45. Richie Hawtin

Richie Hawtin

The momentum of 2011 has been absolutely incredible,” says Canadian techno wonder Richie Hawtin on the continued flowering of his creativity, which seems to grow ever more visionary with ...

Style: Pure electronic music

Best known for: Continuing to evolve, develop and push forward

Tune of 2011: Mathew Jonson 'Learning To Fly'

Breakthrough DJ/Producer of 2011: John Gaiser

What's the future of DJing? Not being controlled by a song's original structure

Favourite app? World Lens, which is a translation application. If you hold your camera up to signs in different languages, it automatically translates them. It's great if you're in Tokyo or a Spanish-speaking country.

Discovery of the year? Kanazawa, Japan. Visiting a new city in Japan and going deeper into the culture is always a rewarding experience for me. It's my favourite land in the world and I'm always trying to scratch deeper below the surface.

Rediscovery of the year? I'd say Model 500 'The Chase'. Hearing techno that sounds timeless, has melody and takes you back to the future is an incredible sound and feeling.

Awkward Moment? Delaying 'Arkives' for the third or fourth time and finally having it come out seven months later!

Style or substance? “Substance, because it will outlive you, style changes daily

Pet Hate? Hate is a very hard word that I try not to use in vocabulary. But what is my pet hate? Not being picked up on arrival at an airport

The momentum of 2011 has been absolutely incredible,” says Canadian techno wonder Richie Hawtin on the continued flowering of his creativity, which seems to grow ever more visionary with age.
“When I think of what we've been able to pull off, taking Plastikman 1 to 1.5,” he reflects on the incredible new stand-alone live show that he launched this summer, “in-between my normal DJ schedule which was busier than ever this year.”

Then there was 'Arkives', his 15 CD, 1 DVD, book and bonus digital tracks box-set, which lifted the lid on almost two decades of music.
“I think I'll be able to fit three projects in next year in the time it took,” he jokes on the exhaustive task few artists would have the energy, foresight or back catalogue to do. “I can now see why people do box sets at the end of their career!
“It's one of those projects that you work so tightly and closely on that it takes a couple of months to realise what you've done,” he adds, the relief of finishing now turning into pride at the monumental achievement. “And of course, we still have three months left to rock and destroy parties around the world!