Meet the artist: ADRIAN909
by 27 April 2025
SAY HELLO TO ADRIAN909
We like you to meet ADRIAN909, an energetic friend ever since we first met at one of Turbine’s events. His enthusiasm and passion clicked instantly with Denn Punk’s energy — and before we knew it, we were in our studio, listening to his unreleased work. And wow… just listen and judge for yourself, because here he is: debuting on MEUK Records with his First Frequencies EP.
To give you a deeper sense of who ADRIAN909 is, we sat down with him to talk about his journey into techno, the evolution of his sound, and what drives him. From a childhood fascination to his upcoming release — this story covers it all.
How did your journey into electronic music begin? Was there a particular moment that sparked it all?
“My father introduced me to old-school electronic music and when he noticed my growing interest in DJing — especially after watching live sets from artists like DJ Hell on YouTube — my parents gifted me my first Pioneer setup for my ninth birthday. I took lessons for a few years, and by the time I reached the final class, I was even teaching the younger students.
As I moved into high school, my love for DJing faded a bit into the background. But during the Covid pandemic, that passion was reignited. I clearly remember the moment it truly came back to life — during the first King’s Day celebration after the lockdowns. That day lit the fire in me again.
From that point on, I fully committed myself to music — both DJing and producing. I realized that if I wanted to take it seriously, I had to put in real effort, which led me to take two production courses to develop my skills.”
You already felt connected to techno from a very young age. What does the genre — or the concept of techno — mean to you?
“To me, techno is music that allows you to close your eyes and completely lose yourself in sound. I’ve always been drawn to repetition and hypnotic elements. That moment where you’re so focused on one tiny sound that you lose all sense of left or right — that’s what I love. The surrounding elements give it a groove and make it danceable, but it’s the minimalism and the hypnotic flow that really capture me. I’m not into melodies — they often break the spell for me. In a lot of other genres, I find myself getting irritated after just a few minutes because the tune becomes too dominant.
I also think the term “techno” has become too broad. These days, it feels like everything gets labelled as techno just to sound relevant or to fit in. People love putting things in boxes. For example, a lot of what’s now called “hard techno” has the structure and build-up of hardstyle, just with a different kick underneath. And that alone somehow makes it techno?
Of course, my music doesn’t sound like early, classic techno either — but I do try to keep that raw edge and the repetition. The groove is there to make it danceable. But I wouldn’t claim it’s pure techno. In fact, I don’t think you can say that about anything anymore — and maybe that’s a good thing. I believe that if you’re a truly unique artist, you shouldn’t be able to describe your sound so easily — because ideally, no one else is doing quite what you do.”
How did you find your musical direction, especially in terms of sound and production style?
“At the time I started, hard techno was trending — everything kept getting faster and harder. But that didn’t resonate with me. I was drawn to the classic techno sound, not what was dominating the mainstream. Gradually, I slowed down in tempo, until I discovered early Chlär releases on Monnom Black — tracks that were still powerful but had groove, depth, and character.
That discovery opened a whole new direction for me. I started diving deeper into artists who brought more groove into their sound and began visiting clubs that focused on that vibe to get inspired. I was already playing groovier tracks in my own sets, but the real push came when I saw Antigone, Bours, Chlär and The Chronicsperform at ADE, using four decks. I remember thinking, “I should be able to do that too.” So I invested in an extra deck and started practicing and pushing myself technically.
Layering elements has become one of the defining elements of my sets — and for me, that’s what really makes it techno. By combining multiple tracks at once, I can create something entirely new in the moment. It’s not just mixing — it’s building. I’m constantly looking for ways to stack grooves, textures, and rhythms in a way that feels fresh and hypnotic. With groove-driven techno, you can really explore and expand the sound in a dynamic way — right there on the dancefloor.
Another challenge was figuring out how to produce that kind of sound myself. The courses I’d taken focused mainly on melodic techno, which was far from where I wanted to go. So I basically had to start from scratch and carve out my own path. That deep dive into technique and sound made me feel more grounded as an artist. But at some point, I also felt like I wanted to share that with the outside world.”
