In the beginning, there was Kraftwerk, and it was good. The early
‘80s gave birth to an electronic sound that stretched from
Berlin to Detroit, spiraling outwards to all points south and west.
Miami had bass. Chicago had house. The Left Coast fostered the mixed
breeds and urbanized the sound. Before all of that, though, there
was Kraftwerk, and it was good.
Born of the Kraftwerk vibe, fused with the soul and funk of the
Parliament era, was Detroit techno. Techno was hard and fast, making
use of non-music elements as music. If a sound could be made, it
could be sampled and transformed. If it sounded right, it was used.
If it had a soul, it had a home in Detroit techno.
In the Detroit-based beginning, there was Juan Atkins, and he was
good. In the first wave of Detroit techno, Atkins made way for many
artists to come. He became the first of a handful of artists from
the area to succeed, including Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson.
Juan was there to flip the first switches, illuminating a sound
that still fills clubs today. Detroit’s influence is felt
in music around the world. That influence is the dance-hall dynasty
of these three men. The Ann Arbor Paper spoke with Juan Atkins about
watching techno develop and about his first steps into a weekly
gig at the Necto, starting this month.
Ann
Arbor Paper: What kinds of music and culture influenced your early
work?
Juan Atkins: A lot of sounds influence me. Non-music elements are
great. As far as music, a lot of the early sounds of P-Funk really
hit me. Early Funkadelic had a lot of things in it that inspired
my sound directly. The early stuff—before “Atomic Dog,”
even—was hot. I’m talking about the “Flashlight”
and “One Nation Under a Groove” era.
A2P:
Aside from music, what other forms of art have you delved into?
JA: There’s really been nothing else. I’ve always had
music. I’ve always just wanted to do music. Making music..
playing music. I’ve always loved music and that’s been
my outlet.
A2P:
Was there a series of events that got you into music?
JA: When I started, Rick Davis had lot to do with it. When I came
up, I had no idea you could release music independently, on your
own labels. As we came into that, I started releasing things as
Cybotron and Metroplex.
A2P:
What inspired your involvement in Cybotron and how did that affect
your future work and involvement?
JA: A lot of what makes my music what it is is developing sounds
into music. The development of sampling opened a whole new way of
making music. Instead of working with instruments only, we could
sample non-music sounds.
A2P:
What kept you there, producing new material and continuing to push
as hard as you did?
JA: That’s all I’ve ever done, all I’ve ever known.
There’s no interest in anything else. All I wanted to do before
it all hit was make music. It’s all I want to do now, so I
make music.
A2P:
Along the way, I’m sure you worked with many great minds.
Of course, being part of the Belleville Three will always stick
in my mind as a great collaboration. Is there anyone else you really
enjoyed working with?
JA: One that stands out to me is Orlando Voorn. He and I hooked
up early on and put out some great stuff. I always liked his sound.
He had it together. I also worked with 4-Hero (Mark & Dego)
early on. Working with those guys was great.
A2P:
How do you feel about inventing one of the most influential genres?
Does it ever hit you when you hear a snippet of one of your tracks
in a club?
JA: It’s really flattering. If I go somewhere and I hear something
I did, it’s real cool. I was just having fun. It’s something
I wanted to do. I always wanted to succeed. I’m proud that
it did this well.
A2P:
Do you think Detroit techno could have happened anywhere else? Do
you think the music was made because it was the perfect time and
place or would it have happened eventually?
JA: It could have happened elsewhere. It just happened to come here
first. Detroit had a good vibe. Chicago had that with house music.
Detroit was the sound itself.
A2P:
How do you think the progression of Detroit techno has affected
other local genres, such as hip-hop and other non-electronic styles,
like the indie and rock styles coming out of Detroit today?
JA: You can hear it in the evolutions of music. There’s an
evolution to everything. If people liked what we did and still play
it, that’s cool.
A2P:
Can you personally identify with your own music?
JA: Yeah. I’m still really connected. I’m still driven
by the things I was involved in back then. The music itself changes
and evolves but the ideas and soul are still there.
A2P:
What kinds of things can we expect from Juan Atkins in 2005?
JA: Strangely, this is the 20th anniversary of my label, Metroplex
records. For that, we’re gonna do a cool anniversary event.
It’ll probably be in June or July, somewhere in Detroit. I’m
looking forward to it. It’s been a fun 20 years. Also, I’m
putting out a few records on the New Religion label, out of London.
I’ve done 3 EPs with them already, so we’re looking
to release a full record soon. Look for a world tour after that.
Dates are pending, but we’re looking to use the Metroplex
party as the kickoff event.
A2P:
What kinds of things can we expect from your Necto weekly?
JA: I’ve never done weekly or residence, so I’m trying
it out. It’s really gonna be a place for people who like my
style of techno to release and enjoy it. It’s nothing I’ve
had a chance to do before but am really excited about now. I’ll
be playing all kinds of stuff, both new and old.
A2P:
How did you get hooked up with the Necto guys?
JA: I happened to be walking around Ann Arbor one day and checked
it out. I remember the Necto when it was the Nectarine Ballroom.
Since I’m back in Michigan, it just came together. My residence
is near there, so it made sense. We’ve put lots of planning
into it. It’ll be a good show.
A2P:
With all that has come, is there anything you regret, or wish you’d
done more of? Any lessons that had to be learned the hard way?
JA: Not really. I can’t complain at all. I’ve had a
good life. No complaints here.
A2P:
A lot of people know you as a musician. There’s got to be
another side of Juan. Family man? Technology fan? What else drives
Juan Atkins?
JA: Nothing else, man. Just music. It’s what I do. It’s
what I love. I can’t imagine doing anything else. A2P
See
Juan Atkins and friends at the Necto on Sundays. See listings for
details or check www.necto.com.
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