Aaron Atkins Mix

Following a tip from Kyle Hall, it is with great pleasure that I can introduce the fourth installment in the Wunderkind mix series, and this time it comes from Aaron Atkins, nephew of the original techno pioneer Juan Atkins, and an outstanding electro producer in his own right. 2010 should be a big year for vintage electro, and Aaron's sound, represented here by cuts from fellow Detroit native and Micron Audio co-conspirator, DJ Stingray 313, and AUX 88 pays testament to the enduring appeal of the sound. Bearing more than a passing resemblance to some of the not-quite-DnB currently being explored by artists like Instra:Mental and D-Bridge, Aaron delivers a powerful journey through the heyday of electro, and gives us an insight into where it may well be heading in the not too distant future.

Download here.

It is rare to come across someone as in love with classic electro as yourself. Could you tell me what it is you love about it?

As far as electro,I like the energy, the sounds and pace and the arrangements.

Coming from Detroit, do you not feel pressure to be more into house or techno?

Well not exactly. In one of my sets I'll play a house record called Adonis 'No Way Back' and mix it in with a techno record like Juan Atkins 'Infinti Game One' and then put on an electro record called 'Future Cities' by the Advent. I really try not to get boxed in because its all electronic music.

Your uncle is Juan Atkins, one of the original founders of techno, does he have any interaction with your music?

Well just like any uncle he gives me advice but in terms of being hands on the answer is no, and he really pushes me to learn things on my own.

Growing up with that around you, did it influence what you listened to growing up as a kid?

No I listen to all types of music: Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, AUX 88, Dopplereffekt, Drexciya, The Advent, DJ stingray. In terms of hip hop, TI, Gucci Mane and OJ da Juice Man, Young Jeezy too. You know, just music man.

Could you tell us more about Micron? Is it a record label, or a collective?

Micron Audio is both a record label and collective ran by Sherad Ingram with 8 or 9 different artists including myself from all over the world who are makeing electro music.

How do you make your music (ie. with what equipment)?

I like to keep that confidential but I will tell you I like to use a mixture of machines and software.

Do you play much in Detroit?

Not as much as I would like to but that is changing.

Do you have any plans for releasing your music? If so, how (what label etc.)?

Look from material from me from Underground Resistance, Metroplex and Micron audio on wax or mp3.

The electro sound is a timeless one, but also to a certain extent, a dated one. Do you see evidence of it starting to enter more into modern productions?

I don't agree with the term dated i think the problem is with how people classified electronic music i mean how can something be timeless and dated at the same time?

Are there any contemporary electro artists that really stand out for you?

AUX 88, Mike Banks of Underground Resistance, the Illektrolab, DJ Skurge, and DJ Stingray.

Are there any non-electro artists working at the moment who really interest you?

DJ Skurge, Kyle Hall, and Omar S. Like I mentioned before, I'm interested in electronic music period.

What's next for you personally?

Well I will continue to work hard, release some hot records out in the year 2010, hopefully play more gigs in Detroit or overseas if possible, and just develop myself better as a artist.

Tracklist:

Intro - Alien Contact
1 Cybotron - Clear
2 Chaos - Afrogermanic
3 Aux 88 - Direct Drive
4 Aux 88 - Space Satellites
5 Aux 88 - Let it Ride
6 Aux 88 - Erase the Time
7 DJ Stingray 313 - Microthol
8 The Exaltics - The Truth
9 DJ Stingray aka Urban Tribe - Her
10 DJ stingray aka Urban Tribe - RNA
11 Aril Brikha - Groove la Chord
12 Los Hermanos - Birth of 3000
13 Cybotron - Alleys of your mind
14 Cybotron - El Salvador
15 Cybotron - Cosmic Cars
16 Model 500 - Night Drive Time Space
17 Model 500 - Technicolor
18 Cybotron - Cosmic Raindance
19 Kraftwerk - Tour de France
20 Kraftwerk - It's more fun to compute
21 hasim its time extended mix
22 DJ Stingray 313 - Serotonin
23 DJ Stingray 313 - Counter Surveillance