Juan Atkins, techno originator, dies aged 64

Juan Atkins, one of the originators of techno, died on 31 October aged 64. Via Mixmag, 12 artists have shared what he meant to them, from new names in modern techno to close friends and fellow pioneers.

Who was Juan Atkins?

Atkins was a pioneer of the original techno sound. He developed it through the 1980s, and he was part of The Belleville Three. He made music as one half of Cybotron and, on his own, as Model 500. According to Mixmag, he spent more than 45 years evolving his practice.

Why does his death matter beyond techno?

Mixmag describes his influence as running across the whole breadth of dance music, inspiring DJs around the world. That reach is the point for anyone who plays or dances to house, trance, hard house or garage. Techno was one of the foundations that the rest of the club world built on, and the people who shaped it are now leaving us.

The tributes come from a mix of generations. Some are younger artists who grew up on his records. Others knew him personally or came up alongside him. Together they treat him as a figure whose work still sits underneath much of what happens on a dancefloor today.

Where can you hear techno on OBSCUUR?

This is a story about Atkins and the artists who paid tribute to him. OBSCUUR is not part of it. But if it sends you back to the roots of the sound, our techno page is a place to start, and house sits close by.

For something more current, our live sessions include recent sets such as SUMIA and VE/RA from OBSCUUR ADE 2026. If you make music of your own, you can send it through our submissions page.

A lot of what we play exists because someone in Detroit built it first.

Source: Mixmag. Written in our own words by the OBSCUUR editorial desk.