Virtual Underground

Interview : Virtual Underground: How has this all started for you? Ekin: My first experience with music started when I discovered my sister's old cassette player. She was listening to Limp Bizkit. I remember my first song was to Take a look around. Then I discovered other types of metal and started playing bass guitar. I was never into fancy solos. I always liked the idea of being the supporting pillar of the band and improved myself in every genre in bass. Even admitted to Berklee for a 5 week bass performance program. Before pandemic I was playing regularly with my band in a local metal bar called Dorock. Being the youngest member of the band and my tendency to use distortion earned me my nickname Basstard. Then in Berlin, Berghain to be precise, I was drawn to the vast world of techno and the limitless possibilities of sound design. That's when I started experimenting with my first controller. Virtual Underground: Where do you generally draw your inspiration from? Ekin: Music is how I express myself. I always felt myself full of emotions that I don't know how to let out. I had a turbulent childhood and preferred music over people. I was very good with maths and physics and could see the pattern in a song effortlessly unlike relationships. They were very complicated for me and emotions were like randomized functions that ruined every equation in my head. In my sets and compositions I try to reflect my way of seeing the world and how it's cynical, confusing and dark. Virtual Underground: Could you describe your music selection and mixing process? Ekin: I like the productions from the 2000s and 1990s. I work as an electronics engineer and while working I dive in the vast archives and select the tunes that intrigues me. I list them according to bpm and key. In this set I acted extra ruthless and selected some hard hitting tracks from C mantle, Headless horseman and Martyn Hare and tried to build a dystopian and intimidating atmosphere. Virtual Underground: Which software/hardware did you use for this set? Ekin: I used Traktor Pro 2 software and Traktor S5 controller. Virtual Underground: Could you tell us more about snatchers? Ekin: Snatchers is our İstanbul based imprint/label/collective for electronic music and more sound disciplines. It is a place for young musicians to grow and share their works founded by @omeerata. It is a non-profit organization as we say in snatchers we are in it for the music :) Virtual Underground: Any next plans? Ekin:I started learning Ableton and hopefully I will release my own tracks soon. Also I started digging records from 1990s and my ultimate goal is to expand my musical arsenal :) Follow and support Ekin @ingeniousbasstard

Follow Peter on Soundcloud @peter-goebel

Emmy Betiol has a musical carrer that was built over 20 years of experience, permeating different concepts, which allowed her to create an original musical identity. Her performances are marked by a strong presence, through Techno Dark and Hypnotic, leading to an atmospheric and sophisticated journey, oscillating between percussive and industrial tones. In her performance Emmy presents the purest mixing technique, leading to a remarkable Expressionism. Resident DJ of the Terraza club since 2014, a club that is a reference in the electronic scene in Brazil, located in Florianópolis / SC. Collect memorable performances alongside DJs / producers from different cultures in Brazil and the world. She is co-founder of the PHOBIA PROJECT group, a label that contributes to the cultural movement in the southern region of Brazil, with a focus on Dark / Hard and Industrial Techno with the proposal of promoting the music, the concept and freedom of audio / visual expression. Throughout her career she has always been in complete sync with the underground scene in a determined and persistent way, contributing and disseminating ideas for the development and artistic, cultural and musical evolution of his region. Since 2009 she lives in Blumenau / SC / Brazil, where she divides her time between djing, design, video editing, event production, in addition to his consolidated career as a fashion designer. In 2020, she signed a partnership with the Spanish collective @SoundJockeyES with the objective of promoting her music and contributing to other cultures of different nationalities. ---- SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/emmybetiol ---- YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/EMMYBETIOL ---- INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/emmybetiol/ ---- RESIDENT ADVISOR: https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/emmy ---- FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/EmmyBetiol Social Media https://linktr.ee/Emmybetiol

Tracklist : Unified Method – Stomping Emotion Ontal – Critical Path Method (Minimum Syndicat remix) Ghost in the Machine – Grill Trouble Razbibriga – Desolation I hate models – Untitled (Ike Dusk remix) REMY-X – Raw Acid Line D.N.S. – We have a Problem! Jasper – Spiral Primary Objective – Stem Cells Injection Scalameriya – Let My Flesh Be Your Sacrament Sicion – A New Beginning K Ø Z L Ø V – Squad of terror Jeånne – Stårs (Arrhythmia Cracked Basic Space Remake) Interview : Virtual Underground : How has this Neo Sapiens story started ? Neo Sapiens : I have always been passionate about music. I have been writing songs since chilhood hoping one day I would form a band. However, since I was not so open about my dreams and wasn't surrounded by musicians, I could never find enough people with the same taste in music to form a band. Finding out about DAW's was a game changer for me. I started experimenting every night without anything in mind till sunrise. I learned and started DJ-ing at Sintetik club in Baku and soon became a resident of the club. I came up with the name “Neo Sapiens” while I was drunk and complaining about my communication problems to my close friend. Neo Sapiens is a new species of primates that communicates through music rather than verbal language :)  VU : Where do you generally draw your inspiration from ? Neo Sapiens : Inspiration can come from everything but usually it comes from the inside when there are no distractions around me. There is almost always some music playing inside my head. The less mental or physical distractions there are, the more connected I feel to music. That is why I like being alone and doing nothing, staying up late with my music. VU : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process ? Neo Sapiens : I would consider my mixing style dynamic. I like sudden changes and surprises during my sets. I like to mix different sounds and genres and make it fit the set. For me, the art of DJ-ing is about taking a trip to different dimensions of music without making listeners uncomfortable. VU : What are you working on right now ? Neo Sapiens : I am currently working on music production. I already have some tracks ready and will be released soon. At the same time I am a member and a resident of @taflab which is an event organizing team in Baku and we are currently in the process of starting a label for  Titanium event and podcast series which represents the heavier side of tafLAB. Follow @neo_sapiens

