Tokyo-born Risa Taniguchi sits at the forefront of the global techno sound with a driving, uncompromising style. She has made standout contributions to labels like Chris Liebing’s CLR, Nicole Moudaber’s Mood, and Kneaded Pains, always with a shadowy sense of atmosphere and distorted lo-fi textures that dominate the dancefloor. Ahead of a USA and EU tour in June, she serves up her latest stellar EP. All three tracks were produced earlier this year and represent some of the freshest expressions of Taniguchi’s current sound.
She explains, “I’ve always had a deep appreciation for the music released on Mind Medizin, so I’m truly excited and honoured to be putting out this EP. It’s a meaningful release for me, and each track has been carefully structured to blend naturally into my DJ sets, with twitchy acid patterns that roam over the pot.
Introduction
“Cared Less” marks my debut on Mind Medizin, a label whose releases I’ve followed closely over the years. I’ve always been drawn to their sharp, uncompromising, and forward-thinking sound, so it feels like a true honor to finally contribute something of my own to their catalogue.
All three tracks on the EP were written earlier this year and reflect another dimension of my production mindset. Compared to my earlier originals, this release leans more into a minimalistic approach. I intentionally dialed back on dramatic breakdowns or intense buildups and focused more on groove – something that could live comfortably in a variety of DJ sets, not just my own. Each element was placed with care to ensure the tracks feel alive on the dancefloor, but also leave enough space for other elements in a mix.
I’ve been testing these tracks out in my recent sets, and I’ve found them to be versatile yet impactful, adapting naturally to different atmospheres and times of night. This EP represents one of my new sound approaches – darker, more stripped back, but still distinctly mine.
Cared Less
As the title track, “Cared Less” laid the foundation for the overall mood of the EP. I wanted this piece to feel both cold and intense, like emotional detachment rendered in sound. It opens with distorted rave sirens that pierce through the room, paired with flickering acid lines that weave in and out of the rhythmic structure. The percussion is heavy and physical, yet the groove remains tight and propulsive.
There’s a sense of emptiness and tension that runs throughout the track, but not in a static way. I tried to create a forward-pushing force that constantly evolves, drawing dancers into its mechanical energy. This track has become a regular in my recent live sets – a kind of sonic signature for this period of my artistic evolution.
Direct Lines
With “Direct Lines,” I focused on creating a hypnotic, tunnel-vision experience. The synth layers build gradually, spiraling inward like a gravitational pull. This track is all about movement and subtle tension. I used ticking hi-hats and sharp cymbals to give it edge and pace, but the real emotional weight comes from the shifting harmonic textures beneath.
I imagine this one working best in dark, concentrated moments during a set – that mid-set zone where time feels suspended and the dancefloor is completely locked in. It’s not explosive, but it’s immersive. It’s one of those tracks that builds power through restraint.
Hypes Come Hypes Go
This is probably the most tongue-in-cheek track title I’ve ever used, but it speaks to something I observe often in club culture – the rapid rise and fall of what’s “hot.” Musically, I wanted to reflect that transience through contrast: a warped bassline that’s never quite stable, eerie half-spoken vocals that drift in and out, and a fleshy synth that feels almost organic.
There’s a certain groove here that feels slinky and off-kilter. It’s not your typical peak-time banger, but it works beautifully in the later stages of a set, when people are deep in the music and ready to go somewhere stranger. This track is about subtle pressure and psychological weight, rather than brute force.
Grab your copy here.
