Beyond the Beat: Diving Deep into the Techno Lightscape

If you've been following our recent posts, you've likely seen the vibrant energy of our lighting setups at various dance parties and gatherings around Seattle. We love bringing those colorful, high-energy vibes to life! But today, I wanted to take a moment to talk about something a little different, something that holds a particularly special place in my heart: techno.

While I genuinely enjoy illuminating all kinds of events, my first love affair was with the raw, pulsating world of techno. And when it comes to lighting for techno, my vision takes a distinct turn. It's not just about having a massive rig throwing every color imaginable. For me, it's about the power of subtraction as much as addition.

Think of it: a vast canvas of potential, a comprehensive array of fixtures at your fingertips. The real artistry, I believe, lies in the restraint, in the deliberate choices of when to unleash the full force and when to pull back into the shadows. It's about crafting a journey through light and darkness.

The essence of techno, for me, often lies in that hypnotic, driving rhythm. The lighting should mirror that intensity, sometimes with stark, piercing strobes that cut through the darkness, then swelling into moments of overwhelming brightness, only to recede again into a deep, enveloping gloom. It's a push and pull, a constant dialogue between visibility and the unknown. The goal is to create an environment that feels both immersive and slightly unsettling, a space where the music and the visuals become inextricably linked, pushing you further into the experience.

This approach was heavily influenced by the legendary Awakenings events of the 2000s. I was incredibly fortunate to attend some of those gatherings back then, and they truly opened my eyes to the potential of lighting in the techno realm. The sheer scale, the meticulous design, and the way they transformed spaces were just breathtaking. And speaking of spaces, the Westergas in Amsterdam… in my opinion, it remains one of the most beautiful venues imaginable for this kind of sonic and visual exploration. The industrial architecture, the sense of history – it all just adds to the atmosphere.

Anyway, enough of my reminiscing! I wanted to share a glimpse into some of the lighting work I've done at previous techno events. This short video captures some of that interplay of shadow and light, the moments of stark intensity, and the overall vibe I strive for when the beat drops.

I hope you enjoy this little peek into the darker, more rhythmic side of what we do here at Seattle Sound and Lighting