featuring : Giant Swan, Claro Intelecto, Headless Horseman, Tommy Four Seven, Vofa, AM.MA, Geisform, Ayarcana, Ducerey Ada Nexino, Vaal, Restive Plaggona, Codex Empire, Axel Picodot and Hel.IV Interview Virtual Underground : How has this NGC 21 story started ? NGC 21 : It all started with my passion for music creation, audio and electronic music. Me and a friend of mine decided to make a summer tour in Europe on 2018 and I ended up living in Berlin. I just started absorbing the most I could from the music scene here and this set is a result from these last 2 years. VU : Where do you generally draw your inspiration from ? NGC 21 : Listening to good music with nice people around - going to clubs VU : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process ? NGC 21 : I like to select tracks that grab my feeling and attention, and try to play them in a very free way when I'm performing, trying to act as a passage between the music and the people. VU : Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? NGC 21 : For this set I used Rekordbox with a DDJ-RB mixer VU : What are you working on right now ? NGC 21 : Right now Im working on some new tracks I've been producing over this last year. Some more hard Techno, some with more atmospheric moods. #Underground #Electronic #Techno #Broken #EBM #Industrial folllow NGC 21 on Soundcloud @ngc21

by AL @alsessions Tracklist : Reptilicus & Senking - For Decades C-System - Selective Equality (Original Mix) [Substantiv] b.mod - L Of G (Original Mix) [Animal Farm Records] Reveillon - Breaking The Earth (Original Mix) [Gomboc Records] MAZE - Disturbing (Original Mix) [Take Hit] Deniel Blond - Shirgun (Monya remix) JoeFarr - Isolation (Original Mix) [Gomboc Records] Rotwang - Unanswered (Original Mix) [Gomboc Records] d_b (Déformation Booléenne) - A Point On The Equator (Original Mix) [Substantiv] Reveillon - Blackness (Original Mix) [KR Records] Metapattern - Theta Waves (Original Mix) [Substantiv] Ospiel - Daggers Are Thrown (Original Mix) [Vast Perception] Ézaüf - ODYSSEY (LLY Remix) WarinD - Jon's march BXTR - Asimov's Law (NN Remix) S R K - Ascension (Original Mix) [Khazad Records] Slave To Society - Spiral92 (Original Mix) [Substantiv] Røttar - Untitled 1 Syrette - Be Yourself (Bermind Remix) Sugar - God's Face In The Water Remix

My story is just beginning. I started by falling in love with a fast pace with all my dark soul. Music is always with me. I listened to a lot of interesting information and mixes and studied each of their steps. Then I experimented with mixing 3-4 tracks at once, and I take only what I like into a set of tracks. I think that you should always work at the DJ's desk. I'm not afraid to experiment with periuding performances on stage. The constant creative process in extreme conditions is a new good experience. Inspiration is always with me, you can draw it all the time wherever I am. Follow @tecshotdj

Interview with the artist : Virtual Underground : How has this SRVNT story started? SRVNT : My love for music and djing started a long time ago influenced by my older brother, who had his equipment at home, and who taught me how to mix using turntables. The learning process with the beauty of the vinyl made me feel a strong connection with the idea of mixing different tracks and make them sound cool together. Years later, I attended a techno party and, although I already knew a little about techno, that night I felt a strong connection with it and with the environment, and I felt the need to start playing it. VU : Where do you generally draw your inspiration from? SRVNT : As a DJ, it mainly comes from listening and discovering music continuously, -either techno or other genres in electronic music- following my favorite artists, their sets, their releases… Also, my closest friends who feel music the same way as me can inspire me too. VU : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process? SRVNT : I made a playlist with around 40-50 tracks based on the kind of sound I like the most, and how I wanted the set to be, but this can change as they are influenced by my mood in that period too, it depends, sometimes I feel better playing more kind of deep techno in lower bpms or vice versa. Generally, I like to start with some dark ambient to get into the mood and little by little playing heavier tracks, mixed as I felt they should be in that moment, and finishing with a tune that could stay in your head afterwards. VU : Which software/hardware did you use for this set? SRVNT : I recorded the set at Pirate Studios in Manchester equipped with 3x CDJs 2000nxs2 and DJM900nxs. VU : What are you working on right now? SRVNT : I have started to produce recently, and I feel motivated with it, but it is too soon to talk about results. #Virtual #Underground #Techno follow and support @crlsrvnt

Interview: Virtual Underground : How has this RAMKKA story started ? RAMKKA : I have been djing now for about 15 years but when I started producing at the beginning of this year I decided I finally needed to create an alias for myself as my own name isn't one that is going to stick out or be memorable. I chose a few different names and I kept coming back to RAMKKA so I ended up sticking with that one. VU : Where do you generally draw your inspiration from ? RAMKKA : From listening to some of my favourites DJs live sets, podcasts and their new releases. I find DJs that play the same brand of techno as myself and I work my way through their mixes to find new tracks and to find new ways of making my sets more unique each time I turn on the decks. I find watching Oscar Mulero play to be my biggest inspiration at the minute. VU : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process? RAMKKA : When recording a mix I generally create a set of around 20 - 25 tracks, choose a track I want to start the set with and then start recording. After that I just decide while playing which track I feel is going to fit the mix best next. VU : Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? RAMKKA : For this mix I used a Pioneer DDJ-400 and Rekordbox. I am uprgading my controller soon but I will be sticking with Rekordbox as I find it the most intuitive software for djing. VU : What are you working on right now ? RAMKKA : I'm currently working on my third EP with my first already out on Truc Records and my second to release on Nomad Species in October. I also have a number of podcasts lined up for the coming months so I'm keeping myself busy but I'm always looking for new and interesting projects. Follow and support @ramkka

Follow MOOMN on Soundcloud @moomn

Tracklist : 1 Overlook - Déjà Vu 2 Λ / Π - R+M 3 Unified Method - WIP 4 Marla Singer - Zad 5 Fractions - Zero Ground 6 Marla Singer - Chaos Project 7 Vofa (Sawf & ANFS)- Anakatosoura 8 Unified Method - Stomping Emotion [upcoming release] 9 Unified Method - Chemica (WIP) 10 Wolfsheim- The Sparrows And The Nightingales (Ancient Methods 'Ode To The Night' Remix) 11 The Soft Moon - Like a Father (Imperial Black Unit Remix) 12 Nin Kuji - Sobojo Image SoundCloud: @unifiedmethod

