of LA has a winner here, and not just because of the title On Vantablack Wings. “Sweet Nothings” actually lives up to that title — it is giving the subs in my studio a serious workout while I write this. It is cinematic and heavy, but not drenched in overly-serious goth; it is just effortlessly dark. It is cinematic in a way that makes you want to dance — there is the idea. It has been a long time since I heard a track that did that. She is a violinist, and she puts it into “Dead of Night” without a hint of schlock; pizz drives the groove forward. Everything that could be too much here is just right. I really want to hear more of this artist than these two tracks, so I am dialed in.
Juneteenth event picks across the USA
Actually, just read how great these lineups are, and tell me there isn’t a problem with booking leaving out Black music, like… wouldn’t a lot of festival lineups be better if they looked like this?
Baltimore, MD – NECTAR queer party at Club 1722 with Amarji King, Flotussin, Sdot
Chicago – Juneteenth Club Hospitality x Heartwrench at Podlasie Club with Asl Princess, Byrell the Great, Cobra B, afters = Schooch a Lil Closer
Detroit – Marble Bar with Huey Mnemonic, DJ I.V., Candor
Hudson Pride – HYDROMANCY two-day event at Pocketbook Hudson, also a huge lineup
LA – Black Techno Matters x Juneetenth LIBERATE HOOD RAVE with Waajeed (Detroit), Trovarsi, Rivussy, E.M. Bae, 92JELANI (with artwork by Drexciya and UR artist Abdul Haqq!!) … more details
NYC – Nowadays Nonstop with DAY/DEM, Gladstone Deluxe (Live), Mike Dearborn, SHinedoe, SHYBOI, Underground Resistance (well, f***!)
NYC – Juneteenth x Paragon Broadway with UNIQU3, DJ SWISHA, SHEKDASH, KYRUH
Pittsburgh, PA – Freaknik with DJ Love, Huny XO, Manny Dibiachi
Portland, OR – Liber8 – Black Techno Matters with AMX (Detroit), b_x_r_n_x_r_d (DC) and jenngreen (Seattle)
Richmond, VA – Juneteenth at LSO with Juana, Lucid, Desertsprings (and June 20 Athena, VLE AMAU, Ghost)
Washington, D.C – Splash Zone: Groove Haul x LUV202 with a huge lineup from like everywhere, just going to send you here
Washington, D.C. – Transmission daytime with TROMAC, DJ Unt.il, DJ Dolla, Anysia Kym, Izzy Holmes, Kilian Fonlon
Sounds and food for thought
Jaymie Silk went on a rant this week to correct the idea that techno is a European invention — he clarifies in comments that he doesn’t object to Berlin UNESCO recognition, but insists that Detroit artists not lose credit as originators. (I agree, as I told the BBC at the time — note Detroiter Alan Oldham’s name on the application. I’d expand that, even, to Black artists who developed this style outside the Belleville Three — across the country, eventually — and Latinx and other artists, too. Abadir chimes in to talk about the electronic origins of Halim El Dabh from Egypt.)
Lastly, here’s b_x_r_n_x_r_d getting ready for Liber8 PDX:
Oh, and listen to E.M. Bae’s guest session for dublab. Or here, also live, with — why, that’s Trovarsi hosting (about an hour twenty in), and oh yes, the joy of model:cycles again:
And let’s get some 92Jelani, too:
Pictured at top: Trovarsi, 92jelani, E.M. Bae.
Key takeaways
- Juneteenth celebrations in the US offer a vital political antidote to homogenisation and Eurocentrism in the global techno scene.
- Recent releases from Xav and yNOTi showcase the depth of Black techno production, moving beyond stereotypes to offer cinematic and groove-heavy experiences.
- The curated event calendar highlights a robust network of Black-led collectives and venues across the US, proving that inclusive lineups are not only possible but superior.
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