At what point did you feel ready to take things a step further in your musical journey?
“After about two years of practicing, I felt it was time to share my music with a wider audience — beyond playing for friends and posting mixes on SoundCloud. My first public step was a DJ stream at Concept, an initiative I’ve been involved with ever since.
Not long after, I entered a contest at Toffler, and that’s where Turbine crossed my path. We instantly connected and became close friends. I played at the second edition of their event and was soon invited to become a resident and part of the organization team. It feels like a community is slowly forming around me — a space where I can express myself, not only through music but also through who I am as a person.
That initial feeling of being ready was confirmed — not just by friends, but by how it feels when I’m playing. It just feels right now. Of course, I want to keep growing and pushing myself, but this feels like a solid starting point.”
Can you tell us about how you got in touch with MEUK Records and why you want to release on their label?
“That’s actually a bit of a funny one, because I’m close friends with both Denn Punk and Eva Bohnen from MEUK now. We met at one of the Turbine events and just started talking — about music, ideas, energy, and how we each see things creatively. There was this natural click, and from there, things moved pretty quickly.
What I really appreciated is that it never felt transactional. It wasn’t like, “Hey, I want to release something, can you help me?” We started listening to each other’s music, sharing feedback, and the release came up naturally. It wasn’t forced — it just made sense, both musically and personally.
They’ve supported me not just as a label, but also as people who genuinely care about what I do — and vice versa. That gave me the confidence to put my music out there, knowing it will be landing somewhere that understands where it’s coming from. And that’s what made it feel like the right moment for this release.”
Let’s dive into that. You mentioned that you felt ready for your next step in DJing — do you feel the same way about releasing your music?
“To be honest? No — but I’m not sure I’ll ever truly feel ready. I’ve come to realize that this is something a lot of producers struggle with: being overly critical of your own work. You might feel okay about a finished track, but then you hear something from a producer you admire and suddenly your own work feels like it doesn’t measure up. I don’t think that feeling ever really disappears — and maybe it shouldn’t. I actually find it inspiring to hear how artists grow over time, how their sound evolves. That progression is part of the journey.
So even though that self-doubt is still there, I do feel like I’m finally able to capture the feeling I want to express through my sound. And that makes me feel ready to take things further with my releases.”
Can you describe that feeling you want to express in your sound? And how do you achieve that creatively?
“I want my music to feel organic — something people can connect with on a deeper level. Groove and rhythm are essential for me, but not the main factor; the percussion has to make you want to move. At the same time, I want a strong, energetic foundation — a solid kick and bassline that give the track power.
To keep things feeling organic, I use a lot of vocal-based sounds. Not singing or lyrics, but more like textures that feel familiar. Sounds you could almost imitate with your mouth — they’re musical, but also natural. I love using one vocal in different roles throughout a track: sometimes as a melody, sometimes as a texture, sometimes just as an effect. And because it’s the human voice, it naturally connects with people — often without them even realizing it.
This also applies to the tracks on my release on MEUK Records.”
Yes, let’s get into that. Can you tell us a bit more about your upcoming release — is there anything specific that made this your debut EP?
“With the tracks of my debut EP First Frequencies, I aimed to tell a complete story as an introduction to my sound.
The EP starts with Emotions, a deep and immersive ambient track designed for opening sets. The rich soundscapes and “less is more” approach set the tone for what’s to come. Stuck In The Loop takes over the atmosphere with an organic, flowing groove that invites spontaneity and movement. Floating embraces the hypnotic power of repetition, pulling you into a trance-like state and giving rhythm full control. The EP ends with the rumbling and electrifying First Frequencies — a track to close the night with power and intensity.
In fact, the EP First Frequencies offers a glimpse into my mind — where rhythms, textures, and emotions come together to create an immersive and personal experience that I love sharing through music.”
First Frequencies
TRACKLIST
1. Emotions
2. Stuck In The Loop
3. Floating
4. First Frequencies
Release date: 27 May 2025
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![MEUK EP [MEUK001]](https://meukrecords.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/meuk-ep-meuk001.jpg)
