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Biography
Born in Oxfordshire, England but growing up in Windsor, Ontario on the other side of the Atlantic, Hawtin was a pivotal figure amongst Detroit techno’s second wave in the early nineties. As the years have gone by - Hawtin can now lay claim to a career that’s spanned nearly three decades - he’s begun to focus more primarily on minimal techno, and he’s widely considered to be one of the genre’s key exponents.
Since taking on the name Plastikman in 1993, Hawtin’s penchant for globetrotting has deeply influenced his work; he’s lived in some of the electronic music capitals of the world, including Detroit, New York City and Berlin. His career highlights include producing a composition called ‘9.20’, a piece commissioned specifically for the 2006 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Turin, as well as the gradual development of his M_nus record label. In 2012, he began to produce a revolutionary new club night in Ibiza, ENTER., which features a broad range of electronic styles over five specifically designed rooms, and has continued to do so every summer since; in 2013, meanwhile, he played a Plastikman set at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City; that particular performance, he said, went on to form the basis for his ‘Plastikman: Ex’ album.
Live reviews
Richie Hawtin’s minimalist techno sound is hypnotic and insanely easy to get lost in; you get into his set within seconds and the next thing you know, hours have passed and you’re still dancing. It’s no wonder that Richie has found success all over the world, and is a must-see during Ibiza’s busiest season. Richie lives and breathes dance music, and his sets are always a total powerhouse. Richie’s experiences and upbringing on both sides of the Atlantic lend a universal tone to his music, and seem to have been the driving force of his early tech-heavy almost avant -garde style. Today, he’s the master of techno and electronica, with skilfully constructed tracks such as ‘Tonarzt’ and ‘The Tunnel.’ Richie’s level of calm during his sets is obscene. Anyone would be forgiven for thinking this calmness suggests he’s got everything pre-mixed and playing on autopilot. The truth of the matter is that Richie has mastered his craft so intensely, and has so much control over his sound that he can afford to relax and just enjoy his sets as much as those of us in the crowd always do. Seeing Richie Hawtin live is an absolute no-brainer. You have to go.
lauratunbridge
