Los Angeles Techno Disciples Raíz Drop the Imposing EP 'Inner Sense'

In the story of techno in Los Angeles, the Droid label looms large. Launched in 2002 and paired with promotion wing Droid Behavior, it has served as a temple of techno purism over the past decade, pushing the kind of hard, driving, uncompromising warehouse techno that hasn't always been the genre du jour in LA' fickle underground climes.

Nowadays, techno's definitely returned to prominence, and everyone from Jimmy Edgar to Ben Klock has paid their respects behind the decks for Droid gigs in LA in recent memory. At the center of the commotion have been brothers Vangelis and and Vidal Vargas, known to the world as Raíz. Alongside the likes of Drumcell, Truncate, and Silent Servant, the duo bring a hefty authenticity wrought from over a decade toiling in the darkness, balancing the twin objectives of creative progression and preservation of techno culture in those gloomy warehouses of worship tucked into the alleys and avenues around Los Angeles.

This week, Raíz release their Inner Sense EP, a 3-track put out on Droid sister label VRV. The tunes all center around an obstinate techno kick pattern, but bring elements of either melody or rhythm that challenge convention and surprise. Raíz toy with subtlety-within-aggression in a manner that only veterans can, and these tracks are surely causing a ruckus on their current European tour, which saw them perform at Berlin's storied Tresor this week and in Paris this weekend. Stream Inner Sense below along a few words with Raíz about the release.

What's the relationship between Droid and VRV?
VRV is the sister label offshoot headed by Droid Behavior residents Raíz & Subversive. The label was conceived mainly as an outlet for both artists but also to expand the musical diversity of the releases coming out of the Droid camp. The project is constantly evolving and the aim is to take a more creative approach to music production and presentation via conceptual releases, color inclusive art (as opposed to many stark black and white label designs within our genre) and various physical formats. We release our music on vinyl, hand made cassettes, include inserts, digital download codes, and have begun to implement the artwork of our sister in both the thematic process of production and label design. As with most of our music career as Raiz and Droid Behavior we have needed to look no further then creative people within our own family and close friends for inspiration and contributions.

What's the best and then worst thing about working with a sibling?
Being close all our lives and discovering music together has created a strong intuitive connection with each other. This has allowed us to work very symbiotically and since we're brothers. The ability to be honest and critical with each other can also be the most difficult aspect of working so closely with someone for so long. We have found it's healthiest to give each other space and always work towards compromise.

Techno in LA seems to have a strong grounding in the latino community -- Is that a legit statement?
It is no coincidence that the majority of the artists currently gaining recognition out of LA have Latin American roots, artists like Truncate, Silent Servant, Developer, Drumcell, Raiz, Subversive, and Santiago Salazar, to name a few, certainly share this heritage. This is mostly due to the simple fact that Los Angeles was once a part of Mexico. It has persisted as an important hub of opportunity for immigrants not only from Mexico, but from other parts of Latin America. This legacy has become deeply ingrained in the vibe of the city. It's also worth noting that all the artists mentioned have known each other since the late 90s, early 00s, and it's very likely that we gravitated towards each other simply due to this common upbringing.

What's the state of techno in LA right now?
It seems LA is following the lead of global tastes in some respects and various forms of techno are more popular then ever. EBM, goth and post punk scenes have begun to embrace and showcase the sounds of Industrial techno in the same vein as Phase Fatale, Ancient Methods, Jealous God, Downwards, as well as drone and experimental. The younger generation of former house and disco fans are also beginning to include raw and edgier acid sounds into their bookings and DJ sets. Although nightlife cliques can all be very different there is some crossover in crowds, tastes, venues, and artists due to the social media sites that connect them.

After 13 years, Droid Behavior is still quite active via our local and global events / showcases, artists, releases, prolific media, and long standing responsibility to connect the dots of all things techno. We have partnered up with various clubs, promoters, and organizations over the years and supported like minded individuals to make sure the visibility and message of the music continues to reach new audiences. Part of the key to our success in Los Angeles has been in many ways our ability and willingness to appeal to various crowds and broaden our fan base with open mindedness.

Find Raízon Facebook // SoundCloud