Scottish duo, Slam are pioneers of techno, and are responsible for timeless anthems such as their iconic track “Positive Education”.

DJing all over the world, and releasing tracks on many of electronic music’s most iconic labels… we asked Slam to tell us what techno means to their native Scotland?

Slam: “Techno as a genre has never been stronger in Scotland. Since its inception in Detroit in the mid-eighties it’s gradually conquered the planet. Sure, it’s been bastardised and stolen from– by mercenary genres like Tracne and EDM – but it’s survived and remained an underground music that is not for everyone. This fact has been has been a given since the early days.

You can’t imitate authenticity!

Techno’s strength lies in its ability to be both beautiful and melodic as well as dark and sinister – as long as it has the funk it can vary in tempo from 100 to 160 bpm – from ambient to banging moving from the light into the darkness and back again. – true techno has soul at its core and hidden beauty.

There are many pioneers like ourselves still making forward-thinking music and searching out the new shit to play all-be-it with the knowledge to throw in some surprises from the rich seam of history. Many newer producers and DJs have taken up the mantle too. I Hate Models, Rebekah, Dax J, & Paula Temple to name a few.

The popularity is at its peak in our back yard of Glasgow and Scotland as well as around the globe. This year at our Riverside festival the Techno stage has moved from the Waterfront to the Square which is the festival’s 3000 capacity mainstage.

We have travelled from south to north in Scotland playing techno to people who are often discovering the music for the first time. Our label Soma, in its third decade is sounding as fresh as ever with a steady stream of underground techno and dub techno oozing from its pores.

Local club nights like our own Maximum Pressure & Return to Mono have pushed the techno genre for eons and many have heard the clarion call and now promote their own techno parties too.

Maximum Pressure hosting SWG3s Galvanisers is one of the finest examples of a techno emporium you can find- with no bar in the room it is a space which can achieve a complete blackout as well as the height to use search lights pointing down like light sabres and our lighting operator mesmerises the crowd with subtleties.

Moments that define our view of techno would have to include our Christmas Return To Mono party when 999999999 made their Scottish debut and shook the Sub Club to its very core – this is a venue that has been dear to us and all Glasgow clubbers for decades but this night – with ourselves and Kobosil also playing until 5am it was up there with the best experiences you can have with this music.

I guess at the other end of the scale would be the mighty Slam Tent at the erstwhile T in the Park festival. Resigned to history it was a veritable cave of rave that introduced most Scottish clubbers to the true techno rave experience over its 20 year history.

This is the place that on opening used to get invaded by hordes of ravers and fill up in ten minutes and then be a place to camp out for the entire weekend no matter what was on the main stage.

In a way we have condensed that feeling and vibe in our Riverside Festival in the heart of Glasgow – giving people the experience over 3 stages of diverse house and techno and electro and acid and beyond. Always looking forward and not resting on any laurels. The way life should be lived. To the full.”

This years Riverside Festival in Glasgow is set to be a celebration of electronic music culture in Scotland, and you can purchase tickets from HERE