WHO Swedish techno pioneer Adam Beyer continues to amaze enthusiasts around the world with his unique brand of hard, percussive techno. Best known for his label Drumcode, which originally was the name of his first significant release in 1995, Beyer’s groundbreaking 1996 debut album Decoded defined a new framework for techno on the dance floor. Since then he’s released another two studio albums, numerous tracks and remixes, and steered two more successful labels.
Beyer’s career began with him DJing high-school parties and meeting fellow Swede and current tourmate Joel Mull. During his first few years of producing, the former rave kid released many underground hits — including a breakthrough track on New York imprint Direct Drive — and started gigging around Europe. It wasn’t long before he was headlining festivals on three decks. Awarded Best Minimal DJ at this year’s 11th Annual DJ Awards in Ibiza, Beyer is rounding out a busy year of remixes, appearing on Fabric 39, releasing his installment of a Fuse compilation on Music Man Records, and lots of activity on Drumcode, with a tour alongside long-time pal Mull.
WHAT Techno.
WHERE Oct. 10 with Joel Mull, Metalogic and others at CiRCA (126 John).
FAVOURITE RECORD OF ALL TIME “I’m a big fan of The Stone Roses and early indie, so I’ll go with ‘I Wanna Be Adored.’”
FAVOURITE RECORD RIGHT NOW “Right now I’ve been finishing my sets with a new Timo Mass record, ‘Subtellite,’ coming out on Cocoon. Absolute killer.”
FAVOURITE WEBSITE RIGHT NOW Beatport.com. “Being on the road all the time makes it a great companion when updating your sets.”
DIGITAL OR ANALOG? “Right now I play CDs,” says Beyer. “I’m not really pro or against anything. The speakers are what matter. I’ve heard people play incredible sets on all formats. I think the whole discussion is a bit overrated.”
WHAT IS VITAL TO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE? “Walking our two lovely dogs.”
WHAT GLOBAL ISSUE CONCERNS YOU MOST RIGHT NOW? “I guess global warming. We used to have snow every year in the winter in Sweden when I was a kid, but not anymore.”
WHAT IS YOUR RING TONE RIGHT NOW? “Some beat I got from [Spanish techno DJ] Paco Osuna ages ago. I should change it really. Not because the beat is bad, just the fact that having a techno beat as a ring signal is somewhat cheesy.”
WHAT IS THE LAST GREAT FILM YOU SAW? Into the Wild.
WHAT ACTOR WOULD PLAY YOU IN A BIOPIC? Vince Vaughn.
WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW? “The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx. I love reading fucked up biographies from musicians or artists. Lots of things to relate to usually, although I’m not really into smack.”