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Tracklist : 1. PRURIENT - Most Cannibals Were Women 2. SINUS O - Sidh 3. ENDLEC - Pressure Point 4. BALROG - The Witch King 5. THE PANACEA - Most Basic Resolution 6. .WAV_909 & 7TH RAW - Scrimmage ( Feat. Dansmacabr ) 7. KITA MORI - Dirty Danze 8. ØRGIE - Venisson Custodian 9. HA†ELOVE - Anonymous 10. AYARCANA - Conflict 11. SCALAMERIYA - Plothole 12. DRAAG - Nosedrill Follow @babaal-3hm

Interview : Virtual Underground : How has this Atdlb story started? Atdlb : It all started when my friends and I founded a collective called La North in which we organize after-hours underground events in Montréal. I discovered the nightlife here and in Europe and completely fell in love with techno music. Virtual Underground : Where do you generally draw your inspiration from? Atdlb : My past experiences, travels, my entourage… Virtual Underground : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process? Atdlb : I like dark and melancholic sounds, I'm into pretty fast music at the moment so I try to dig in for never heard before tracks before doing a mix, but I pretty much go with the flow and play whatever song that touches my feelings. Virtual Underground : Which software/hardware did you use for this set? Atdlb : For this set I used Pioneer Ddj 800. Follow Atdlb here @alexia-tourvieille

Follow him on Soundcloud @yosiah-124789335

Interview : Virtual Underground : How has this Ømen story started? Ømen : It started as a hobby and side-project, as I felt the need for a creative outlet to cope with London's fast-paced lifestyle and have always been passionate about music. I used to play in various bands as a drummer, but electronic music always fascinated, particularly the more experimental and underground scenes. After co-founding MASS, a London based Techno night, my focus and drive to produce and play Techno crystallised. Virtual Underground : Where do you generally draw your inspiration from? Ømen : My inspiration tends to come from being mindful of my life experiences, the emotions they evoke, being curious, and always trying to push my limits. Lately, I find myself listening to a lot of raw, aggressive, and occasionally melodic/melancholic tracks. I also have incredibly talented friends that produce great music that I often try to incorporate in my storytelling. Having grown up in Bali, Indonesia, I draw inspiration from the rhythms, mystical prayers, and percussive elements emanating from my youth, while also reflecting the brutal and industrial reality of currently living in a major European capital. Virtual Underground : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process? Ømen : I am constantly creating a mind-map of tracks that would go well together as I listen to music daily. However, when it comes to designing a mix or a set, it reflects the mood that I am generally in during that period. Drawing from my ‘mind-map', I tend to already have a blue-print of how it will start and how it will end, but the rest is relatively spontaneous. Virtual Underground : Which software/hardware did you use for this set? Ømen : My mixing set up consists of two Pioneer CDJ 1000 MK3 (still using CD's), Allen & Heath Xone 23 mixer, and studio monitors. For music production, I use Ableton and occasional external instruments such as synths or drum machines. @omenlnd

Interview : Virtual Underground : How has this "Ain't no mercy" story started ? Ain't No Mercy : First of all i want to say you thank, it's my first interview. I've been listening electronic music for a long time. I always liked it and gradually it became part of my life. Therefore I decided to make music by myself. Virtual Underground : Where do you generally draw your inspiration from ? Ain't No Mercy : I think my inspiration comes from love of music. Virtual Underground : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process ? Ain't No Mercy : For me it's a great pleasure, when i play music and create selection. I think it makes me feel alive.But now I've frequent contact to Record box because i use it to record my sets. Virtual Underground : Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? Ain't No Mercy : As i already said, i am using a record box. I used it now as well. Follow Ain't No Mercy on SoundCloud @irina-cutkosky

Follow the artist @peter-goebel

Follow the artist on Soundcloud @constantinexxx

For Podcast #112 we are happy to present a fresh talent based in Paris @simon-audeguis

Edward Symphony was born in 1999, from an early age he acquires a great interest in the arts and focuses part of his time in the world of cinema and other branches of the audiovisual, so much so that he begins to produce small videotapes and phonographic material for what would be his first steps in this world. In his adolescence he is greatly influenced by the RAVE culture and thanks to this he discovers the existence of totally new music, which motivates him to experience in the creation process. He claims to have fallen totally in love with the stage after being behind a booth in a small club in his city in 2018, which generates for several months thoughts of revolutionizing the idea that not only in these places you can enjoy such music. Then, he has decided to create a collective called NOISE, with purpose to create events in unconventional places intended for people to enjoy comforting experiences that lead them not only to dance, but to feel and remember at fast rhythms and few lights Interview : Virtual Underground : How has this Edward Symphony story started ? Edward Symphony : The figure of Edward Symphony begins to be part of an audiovisual project, since I was very young, I was very impressed to make movies with a small camera. After all this, at 16 years of age I created sound effects for these "home movies", from that day on I began to think that I could create music for other types of spaces, and in 2018 I saw myself for the first time behind a mixer playing on bar in my city. Virtual Underground : Where do you generally draw your inspiration from ? Edward Symphony : This is a very complex question, since when creating phonographic material I take inspiration from the feelings I have, normally my style of representing music is based on melancholy, although I also draw a lot of attention to crispy and heavy sounds. Virtual Underground : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process ? Edward Symphony : I like to play very high, from 134 bpm to in many cases 150 bpm, my purpose is to make people who dance to my music free themselves from the stress they accumulate day by day and lose themselves between the rhythms. Virtual Underground : Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? Edward Symphony : I love traktor :3 Virtual Underground : How does the underground scene in your city looks like? Edward Symphony : Unfortunately it is small, but nevertheless it is constantly growing, we do everything we can from our small collective called NOISE. Virtual Underground : What are your next plans ? Edward Symphony : I have been working on my first EP for several months, I hope to have it ready soon, and regarding NOISE, we hope to start doing a small national tour and support Colombian talent. @edwardsymphony

