Techno: The Rise Of Detroit’s Machine Music at the Michigan State University Museum will delve into the Motor City’s connection with the iconic electronic music genre.
The vibrant exchange of ideas between electronic musicians in Germany and Detroit has left a lasting impact on dancefloors around the globe. A new Michigan State University Museum exhibit titled Techno: The Rise Of Detroit’s Machine Music aims to highlight this pivotal moment in music history. This engaging exhibition is set to run from February 4 – April 30 and will be accessible to the public free of charge.
Key to the exhibit is the collaboration with Underground Resistance (UR), featuring a sound installation enriched by visuals from Andrew Charles Edman. UR’s legacy, which parallels the evolution of Detroit techno, is marked by its militant themes, establishing its place in the realm of Afrofuturist protest music.
Techno: The Rise Of Detroit’s Machine Music will present artifacts that chronicle the early dance music scene in Detroit, showcasing items such as speakers from the legendary Club Heaven, iconic drum machines, and album artwork from significant records. Additionally, notable figures including UR Cofounder “Mad” Mike Banks and renowned Detroit DJ Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale will participate in panel discussions.
“Underground Resistance has always been about pushing beyond the expected,” stated John Collins of UR, the community curator of the exhibit. “It’s about demonstrating to Detroit youth that technology can be a tool for innovation rather than just a job replacement. This exhibition embodies that spirit of potential, showcasing how Detroit’s techno pioneers transformed machines into symbols of hope and change.”
Influenced by early electronic music pioneers like Kraftwerk, Detroit artists such as Kevin Saunderson, Blake Baxter, and Juan Atkins were instrumental in the first wave of techno. Their groundbreaking music contributed to the soundtrack of Germany’s reunification following the Berlin Wall’s fall in 1989, inspiring a new generation of artists during a time when dance music was gaining momentum across the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
For more details on Techno: The Rise Of Detroit’s Machine Music, visit the Michigan State University Museum website.
