Gig Gossip: Juan Atkins

By Jonti Davies

It's something of an honor to be interviewing one of the inventors of Techno music here in our humble little Japanzine. Juan Atkins is one of the originators of a form that has spread globally from Detroit, like a good kind of virus, influencing so many aspects of modern music that its significance is incalculable - even if I had a really high-spec Texas Instruments calculator to hand, it couldn't crunch these magic numbers. Atkins is a major figure who keeps a relatively low profile, which explains why he's never become a household name (outside of Techno-literate households, that is). Compared with second-generation Detroit luminaries such as Carl Craig and Jeff Mills, this guy is just as important but nowhere near as well recognized.

During February, you can find Juan Atkins on the decks in venues around Tokyo, Kashiwa, Osaka and Nagoya, but his current stint as an internationally touring DJ is a world away from his roots as a snyth- and drum machine-wielding producer of soul-inspired Techno in America's Motor City circa 1982. He's arrived at this point via endless remix and production work, both as Juan Atkins and under aliases (sometimes collaborative) such as Model 500, Cybotron and Infiniti. But don't take my word for it; let's meet the Juan and only Mr. Atkins himself.


Has your production process changed significantly over the decades?

I would say yes, based on the technological updates ... you can't really help but change.

With Japanese companies like Korg and Roland responsible for some of the most important machines in Techno's history, does it surprise you that Techno is not Japan's favorite form of music?

Yes I am surprised, given that they're Japanese companies and a lot of their sounds are directly attributed to that gear in most cases. Korg, Roland, Akai, have all been a part of that sound.

What do you think of the Techno scene in Japan? Are there any artists here whose work you admire?

What I like about the Japanese is that they're dedicated to what they believe in musically, they're loyal fans. you always know you'll get a good crowd in Japan because of that. I admire the work of Yellow Magic Orchestra. Their sound, their style.

Recently you've been out DJing a lot. Can you explain what a typical Juan Atkins set involves?

I'm what you call a non-linear DJ, meaning you'll have peaks and valleys, ebbs and flows, almost like telling a story. You never know what to expect when it comes to what I play. I do spin vinyl.

Do you find the reaction of audiences at venues in Japan to be much different from those in Detroit and other parts of the world?

Somewhat. Like I said previously, the crowd is a better audience due to that.

Do you have a particular favourite club in Japan?

I like most clubs here, really. I've had some great experiences.

Have you had any 'this could only happen in Japan' experiences while touring here?   

Well, I've had some very good experiences, but I can't say they were exclusive to Japan. Well, actually one of the best times I've had was there - it was a very surreal experience to say the least. I played, got taken to a few clubs, had an entourage with me... it was unique!

Last word?

I hope everybody comes out to the clubs for this tour. I know I'll be there!



Juan Atkins' February Japan tour takes in four venues across the nation. Catch him at any of the following spots and see a living legend in action!

February 20th - Grand Cafe, Osaka
February 21st - Water, Kashiwa
February 27th - Womb, Tokyo
February 28th - Mago, Nagoya

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