Follow Mova on Soundcloud @mova97

After years of evolution, BRAIS has found its ideal style in the avant-garde electronic music of an aggressive nature, its sound ranges from a crude and metallic industrial techno to electro, acid and EBM. As a producer he has polished his techniques and expanded his knowledge with prestigious masters such as Tadeo, HD Substance, Lefrenk or Joton and today he has published in national and international labels. A relentless activity as a dj and producer to which he also joins his work as administrator of the popular Techno Puritano (Official Group) (which today is followed by thousands of lovers of the genre) or his streaming serial and interviews Sanz Room , along with his partner Héctor Sanz, in addition to being a member of the reputed collective 12-INCH. A worker of underground electronics and always looking for new paths. He has edited labels such as Taro Records, Vapourtrail, Ecstasy state, etc ... Interview : Virtual Underground : How has this BRAIS story started ? BRAIS : My story began in 2013, in a small club in my town, I was only 18 but I already played my first mixes, from there it was all about not stopping XDD Virtual Underground : Where do you generally draw your inspiration from ? BRAIS : My main inspirations were changing over time, it is true that I am now in a more techno-industrial-electro-ebm line, for telling you 2 artists that inspire me today, ansome and scalameriya. Virtual Underground : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process ? BRAIS : Well, my mezcal process in a dj set is simply reduced to filtering what I like most about my purchases / promos and of course my vinyl bookshelf, I am selecting the news that I like the most and some older track for them to follow having life Virtual Underground : Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? BRAIS : For this set I used 2 technics and an xdj1000 Virtual Underground : How does the underground techno scene in your city looks like? BRAIS : Now it is improving a lot, but we come from hard times XDDD Virtual Underground : What are your next plans ? BRAIS : My next plans are to continue in the production and in the cabin, I have several closed projects that will soon see the light :) Follow and support @brais1

Interview : Virtual Underground : How has this HFR story started ? HFR : I started djing 2 years ago. Virtual Underground : Where do you generally draw your inspiration from ? HFR : I have my inspiration from the club MMA in Munich and my two friends, which are also djing, Alectrix and Asiel. Virtual Underground : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process ? HFR : I usually play hard/industrial techno tracks cause I like the hard and rough style of techno. And I m mixing my tracks without using Loops. And sync of course. Virtual Underground : Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? HFR : I play on the Xone92 and 2 XDJ 700 Virtual Underground : How does the underground scene in your city looks like? HFR : the underground scene in Munich is okay but not the best^^ Virtual Underground : What are your next plans ? HFR : My next plans are to play at a bigger gig. So I hope someone give me the chance to proove myself. Follow HFR on soundcloud @hfr-techno

Virtual Underground : How has this Human Experiments story started ? Human Experiments : I don't really know how and when it started to be fair, music has always been part of my life and i was introduced to electronic quite young. I guess I started taking a real interest in djing when I first went to nightclubs. Learning how to mix was quite a logical next step for me. And then naturally from a certain point, the will to express my own idea of music started to emerge and that's why I learned to produce. Besides, playing your own material in front of an audience is always more satisfying. Virtual Underground : Where do you generally draw your inspiration from ? Human Experiments : I produce techno but my inspirations are quite eclectic : rhythmic noise, industrial, EBM, basically all of this kind of subgenres in which experimentation and the search for an extreme sound experience has a primary role. I'm also very receptive to cinematic music notably when it's made of orchestral sonorities and aggressive rhythms, it always grabs me when it's wisely mixed up with techno. Virtual Underground : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process ? Human Experiments : I'd say this set follows the pattern of what I usually do : Combine hard and cinematic techno materials with more accessible and danceable ones, always with a punk note. Regarding the mixing process itself I try not to just play tracks after tracks but to create synergies between them. So tracklist and running order selection is quite important. Virtual Underground : Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? Human Experiments : CDJ nexus 2000 and DJM 900. Virtual Underground : What are your next plans ? Human Experiments : I'm not gonna lie I don't have much time to produce, but some tracks of mine will be released soon on various labels, maybe with a press on vinyl format. On the long run I'd love to work on a live project. Follow @humanexperimentstechno #Techno #Underground

Virtual Underground : How has this BRÄLLE story started ? BRÄLLE : Began back in 2017 on the heels of my touring days winding down. I spent the previous 10 years touring with another band, and I needed to do something on my own, completely outside my comfort zone. Virtual Underground : Where do you generally draw your inspiration from ? BRÄLLE : This is a difficult question to summarize, but the one thing that's stayed true through all my musical experiences is to draw inspiration from outside your own scene. Shoegaze, Ambient, Black Metal, Goth Rock, or Synth Pop all play their own role in my songwriting process. Virtual Underground : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process ? BRÄLLE : This mix took a second to really find my stride, as is usually the case. You play with tone and groove a lot in the beginning until finally finding your path. I think of it like walking in the dark when you turn off the lights, it takes a second until your eyes adjust in the darkness before knowing where you should go. Virtual Underground : Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? BRÄLLE : This was recorded on my cd's at home into Logic X, where I add various atmospheric layers on-the-fly as the mix progresses. Virtual Underground : What about the scene in Brooklyn? BRÄLLE : The scene in Brooklyn is healthy and exciting for a newcomer. There is a lot of impressive local talent, innovating after-hour crews and a solid stream of underground acts every weekend. It is certainly the best scene within North America. Virtual Underground : What are your next plans ? BRÄLLE : My next plans are to focus more on live performance and Dj'ing within my scene and work on releasing the mountain of tracks that I have finished. I tend to stockpile my creations until I get lost in them. Lots more to come! Follow BRÄLLE @bralletechno

2019 has been an incredible year and we can't wait for the coming one as some amazing stuff is on its way! Big thanks to every artist who've been part of this, and to all the listeners without whom this story wouldn't even be worth it. To top this off, what about a special NYE podcast?! We are very happy to present MOIA tonight on Virtual Underground. MOIA is a techno music DJ and fresh producer based in Warsaw, Poland. Connected with music and art from childhood. She likes to share good vibes with her audience. Her music style is based on hard kicks and melodies. She likes to mix genres. During her short time in the Techno music, she have successfully opened the doors and music scene for new audience in Warsaw and other major cities. In September 2019 she won the 1st Prize at Instytut Debuts among more than 400 registered contestants. Resident DJ at Luzztro The Home Club. Follow @moiaofficial

