POST DISCO TO PRE TECHNO: ARTIST TO ARTIST TALK

TALK FEATURING DELANO SMITH, STACEY HOTWAXX HALE, NORM TALLEY AND MODERATED BY KAI ALCE

DISCO TO TECHNO - A DJ SET BY INSANE WHO SANE

FROM Post-Disco To Pre-Techno-6
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Pioneering DJs and Artists Gathered to Share the Untold Story of Techno's Roots During Movement 2025

As part of Movement 2025, VHE Art, Mean Red Productions and Blast Radio presented "From Post-Disco to Pre-Techno: An Artist to Artist Talk," a conversation featuring pivotal figures who shaped Detroit's influential electronic music landscape. This special event took place on Thursday, May 22, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Red Door Digital in Detroit as an activation for acclaimed producer Scott Grooves' contemporary art exhibition, under his art moniker SG Art.

Before techno gained global recognition, Detroit's youth were creating a musical revolution in high school clubs and neighborhood venues throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s. This panel brought together the originators who lived this history, offering attendees a rare glimpse into the creative rivalry and cultural innovation that transformed disco, new wave, and progressive sounds into what would eventually become techno.

The distinguished panel featured legendary selectors Norm Talley, Delano Smith, and pioneering "Godmother of House Music" Stacey "Hotwaxx" Hale. The discussion was moderated by Detroit and Atlanta icon Kai Alcé, ensuring a conversation that bridged generations and honored the continuum of Detroit's electronic music legacy.

The 50-minute talk explored how young promoters and DJs collaborated to showcase their mixing skills and sound systems, drawing larger audiences and establishing Detroit as an epicenter of innovative dance music. A 10-15 minute Q&A session followed, allowing attendees to engage directly with these foundational artists.

This event represented a unique opportunity to hear firsthand accounts from the architects of a sound that continues to influence global music culture. From high school gymnasiums to international festivals, the journey of Detroit techno embodied the city's spirit of creativity, resilience, and forward-thinking innovation.

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