Techno

Techno

By: Nyla Griffith

The genre of techno, which followed the jazz era was a sub genre of funk music. It originated in Detroit, Michigan in the early 1980s. Primarily classified by its high-pitched technological sounds, techno music brought a new feel to American Music as a whole. Techno music consisted of a steady four-count beat and was highly creative because artists could produce whatever sounds they wanted to make with computers. 

Techno music is speculated to have been born from a time of struggle in Detroit. With the emergence of new technology, computer were being used more in workplaces which in turn, caused many African Americans to lose their jobs to computers. It is said that Techno music emerged as a way for African Americans to express themselves and also make a living with the new technology. 

The artists Derrick Mays, Kevin Saunderson, and Juan Atkins were credited with the creation of techno music. These three eventually formed a group called the Bellevill Three which assisted in making techno music popular. It had a slow start, but eventually took off and became a primary genre in the United States. 

In addition, techno music in the funk genre was a sign of resistance in the world. Funk music was often used to show black pride and to communicate blackness to the world. Some popular techno artists are listed below, along with examples of performances of early techno music. 

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