Follow @melissa-dlima-518387546 Interview : Virtual Underground : How has this Melissa D'Lima story started ? Melissa D'Lima : I started Djing just under a year ago. I was in love with techno music and I decided to teach myself how to DJ for fun. I quickly found my style was the harder and more extreme forms of techno. I was lucky and got a chance to play quite early on. After that, more things came along such as podcasts and through this more people got to see my stuff. Naturally I wanted to have my own productions and so a bit later on I spent time working on producing . I got to work with some really nice labels that represent my style well. I was really lucky for the chances that I got in the start and I am really grateful for them. VU : Where do you generally draw your inspiration from ? Melissa D'Lima : really I draw a lot of inspiration. from other artists. there are some people that I think are really instrumental to me and how I developed. WNDRLST, Nico Moreno, Axel Picodot, ØRGIE, Veta.M and many more, I was influenced by them and their music always helped me. I really like the underground scene and going out and being part of it like that, also inspires me so much. VU : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process ? Melissa D'Lima : for me track selection is my favourite part and I spend really a lot of time and detail on it. I like to mix tracks that are similar and always I like to have different sections of the set. For example I can start with industrial, and then move to hard techno and later gabber or other hardcore genres. In terms of actual mixing, I like to give enough time to each track to showcase its main parts. but also I like things to be moving fast, to go with the high BPM. I pay a lot of attention to little things really . VU : Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? Melissa D'Lima : this set I recorded with Pioneer CDJ-2000NXS2 · Pioneer DJM-900NXS2 VU : What are your next plans ? Melissa D'Lima : my next plans are to continue to play out as much as I can. in particular I really hope to continue to have my close relationship with jaded. I have been really happy with all of my times there so far and I feel they helped me so much, especially to define exactly my style. I also look to play in more countries and experience the scenes they have there. I am lucky to say I will be starting in Belgium on NYE and also in January, Spain. also I am putting more time into production, I think I know now precisely what I want to produce. I will put my first EP out in the new year. I hope to continue to release on the more independent and underground labels.

Virtual Underground presenting Lorenzo Papini @lorenzo_papini Interview : Virtual Underground : How has this Lorenzo Papini story started ? Lorenzo Papini : My story has started around one year and and half ago. I've always loved digging into Techno and (a bit later) Industrial Techno and I've dedicated most of my recent life on looking and listening to a lot of new music every day just as pure passion. This, alongside the various techno and (more recently) industrial techno scene in London, also helped me to build my own prospective of Industrial Techno. So at some point, also thanks to some friends who pushed me in this direction and taught me how to DJ, I felt the need to start and share with people my own idea of music. Virtual Underground : Where do you draw your inspiration from ? Lorenzo Papini : I mainly draw my inspiration from the Industrial Techno scene itself and among my favourite DJs/Producers I can surely name Axel Picodot, Paramod and OGUZ even tho it's very difficult to make a narrow selection of artists at the moment. I also follow with big interest Gabber and Hardtechno waves. Virtual Underground :Could you describe your music selection and mixing process ? Lorenzo Papini : I see my vision of Industrial Techno as a journey through the darkest and fastest side of 4/4 techno with acid, acidcore, gabber, hardtechno and hardcore influences and my music selection has based on this idea. When I record a podcast I see it as an escalation from Techno to Hardcore with a lot of different influences in between and doing so I try to offer a 360 degree vision of my sound. Virtual Underground :Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? Lorenzo Papini : I used an Allen & Heat Xone 92 mixer, an Allen & Heath Xone K2 MIDI controller and a MacBook Pro to run Traktor Pro 3.0. Virtual Underground : What are your next plans ? Lorenzo Papini : My next most important plan is surely contributing to the scene with my first releases and regarding it I have a 3 tracks EP ready to go out on January. I'm already working on new projects and my goal would be to release 8/10 tracks by the end of 2020. Looking ahead I also have other plans in mind but right now I feel all my focus need to be on producing even tho I won't stop releasing podcast as it's something I really love to do!

Presenting dille @dille114 Interview : Virtual Underground : How has this dille story started ? Dille : It started in 2017, one year after my first techno rave. I was fascinated by discovering this kind of music that I haven't known before. The motivation to do it by myself came through some friends that were also DJing and have let me use their turntables. So I started to collect own records and quickly got me my own gear. Virtual Underground : Where do you draw your inspiration from ? Dille : From hearing music all day long, I guess. It´s very pleasing for me to find new Artists/Labels that are making great music. Virtual Underground : Could you describe your mixing process ? Dille : That´s hard to tell! Podcasts, for example, don´t always reflect how I would play in a club setting. It takes it´s time to get in the right mood and even then I´m not always happy with the result and delete it. Virtual Underground : Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? Dille : 2x Pioneer CDJ-2000 NXS & 1x Allen&Heath XONE 92 Virtual Underground :What are your next plans ? Dille : About 4/5 months ago I started to learn producing and it makes a lot of fun. So my only plan is to reach a level that I´m happy with but that will take a lot of time, I guess. Tracklist: Noneoftheabove - Signs of demonic possession (d_b 666 remix) Koszmar - Sad Nebula Hadone - Hate After Midnight (Manni Dee Remix) Mickey Nox - RIOT Shield REMY-X - Raw Acid Line I Hate Models - Prey for Lust (Cleric Remix) Falhaber - Synergy Axel Picodot - Acid Train Tripped - Nipples (Flick it) Oguz - Dancing With The Devil (Axel Picodot Remix) Brecc - Delusional World (ILLNURSE Remix) 6ejou - Techno Des Cimetières

Follow and support @aceacid Interview : Virtual Underground : How has this Ace Acid story started ? Ace Acid : It started about a year ago. I have been producing and DJ'ing all types of music for a long time, but since a year I have really been getting into techno production. Right now I'm studying electronic music production, and I'm still learning every day. Virtual Underground : Where do you draw your inspiration from ? Ace Acid : Honestly I dont know haha. I jump into the studio, and start my process and think of what type of track I want to make, do some sound design and see what happens. DJ-wise I draw my inspiration from my favourite DJ's Kobosil and Dax J. Virtual Underground : Could you describe your mixing process ? Ace Acid : When I schedule a podcast I look for the sound I wanna go for, and most of the time I would look for new music to add. When theres time I put a lot of tracks that would work in a playlist and hop in the DJ-booth. Virtual Underground : Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? Ace Acid : For this set I used the Pioneer-XDJ-RX2. Virtual Underground : What are you next plans? Ace Acid : My next plans are stepping up my music production level and keep on releasing podcasts!

