Interview: Techno Legend Richie Hawtin In Beijing

Plastikman, Richie Rich, F.U.S.E., Concept 1, Circuit Breaker, Jack Master – Richie Hawtin is a man of many names. Hugely influential during Detroit’s second wave of techno in the early ’90s, Hawtin has since garnered plenty of acclaim and emerged as a leading purveyor of minimal techno. With nearly 20 albums under his belt (under various guises), he’s taken plenty of trips around the world and blown the roofs off countless parties. Ahead of Hawtin’s date at Tango on December 4, we caught up with the man of plastic on the phone at his home in Berlin.

the Beijinger: Are you coming to China as just yourself or under one of your aliases?
Richie Hawtin: I’m just coming as Richie Hawtin – which is what I always do as a DJ.

tbj: Are you ready for China?
RH: Yes, definitely – it’s taken me a long time to get back. I played in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing a couple years back. I’ve had two China trips in my lifetime; this will be my third time there.

tbj: How was the reception, compared to Western audiences?
RH: Well, there are always differences. Of course, there’s a higher [musical] education in Europe – there’s a history there that you can feel. But the energy in China is amazing. People were so warm and happy that I was there. And that really pushes you, makes you try new things.

tbj: Are you planning anything special?
RH: I’ve got some anticipation – but I don’t plan much. I’m listening to music every day, I’ve got my equipment. I usually just get to the club and feel the people and the energy.

tbj: What equipment are you planning to bring?
RH: I’ve got two Allen & Heath Xone 92 mixers, two Allen & Heath Xone 1D controllers, two Apple computers – one running Ableton, and one running Tracker – and this German control thing called The Machina. That all gets slapped together and hopefully something wonderful comes out of it.

tbj: Plastikman is probably your most well-known alias. How did he come into being?
RH: It was in Detroit, around ’92 or ’93. We were all just working on trippy minimal albums, partying all night. It just felt like we could melt into the floor at any moment, like we were plastic – so I came up with the name Plastikman.

tbj: Is Plastikman still around lurking inside you?
RH: I think so. I mean, in a good Richie Hawtin set, you’re always going to hear some Plastikman. I’m working on new Plastikman material too. But it also depends on how I’m feeling that day [laughs].

tbj: Some say you epitomize minimal techno – are you happy with this branding?
RH: Being branded too hard can be problematic… I think as a DJ, when I perform, I try to encompass many forms that I find vibrant. But I find there’s a very minimalist thread that runs through all kinds of music … not all music, of course. I like stripped down music. I like music with balance. It’s all part of the Richie Hawtin experience.

tbj: You were born in England, but technically you’re Canadian; you’ve got musical roots in Detroit and now you’re living in Berlin. Which country do you feel most at home in?
RH: Well, I always feel at home in Canada, since that’s where I grew up. I can always go back there and feel at home. I feel really good in Berlin – I’ve been here for five or six years. I always feel very warm flying in – there are so many great clubs here. The way of life is really great, it’s such a chill city.

tbj: Any good memories from back in the day?
RH: Tons of memories from The Shelter [legendary Detroit club]. Getting there early and playing records for nobody, saving my best records for later when the crowd comes in, staying out late, heading to other parties, working on edits with Derrick [May], Kevin [Saunderson], Juan [Atkins] … at that time, everyone was around. That’s where it all started.

tbj: Who have been some of your biggest influences?
RH: For sure, Derrick, Kevin and Juan… Jeff Mills, Ricardo in the last few years. Aphex Twin. Kraftwork, of course.

Richie Hawtin plays at Tango on Dec 4. RMB 150. 10pm.