Maike Depas: Blending the Old with the New in ‘State of Techno’

In a stunning return to the techno scene, Milan’s dance floor magician, Maike Depas, known off-stage as Michelangelo De Pasquale, unveils his latest offering, ‘State of Techno.’ Having previously set the stage with the dreamy house track ‘Voyager’, Depas now dives into the darker, grittier corners of the techno spectrum, pledging to invigorate dance floors in 2023. His unique vision blends haunting influences of Blue Room Released psytrance and the iconic post-Wall techno of Tresor Club, layered with a modern, bold attitude reminiscent of Anthony Rother and Charlotte De Witte. 

This ambitious amalgamation is an attempt to take listeners on a thrilling journey through the past 30 years of underground club sound.

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Depas’ approach to techno is a veritable melting pot of influences, blending sounds from the 80s and 90s with contemporary symphonic and cinematic elements. His debut EP, ‘State of Techno’, promises a veritable feast for techno enthusiasts. The rumble bass opener, ‘Culture’, sets a powerful tone, followed by tracks such as ‘Dark Room’ and ‘Industrial’, each offering their own hypnotic rhythm and depth. Amid the auditory onslaught, the artiste’s unique guitar synth, ‘the Edge’, takes center stage. 

To top it off, Mattia Trani delivers a formidable remix of ‘Industrial’. In an exclusive interview, Depas dives deep into his musical journey, from his early DJing days to his studies at the Milan Conservatory, and his visionary take on the music of the metaverse.

You mentioned that you’re trying to propose something new with your latest music while also reminding the audience of the past. Can you elaborate on that?

My first EP ‘State of Techno’ represents techno music characterized by modern musical structures and sounds but at the same time by some nostalgic elements that allow a perfect generational meeting without a deadline.

You’ve been DJing since the age of 11. How has your style and technique evolved over time?

I started at a very young age playing in very small clubs in Milan with my first piece of equipment which I still remember was Hercules 4-MX DJ Console. Over the years I have had the opportunity to create a professional studio full of vintage instruments and also brand new gear. Experimenting on them has been the element that has made me grow professionally from a technical point of view, while the musical maturation is a consequence of the study in the comparison of the different musical styles which led me to make a choice in the field of techno music.

How have your studies at the Milan Conservatory and Catalyst’s Advanced Sound Design course shaped your musical style and approach?

The conservatory was a long period of study that allowed me to get to know the various musical structures in depth, leading me to discover the musical ideas on a technical level that had allowed the creation of the great works of the masters of the past.

My course at Catalyst’s Funkhouse Berlin was of fundamental importance as it allowed me to build my musical language as an electronic music artist.

What was it like transitioning from playing mainstream pop in small Milanese clubs to the kind of music you’re making now?

The paradigms of pop music left me completely cold whereas the experience at Catalyst brought out my innovative spirit in interpreting the contemporary electronic music.

You seem to be deeply inspired by the concept of the metaverse. How do you envision it revolutionizing the music experience?

In the future the metaverse will become a place where people will go to escape from the reality that surrounds us. Even music will be influenced by this social change that will lead to the evolution of audio-visual entertainment allowing the user to interact with other people in a virtual environment who share the love for music.

Your music video of ‘Dark Room’ is a journey into a unique world. How do you hope listeners interpret this journey?

‘Dark Room’ Video is a journey into a dystopian world where the protagonist rediscovers his true nature as a human being through techno music that serves as an epiphany. I hope that the listener will like the music and the setting created in the Dark Room video and that the journey that the protagonist takes can be interpreted as a profound journey to discover the real nature of us people as human beings.