Podcast #100 already, what a journey! Thanks you all for your support, and special thanks to all the artists that have been part of this story. Check the full Video on Youtube : https://youtu.be/xzjyhJ82k4k Tracklist : Brugmansia - prologue MTCH - Dersion Jfrank - Trick Yourself Von Grall - Falling bodies pier - Blurred Mind Human Experiments - Quantum Mechanics Mab - Paranoid Despot (Original Mix) SLYRS - Spoiler string Basswell - Let Me Cry TRBL - Uncondemned Behaviour Brayan Valenzuela - paralel OMBRAR - Wrong Path N°1 Vxltage - Pulsecode Achiever - Amsterdam Stories bunkerterror - Cult Ornviom - Snortex C_0 - Warhammer (Original Mix) ??????? - TEMPEST (MASTER by SLYRS) Human Experiments - Angular Momentum Veta.M - Agressive Line Veta.M - White Noise Dead Do - Sobriety (Original Mix) WNDRLST & Savagery - First Encounter Hot Dog Alias - Dead Dreaming Tyrant - No Strings Attached Martyn Hare - Negative Surge ap'hel - 10–Intransit–3 (Fausto Mercier Remix)

Video : https://youtu.be/JO6KnKtYdqQ Follow and support @opakdj Interview : Virtual Underground: How has this Opäk story started ? Opäk : I made acoustic music since was young. I play drums and I did a conservatory before starting to play blues / rock / punk with my friends! Then when I went to university, these projects ended, we were all in different cities. I made new friends, all techno fan. I did my first techno nights.... During one, when i was in party in front of "I hate models" at his beginnings, I knew that this was somehow the new essence of punk. So after started with playing with my first little pioneer mixing table and a computer, the Opäk project was born. Virtual Underground : Where do you draw your inspiration from ? Opäk : I find my inspiration in all the music that has nourished me from my childhood to here. From rock to metal, from blues to stoner, from EBM to Techno, from Techno to Acid, from industrial to hardcore. I often define myself as a "Industrial Techno " artist but in the end, I think the richness is to open up my influences as much as possible! if I have to name names that I have listened to a lot I will say The Doors, Rage Against The Machine, Official Motörhead, The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson then in techno I Hate Models, RVDE, Gijensu, Ancient Methods, Phase Fatale, Tommy Four Seven, Ansome, Ayarcana, Myler, TWAN and many other artists in the same genre. Virtual Underground : Could you describe your mixing process ? Opäk : For me the role of the DJ is like that of the sculptor, he must shape the atmosphere and take people on his journey. As a story it is important to have a beginning, a middle and a logical end, so the selection is made in such a way as to respect this narrative scheme! Then of course the best is to perceive only slightly the transitions between the tracks and that they bring a new breath to the set. Virtual Underground : Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? Opäk : I used CDJs and a DJM900 and then I equalized the mix on bleachton so that the audio quality and the feeling was pleasant, simply ahaha Virtual Underground : What are your next plans ? Opäk : What I prefer for the moment is the "show and concert" part I like to perform in search of people, their opinions, emotions. This is the area where I am most comfortable and very beautiful dates like the pulse festival, Entente nocturne arrive. I also created my own label: Askorn Records, which I intend to develop, and finally I am working hard to improve and work to release my first EP which should arrive in 2020.

Video : https://youtu.be/F31eBFVf9SQ Interview : Virtual Underground : How has this Clinical Hates story started ? Clinical Hates : In 2018 There was one event on khidi, where were my favourite artists, especially SNTS which is the best artist for me right now and was for a long time also. After i listened to him there was like many changes in me, i found new inspiration and decided to make different music from other techno tracks, this is how i decided to make project with name of Clinical Hates. Virtual Underground : Where do you draw your inspiration from ? Clinical Hates : My inspiration comes from my mind, my thoughts and my fantasy, my workplace, my dreams and from every single step which i see in everyday life. Virtual Underground : Could you describe your mixing process ? Clinical Hates : I will not argue for a long time about it, I do not think it is necessary, this is a very pleasant process. Virtual Underground : Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? Clinical Hates : I used Traktor program to record a set, which am still working on. Virtual Underground : Any plans in the near future ? Clinical Hates : I certainly have good plans for the future, Personal development as the most important, i will not talk about future, i just don't like to talk about it. Follow and support @clinicalhates

Virtual Underground : How has this noimage story started ? noimage : The story began in 2018 when I started producing tracks inspired by ben and Jeff Mills, then I discovered the world of hard techno and started producing at 145-150 bpm exactly and then started to DJ and save tracks. Virtual Underground : Where do you draw your inspiration from ? noimage : I really like to watch when people dance to my music, especially when cool DJs play it like my friend Nastya Zimens, she really charges me with energy and when I listen to new works by different artists I catch their vibes and produce something of my own with that inspiration. Virtual Underground : Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? noimage : djm 800 cdj850 and some disgusting monitors that were in the studio. Virtual Underground : Any plans in the near future ? noimage : my work on FALSIVE RECORDS label is coming out soon ;) Follow and support noimage @exzyonion

