Don Turi is an artist who has always seemed destined for techno. Learning the drums from the age of 6 has given him a distinct sound and feel for a beat, and his tracks are always very groove led. With a new track ‘Break It’ on bORDEL Records, we caught up with him to find out more about his past, and journey into dance music…

WWD: Hey Don, how are you, how has your 2023 been?

Hi When We Dip! I’m doing great thanks. 2023 has been a year focused on research and studio work. I’ve produced a lot for myself, but also with and for other artists. I’ve done some live performances with my favourite gear, surrounded by my synths and drum machines! I’ve also done quite a bit of mixing, especially in Paris at clubs I love, like Kilometre 25 and the Rex Club.

WWD: Winter is here now, how do you like it compared to summer?

I like winter. My energies are more in sync and my brain works better. When it’s hot, I just want to look at the sky, listen to the sea, take a nap… not bad eh, but when it comes to being active, I prefer the winter. But during summer, I enjoy playing at festivals and outdoor events, making people dance until the early hours and watching the sunrise at the same time – that I love!

WWD: How did you first get into techno music, and what drew you to become a techno DJ?

I’ve always produced music in my studio, but one day I had an accident and had to slow down for a few months. I had time to think about what I really wanted to do with music, and the most playful and inspiring common ground between my love for production and my skills as a drummer was Techno. Coming out of my recovery, I had produced a lot of tracks and that’s when I signed my first single with Get Physical… and since then I’ve never stopped!

WWD: What do you think sets techno apart from other electronic music genres, and why did you choose to specialize in it?

While there is a common core with all electronic music, techno is influenced more than other styles by rock and Krautrock bands, like Kraftwerk or Tangerine Dream, or even New Wave and Post Punk. Also, a certain experimental and psychedelic European music from the ’70s/’80s. That’s probably why techno, born in Detroit, was so well-received in Europe and especially in Germany! These influences result in a music with extended and progressive forms, provoking a trance through repetition and a focus on rhythm rather than harmony, all with a certain physicality – it’s dance music above all! It’s rather instrumental, whereas for example with house, you tend to find sung vocals, often with soul or funk influences.

I don’t think I chose to make techno, it’s often the music that chooses us! Looking back and especially at my musical influences, it makes sense that I turned to trance music, dance music, nocturnal music… I was more influenced by rock than pop, and by European repetitive music and New Wave than soul or funk.

WWD: What inspired your new track “Break It” on bORDEL Records?

I believe I needed to break a cycle I had been trapped in for a long time, it’s a kind of a personal exorcism. We all have baggage that can be heavy but at some point you might be able to say “fuck it” and grab life by the horns. I feel that’s what I was going through when working on this EP.

WWD: What equipment did you use to create it, and is it important to you?

I often choose which equipment I want to work with before getting started. It gives me a framework and helps me not to get too lost (even if I must admit I don’t always manage to follow it!). For this EP I wanted to keep it simple, so I used only three hardware synths: a Korg MS20, a ProOne and a Novation Peak. I also used two virtual synths: Serum and Diva. And for the rhythm, my forever faithful companion, the Vermona DRM1.

WWD: You’re a drummer, right? How does that help you in the studio?

Yeah I’ve been a drummer my whole life, since I was 6 years old in fact! When you’re a drummer in a band, you have to bring everyone together so that we all reach the end of the song at the same time… it’s a big responsibility! You always have to have an overall vision and perspective, see the bigger picture and be aware of each musician’s roles and parts. This helps you to develop a certain familiarity with structures that allow you to build a song and ensure it doesn’t collapse, if you catch my drift! Also, as a drummer, you have a responsibility to lead your group and you’re often the foundation of a song… a bit like a goalkeeper in a football team; you see everything, guide your mates and try to help everyone win!

WWD: Does that mean the groove is always the most important part of a track for you?

The groove is always the most important part of my music, yes. But the groove isn’t necessarily linked to the drums. Making a vocal sample or synth riff groove is extremely difficult but important in my music. The groove should create tension, excitement, energy – that’s what makes people want to dance. Saying that, my inspiration for a new track can come from a synth pad sound, a completely abstract idea, a word… in those moments, we are far from the groove.

WWD: What’s the last record you heard that made you go “wow”?

I notice you ask about a record; today’s music is listened to track by track, so the very concept of an album seems to come from another era! I still like records and enjoy immersing myself in an artist’s universe for longer than 4 minutes. I think the last album I listened to in its entirety that made me go “wow” is probably Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers’. It’s a masterpiece! I’m inspired by the album’s creativity, the gestures feel simple and immediate, you don’t feel the effort, everything is natural yet entirely unpredictable… I love it!

WWD: Do you have any favorite techno festivals or events that you’ve either performed at or attended, and what makes them stand out for you?

I think one of my best experiences was playing at Melt Festival a few years ago. It was out of this world – the decor, the stages, the audience, the lineup. I remember Ricardo Villalobos’s set very well, it was magnificent. I love playing in Germany, the culture of partying and electronic music is so ingrained in the people there that it’s always an incredible moment to play for them.

WWD: What else do you have coming up that you would like to mention?

After ‘Break It’, my second single will be released at the end of January and the entire EP will be out by the end of February. I’m very excited to share this work with the world! I also have some collaborations in the works and two dates in Paris booked in to play at two venues I particularly like, Le Gore on December 22nd and Le Glazart on January 14th. Thank you for your support, and I’ll see you soon!