I started going to techno parties in 1991. While living in Paris in 1992-1993, I was more interested in Rave Culture than anything else and so went to as many parties as possible there having experienced some of the best music and laser shows I can remember. (Actually, you can see me dancing in the video below of Aphex Twin playing in Paris '93. I am wearing the 666 t-shirt and striped hat. Pretty good find, eh?) After coming back to America, finished university in Vermont and did my dissertation on the positive effects of MDMA. The Internet was new and I conducted double-blind studies with people taking Ecstasy internationaly. I was asked to publish it, although declined for some paranoid reason.
In 1994 I moved to NYC and started working in a record shop called Subtopia, which was owned by Jeff from Fierce Ruling Diva and was located underneath Liquid Sky. I was a record collector soon to be asked to DJ. The first party I spun at was outdoors in the woods in Queens, NYC. I then went on to DJ at the Limelight, The Tunnel, The Church, raves and afterhour parties, as Stroboscopic, or Tranquiliza in the ambient rooms. During this time, I also joined the Rancho Relaxo Allstars headed up by Abe Duque. We played improv ambient, western techno.
In 1995, I started the NY division of Under Cover Music Group, which had its main base in Neckargemund Germany. Jerome Tokarz, Jerome Kuehnert and myself built up a roster of a nine record labels (ex. Rapture, State of Mind, Plastic City) with artists such as Oliver Chesler, John Selway, Abe Duque, Freddy Fresh, The Timewriter, Terry Lee Brown Jr., Spicelab, Nostrum and Lester Fitzpatrick. We also started up the US division of InterGroove Distribution within a few months time, which allowed us to import many European releases that were not getting enough exposure in the US. I also handled the bookings for most of our artists.
Seven years later, after 9/11, I decided to make a major change in my life, as supporting techno music in NYC became a challenge. I moved to Scotland and went back to school. I am now advising technology start-ups at an incubator just outside of Edinburgh and continue to support underdogs while being involved with innovative people and technology. I still go out to random parties in Scotland and Europe.