Virtual Underground : How has this She!k story started ? She!k : I used to play techno and acid through the nineties on vinyl whilst studying Architecture at University.  I gave it up after work and family took over, but eventually I got some cheap controllers to mess around with Traktor. I enjoyed layering loops and adding different kicks etc. with Ableton. After a while I was more into creating the textures and percussion to play over the top of tracks. I started to get modular gear after watching a live set by Surgeon. She!k grew out of that really. Virtual Underground : Where do you draw your inspiration from? Recently, I have been really intrigued by artists recording very organic sounds, like trickling water and converting the sample into midi notes for drums or other notes.  It could also be some new gear, or hearing an interesting track which might trigger some curiosity...  Sometimes watching a film makes me want to emulate the same atmosphere. Virtual Underground : Could you describe your sound selection and mixing process ? She!k : A lot of it is intuitive. Whilst I'm getting better at pre-planning drum patterns and which sounds or voices I want to blend together, I always forget, particularly with drum patterns...  I'm also really prone to adding too much, so I have to keep reminding myself to keep it simple. I enjoy blending contrasting textures so one bass line might carry some filthy distortion with a really clean glassy bleep cutting through, or vice versa.  I suppose I always start from somewhere small. I used a clouds module at the beginning of this recording. It's a granular sampler / synth module and is brilliant for creating atmosphere. Then the mix can emerge from there. I am also into quite raspy synths at the moment, so I've been letting them loose recently. I really love the long atmospheric mixes from Rrose and Lucy so a lot of my recent recordings follow that hypnotic, textural path. I really love the hard, industrial and aggressive stuff too, but it's not easy to move between these styles... Virtual Underground : Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? She!k : No software, although I sometimes sample reaktor if I've managed to find an interesting ensemble... I use a Pioneer Toraiz SP16 for the main percussion patterns as well as a few other sampled klangs etc. I really like the playability of this sampler despite its limitations. A lot of the sound I have in my library is field recorded from building sites. I always take my zoom recorder when I'm visiting projects in case someone is angle grinding or shot firing something. All the synth voices are from my modular. I have 4 main synth voices as well 2 percussion modules; a basimilus and a clever cv controlled sampler called Transients which I use for background layers. I also have a 303 module, but I'm not so into the acid sound at the moment. These are all controlled by a nerdeq sequencer, which is a fantastic stacker sequencer. I have several modulation modules which I use to model different aspects of the voices.  All the voices are mixed on a mackie 1642 vlz desk. I have a geiger counter distortion module, trshmstr filter, a 2hp reverb and a erica synths dsp delay. Virtual Underground : What are your next plans ? She!k : Get more live exposure... I'm starting to make better contacts for that, but it's taken ages. I want to add more variety in the drum patterns when I play a set. I always seem to stick with one... I also really need to finish at least one of the tracks I've started... Follow and support @sheik_live

Virtual Uderground : How has this SÆLEM story started . SÆLEM : It all started in the middle of the Parisian warehouses where I started discovering tracks then I got some gear and started mixing and producing. It's only been 6 months since I started really learning, right now I just want to improve. Virtual Uderground : Where do you draw your inspiration from? SÆLEM : I am lucky to live in Paris where many international DJs come and where there are excellent schedules every weekend. I can therefore listen to a great diversity of artists and atmospheres. I also have a very good record shop haha big up Techno Import. Virtual Uderground : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process? SÆLEM : It's very compulsive. I am constantly digging whether it is in vinyl, on soundcloud in sets. I select tracks with particular atmospheres above all. Once my selection is made, I try to make pairs between harmonically compatible tracks and I build my sets that way. Virtual Uderground : Which software/hardware did you use for this set? SÆLEM : I used a DDJ-1000 and rekordbox pioneer with 1 turntable. I did a combination of digital and vinyl. Virtual Uderground : What are your next plans ? SÆLEM : Currently I just released a new track that is in the mix and available for free download. I will continue to make some individual releases before producing my first EP for 2020 which will serve as a demo for labels. @saelemm Featuring tracks from Dahlia, Mall Grab, Darc Marc, VTSS, D.Dan, Opal, B2, SÆLEM, Swarm Intelligence and others. Follow us to stay tuned on www.facebook.com/virtualundergroundtechno

Virtual Underground : How has this cmnd:Z story started ? cmnd:Z : After meeting in music school and working together for several years to reach a specific style of sound, Parth and David decided to start this collaboration in the spring of 2018. Virtual Underground : Where do you draw your inspiration from ? cmnd:Z : Most of our inspiration is drawn from the parties we attend to the people we meet. Lots of artists showcased through the various LBGQT+ and POC collectives that Brooklyn has to offer, have shown us that the underground isn't dead and that it is indeed well and striving. Virtual Underground : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process ? cmnd:Z : Our sound is primarily comprised of industrial to rave essentials. Our BPM can range anywhere from 130 and above. When we dig for music, we try not to focus on any particular style, but more so of how we can incorporate it into our set. Virtual Underground : Which software/hardware did you use for this set ? cmnd:Z : This set was recorded with traktor DJ software and a traktor S4 DJ controller. Virtual Underground : Any plans in the near future ? cmnd:Z : Our upcoming plans include getting our 2nd EP completed and released as well as playing a wide selection of shows. Follow @cmndzofficial

Presenting Gus, Utrecht Based Techno Producer & DJ , follow him on Soundcloud @gus_techno Virtual Underground : What things and people inspire you most ? Gus : When i started mixing my focus was mainly on the dark techno scene in cologne. Artists like In2AUX, Eugen Kunz, Robust, PRODX, Lukas Freudenberger, Cortechs and Steve Shadenwere examples for how i want my music to sound. The last years there has been kind of a shift in modern Techno. The Industrial sound is getting bigger and so is my taste more going the industrial way. Although i still love the Cologne's dark techno scene and still follow their progress i now get my inspiration from artists like WNDRLST, DYEN, Tyrant, Incident Prism and Nico Moreno. I'm still partying a lot aswell, this gives me inspiration about how i could mix tracks and what sound i like to make in my productions. This how i keep developing and renewing my skills. Link to full interview : https://www.facebook.com/virtualundergroundtechno/posts/915717808781635

Presenting TW 84' @tw_84 artist based in Medelin, Columbia Link to interview : https://www.facebook.com/virtualundergroundtechno/posts/906246123062137

Presenting XXVII @xxviiiivxx artist from Argentina

Presenting Wanton @robin-van-genechten DJ and producer from Geel, Belgium. Virtual Underground : What things and people inspire you most? Wanton : The person that inspired me the most is my mentor from my first education Staf Verbeeck. Not only did he show us the passion and all his tricks in recording and mixing bands and music, he showed me how to be someone in the music world. The most humble and helpful person I have ever met. He taught me that you should do it because of the passion and not for fame or money. Do it because you love it. His story inspired me a lot. The next person would be Ignace Dhont. In addition to the first education, I did a second education in Utrecht Holland, named Sound Education, where he was my teacher. Next to all the amazing people I met and spoke to in the music industry, he focused on making us strong in our mindset. From lesson one he gave us speeches about believing in our ourselves. He brainwashed me into a positive guy with a strong mindset. And for me that was the best thing he could teach me, because it made me inspire other people to go for their dreams and believe in theirselves. Next to those 2 guys I get inspired by all the people around me. My friends and people I meet during my journey. Link to full interview: https://www.facebook.com/virtualundergroundtechno/posts/897190227301060

