Relinquo on building a cinematic techno sound
Vienna-based producer Relinquo has spoken about how he built his cinematic techno identity, via Magnetic Magazine. The interview arrives alongside his new release, “The Council”, which came out on 16 October 2026 through PENTAPHONIA.
What is cinematic techno?
Relinquo is a DJ, producer and composer. According to Magnetic, his sound blends orchestral composition, science-fiction influences and the rhythmic drive of peak-time club music.
“The Council” is his first release for PENTAPHONIA. Earlier records came out through Animarum, OFF Recordings, Reload and IAMT. The label describes an arrangement built from a 200-voice choir, a full orchestra and electronic instruments. A long orchestral passage sits at the centre, standing in for a clash between opposing sides. The drums and bass only return for the final stretch.
How do you develop your own sound as a producer?
The piece starts from a familiar problem. Copying a producer you admire is easy. Knowing which choices are actually yours is harder, and that matters if you want a catalogue that can grow over years without repeating itself.
Relinquo’s answer is a larger concept. His releases move through time, from ancient civilisations to imagined futures, and each new track gets its own topic within that arc. He still leans on arrangements and groove patterns that have worked before. A solid starting template and tidy project files help. So does restraint: he warns against reusing the hooks and lead sounds of older projects.
He also argues that artists should worry less about trends and label placement. The interview covers how to set up sessions so they invite experiments without losing the decisions that already define your sound.
Why it matters for the floor
Peak-time techno is often judged on pressure alone. Relinquo treats a track, and a whole DJ set, as a journey with a narrative. That is a useful lens whether you play records, make them or just stand in front of the speakers. It is also a reminder that a clear idea can outlast any passing sound.
Where this meets OBSCUUR
If techno is your lane, start at our techno page. Our weekly sessions show how different DJs shape a set, and the latest releases include DJ Mischkonsum’s Inner City Echoes. Producers working on their own signature can send demos through our submissions page.
A strong concept still beats a borrowed sound.
Source: Magnetic Magazine. Written in our own words by the OBSCUUR editorial desk.
