Interview with Hiroko Yamamura
Hiroko Yamamura is a true ride-or-die Chicago techno artist. Rooted in The Warehouse, shaped by rave culture, and driven by relentless curiosity, her sound reflects decades of dedication to underground dance music and the technology that powers it.
How did Chicago’s early rave culture form the foundation of your sound?
I came up in the third wave of Chicago’s scene. We weren’t the innovators, we were the super fans and main consumers of dance culture.
Being able to share my interpretation of those foundational sounds is everything to me. Those experiences shaped how I hear and feel music.
Technology sits at the core of your process. What role does experimentation play?
I’m terminally online and probably have an unhealthy relationship with technology. Music is one of the good parts of that.
With constant technological innovation, the challenge is finding ways to make art meaningful and inventive. Without experimentation, we can’t find our own line.
Your music draws from gothic, industrial, and punk culture. How do those aesthetics shape your sets?
Honestly, I just play what I love. Whatever makes sense for the night.
The best thing a DJ can do is share the music that makes them feel good.
What does your current sound represent personally?
I don’t think I have a signature sound. What I make is often influenced by new equipment, sound packs, or even YouTube tutorials.
Lately, collaboration has been huge. Working with producers like Sian has made music more fun and social, a way to connect rather than isolate.
Has there been a moment that shifted your confidence or artistic direction?
I don’t feel that different from when I began. The scene has changed dramatically, and I’m grateful to participate at a level I once only dreamed of.
How do you honour Chicago’s legacy while pushing forward?
I do my best to respect and share the lineage that shaped me. Chicago legends have shared their studios and sounds with me, and that history matters.
Whether people resonate with it or not is up to them.
What sparked your return after a long break?
My journey was full of self-doubt. I never imagined participating at this level.
The support and belief I’ve received changed everything. Things really do happen when the timing is right.
How does visual culture influence your music-making?
Comics, manga, anime, and video games shaped my idea of futurism. Music and visuals are forever linked for me.
I love when people who share these worlds get to nerd out together. We’re not like the rest of the crowd.
Hiroko’s story is a reminder that evolution doesn’t always come from reinvention – sometimes it comes from trust. Trust in timing, in community, and in the joy of sharing what you love. Through technology, collaboration, and deep respect for musical lineage, she continues to contribute to a culture that thrives on connection rather than perfection. Her work lives where past and future meet – on the dancefloor, in motion, together.