by AL @alsessions Tracklist: 2609´16 - Patrick The Cave Hole - MIC7D Polyether - Casual Treatment Radix [Original Mix] - Somar Sevleuh TCN 01 - Citizen 2000 Active Response - Left Hand of God She's A Mess - xanah (CORROID'Sie ist eine Furie' Remix) Neuralgic Scape - Victor AG Rekall [Original Mix] - Somar Sevleuh ISS - Calle Quevedo The Straight Line - Blurred Boy Raven - Tundra New Project -001 - Marla Singer A New Beginning - Aahan Through the Gate - ETN Confusion - Renoffski Sudden Death (Ben Techy Remix) - Basswell Fenix - Mind injection MDATOR - Ornviom Disposable Screens - Nacasat Club kid's face melter - Nacasat Fractured Thoughts - Left Hand of God Keep Running - Johnny Notebook Dualism - Tundra Saturn - André Michelle Neptune (Kooscha Remix) - André Michelle Harsh - Concept Of Thrill Without A Name We Are Nothing - Manic

Presenting Stygian @stygian-techno Virtual Underground : What things and people inspire you most? Stygian : I am first inspired by dark, hard and industrial atmospheres that I have mainly found in artists like [KRTM], Plexøs, Perc or AnD who inspire me enormously. Virtual Underground : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process? Stygian : I always try to set the tone from the first sound of my mix, I always start with a hard sound that turns around 135/140BPM, which leaves me some room afterwards to increase the pace and intensity of the mix. I don't really have a Tempo limit, only the atmosphere matters to me. Link to full interview : https://www.facebook.com/virtualundergroundtechno/posts/887696618250421

Presenting @hanzschranz Virtual Underground : What things and people inspire you most? HS : I get a lot of inspiration from parties and from dj sets that are online and livestreams on for example facebook by looking at how the dj mixes! There are also some DJ's I get inspiration from such as friends of mine ORBS and for example DYEN, Héctor Oaks and Noneoftheabove! Virtual Underground : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process? HS : At the moment I'm still very busy searching for my own style! But what's online now can be described as fast and hard techno with lots of melodies in it, usually 145 to 155 bpm with an occasional peak of 160 bpm. The last week I'm a bit more busy with 134/140 dark industrial! Link to full interview : https://www.facebook.com/virtualundergroundtechno/posts/883056778714405

by @khalmo VU : Could you describe your music selection and mixing process? Khalmo : Music selection is quite a challenge, probably even more than the mixing itself, i always make a plan, sorting out track by styles and speed, then make another selection before i begin playing. I just simply work with phrase mixing, i like to introduce a new track in a very smooth way, blending them into each other, sometimes it sounds very fun keeping up both if it works out that fine. Mixing gives me pleasure and very relaxing for me. Main styles like to spin are techno, hardcore and dnb (breakbeats are definitely great to work with and sometimes very challenging). Link to full interview : https://www.facebook.com/virtualundergroundtechno/posts/878112059208877 Tracklist : D-Leria - Revolt Brian Burger - Bus Tex-Rec - The Maschine Blood & Tears - Screwdriver Part 2 Virgil Enzinger & Submerge - Dark Matter Mike Väth & Robin Hirte - Voodoo Niereich, Hackler & Kuch - Trans Lunar Injection Stigmata - Latah Sutter Cane - Outer Limits Heckmann - Darkness Falls Knobs - Like This Ross Alexander - Exponent 2 Mas Teeveh - Peyote NHK, Hackler & Kuch - Chromatic World VX - Sahara NHK, Hackler & Kuch - Faithful And The Kind (Space DJz Remix V1) Tachini - Boom VX - Central V02 Virgil Enzinger & Submerge - Stolen Memory

by @erber-r 25 years old Producer / DJ based in France. Link to full interview : https://www.facebook.com/virtualundergroundtechno/posts/873267593026657

Presenting D.N.P @dnp-official Virtual Underground : What things inspire you most? D.N.P : When I stopped producing for three years, my love for techno music started to develop. I went to techno parties on a regular base, experiencing the performances of great artists like: Paula Temple, Rebekah, SNTS, Perc, etc. I used to listen to all of these artists on spotify back in the day. Now that I started producing techno music, I discovered the greatness of the underground techno scene. There are many underground techno artists, producing high quality industrial techno. This definitely inspires me the most in producing my music. Link to full interview :https://www.facebook.com/virtualundergroundtechno/posts/868713953482021

Presenting A0B @anullb, a new project based in Berlin, Germany Link to announcement + Interview : https://www.facebook.com/virtualundergroundtechno/posts/864242303929186

Presenting Orbs @orbs1999, a young techno-duo based in the Netherlands. Virtual Underground : What things inspires most your work? Orbs : We like a lot of different styles and are mostly inspired by the significant energy that we get from techno. So that's what we try to do with Orbs. A variation of dark, melodic and up-tempo vibes, creating a special energy for others. For this podcast we used some darker, minimal techno with punchy kicks, acid and a lot of energy in it as we always strive to. Most of our work so far is a fast, happy and bouncy type of techno. Some artists that inspire us are AIROD, Randomer, AnD, Héctor Oaks among others. We think they also try to keep a variation in their sets/work and are always trying to create something new or different. Link to full interview soon...

Presenting Niccolò Baldacci aka Feverwax @feverwax This set was recorded last week at Disagio Club in Florence, Italy. Virtual Underground How has this FeverWax story started? Niccolò Baldacci : Born in Florence since I was young I start to be really in love with techno music especially with artist such Dave Clarke and Joey Beltram. Growing up I decided to move to London where I start to improve my music knowledge getting in touch with more Industrial and Acid sounds. I started to dj in 2015 buying my pair of Technics 1200 and I completely falled in love with beatmatching and scratching. Virtual Underground : Could you tell us about your track selection and mixing process? Niccolò Baldacci : My selection of music is mainly Acid techno with Industrial influence but I like often to play some records from 90s as well. My dream for the future is to start to produce music but it is gonna take me sometime has I'm a completely disaster using computers. Virtual Underground : Thanks again for this amazing set and good luck for next steps!