Choose five artists and put them in order to shape the community ranking.
This is a vote on personal favourites, not a vote on who invented techno. Read the contributions in our 30 Pioneers historical feature →
EXPLORE / SELECT
THE 31 ARTISTS
Tap up to five cards to build your ballot.
01
The Belleville Three
Juan Atkins · Derrick May · Kevin Saunderson
Laid the foundations of Detroit techno through Cybotron, Model 500, Transmat, KMS and Inner City.
LISTEN: Clear · No UFO’s · Strings of Life
02
Jeff Mills
The Wizard · Underground Resistance · Axis
Transformed techno DJ technique and built an independent, futuristic sound through Axis.
LISTEN: The Bells · Waveform Transmission
03
Eddie Fowlkes
Metroplex · Techno Soul
An early Detroit innovator whose Goodbye Kiss and techno-soul approach widened the sound.
LISTEN: Goodbye Kiss
04
Mad Mike Banks / UR
Underground Resistance · Galaxy 2 Galaxy
Made artistic independence, distribution and Detroit self-determination central to techno culture.
LISTEN: The Final Frontier · Hi-Tech Jazz
05
Carl Craig
Planet E · Paperclip People
Expanded second-wave Detroit techno into jazz, soul and ambitious experimental composition.
LISTEN: Throw · At Les
06
Robert Hood
M-Plant · Minimal Nation
Established a powerfully reduced minimal-techno language where each element matters.
LISTEN: Minimal Nation · Internal Empire
07
K-Hand
Kelli Hand · Acacia Records
Developed an independent Detroit catalog of techno, house and forward-looking machine music.
LISTEN: Global Warning
08
Octave One
Burden Brothers · 430 West
Made live electronic performance and soulful Detroit techno into enduring institutions.
LISTEN: I Believe · Black Water
09
Drexciya
Detroit electro · Afrofuturism
Built a powerful electro mythology that shaped electronic music far beyond conventional techno.
LISTEN: The Quest · Neptune’s Lair
10
Richie Hawtin / Plastikman
Plus 8 · Plastikman · M_nus
Developed stripped-back acid and hypnotic minimalism while advancing DJ technology.
LISTEN: Sheet One · Musik · Consumed
11
Daniel Bell / DBX
DBX · Accelerate
Proved how microscopic rhythmic changes can build deep physical tension on a dancefloor.
LISTEN: Losing Control
12
Joey Beltram
New York · R&S Records
Helped define dark techno and the rave-era hoover sound across international scenes.
LISTEN: Energy Flash · Mentasm
13
Basic Channel
Mark Ernestus · Moritz von Oswald
Created a foundation for Berlin dub techno by joining Detroit rhythms and Jamaican dub space.
LISTEN: Phylyps Trak · Quadrant Dub
14
Miss Djax
Djax Records · Djax-Up-Beats
Built an influential Dutch independent label network for uncompromising acid and techno.
LISTEN: Early Djax-Up-Beats
15
Speedy J
Jochem Paap · Electric Deluxe
Bridged early club techno, intricate digital sound design and evolving live electronic systems.
LISTEN: Pullover · Ginger · Loudboxer
16
Dave Clarke
The Red Trilogy
Helped define hard British techno with urgent electro-informed percussion and production.
LISTEN: Red 1–3 · Archive One
17
Surgeon
Anthony Child · Dynamic Tension · Counterbalance
Established a raw, uncompromising Birmingham techno sound through influential releases and live performance.
LISTEN: Magneze · Basictonalvocabulary
18
Regis
Karl O’Connor · Downwards · British Murder Boys
Co-founded Downwards with Peter Sutton and helped define the stark, industrial character of Birmingham techno.
LISTEN: Gymnastics · Montreal
19
Laurent Garnier
Rex Club · F Communications
Helped build France’s electronic club infrastructure and its international techno connections.
LISTEN: Acid Eiffel · The Man with the Red Face
20
Carl Cox
Three decks · Space Ibiza
Popularized expressive multi-turntable mixing and helped transform DJ-booth culture.
LISTEN: Sunrise sets · Space Ibiza
21
Adam Beyer
Drumcode · Stockholm
Developed Sweden’s driving techno sound and Drumcode as a global platform.
LISTEN: Early Drumcode releases
22
Slam
Soma Records · Glasgow
Built lasting Scottish techno infrastructure and released influential club records.
LISTEN: Positive Education
23
Ben Sims
Hardgroove · Theory
Established an enduring funk-driven hardgroove language and layered DJ technique.
LISTEN: The Loops
24
Luke Slater / PAS
Planetary Assault Systems · Mote-Evolver
Expanded British techno through dense machine rhythms and experimental sound design.
LISTEN: The Messenger · PAS
25
Ellen Allien
BPitch Control · Berlin
Connected post-reunification Berlin’s artist network to independent records and international audiences.
LISTEN: Stadtkind · Berlinette
26
Marcel Dettmann
Ostgut · Berghain · MDR
Helped develop the sound and label culture associated with Berghain’s main room.
LISTEN: Dawning · Dettmann
27
Oscar Mulero
Warm Up · PoleGroup
Helped build a distinctive, internationally connected independent Spanish techno scene.
LISTEN: Warm Up · PoleGroup
28
DVS1
HUSH · Wall of Sound · Aslice
Championed sound-system-centered club culture and fairer recognition for music producers.
LISTEN: Black Russian
29
Emmanuel / ARTS
ARTS · Artscore
Built a newer independent label platform connecting contemporary techno artists and releases.
LISTEN: Force of Nature · ARTS catalog
30
Ben Klock
Klockworks · Berghain
Developed a powerful long-form Berlin DJ approach and influential independent label.
LISTEN: Subzero · One · Dawning
31
Chris Liebing
CLR · Germany
Sustained a hard, driving German techno sound through CLR and evolving DJ workflows.
LISTEN: Metalism · CLR catalog
No artists match your search.
How does the Underground Talent techno artist ranking work?
This is a community choice, not a verdict on who invented techno or which artist has had the greatest historical influence. Explore the artists, choose the five that mean the most to you, and put them in order. Your picks help shape a separate, community-driven leaderboard when voting is open.
- Choose your top five. Browse the artist cards, listen to the suggested records and select five favourites.
- Put them in order. First place earns five points, second earns four, and so on down to one point for fifth place.
- Verify your ballot. When voting is enabled, submit your choices with an email address and follow the confirmation link. Only verified ballots count. You can revise your ballot using the same address.
The voting-status indicator above shows whether the ballot is open or in preview mode. Exploring the artists and building a top five does not automatically submit a vote.
What does the community leaderboard measure?
The leaderboard reflects the ranked preferences of participating readers. Artists accumulate points from verified top-five ballots; ties are shown together. These results show community taste at a particular moment, not a scientific measure of talent, cultural importance or the full history of techno.
For the historical story, read our guide to 30 techno pioneers who shaped the genre. It explains the production techniques, records, labels and scenes behind these artists. To explore the different sounds around them, see our guide to techno subgenres.
Frequently asked questions about the ranking
Can I change my techno artist votes?
Yes. When voting is open, you can submit an updated top-five ballot using the same verified email address. Your new choices replace your previous ballot rather than counting as an extra vote.
Why isn’t a particular artist included?
The ballot is a curated starting point, not a complete database of every techno producer or DJ. Use the artist-request form on this page to suggest someone for editorial review. Suggestions are not added automatically.
Does voting sign me up to the Underground Talent newsletter?
No. The rankings vote and newsletter are separate. The email verification process is used to confirm a ballot, not to subscribe you to marketing messages.