Techno’s Origins Shift From US to Europe

In Lyon, France, during the Nuits sonores festival, Laure Togola and Frédéric Trottier-Pistien discuss the evolution of techno music. The genre began in the late 1970s and early 1980s in Detroit, Chicago, and New York, created by Black and marginalized DJs and producers seeking spaces for joy and community. As techno moved to England and Germany in the 1980s, its origins became less visible, with white performers gaining prominence.

In France, the first wave of immigrants arrived during the rise of techno, unaware of the music’s Black American roots. The French Touch movement further distanced the music from its origins, prioritizing financial gain over social issues. Researcher Samuel Lamontagne notes that public policies in Paris intentionally used electronic music for economic and tourism purposes starting in 2010.

This led to “gentrification” of the culture, with underground spaces becoming commercialized and losing their political edge. Only about 14% of artists at French music festivals are women or people of minority genders, according to a report by the CNM. Efforts continue to reclaim techno’s political roots and create a more equitable model for the industry.