Alexandra Krstic
Hey, sound explorers! It’s been a minute, but I’m back with something special I found in Athens. Forget the Parthenon for a second -we’re going deeper.
Techno. The real underground. And a YouTube channel you’ll be glad you discovered: Athens Techno Hub.
We’ve all seen the explosion of live-streamed DJ sets, right? Boiler Room, HÖR Berlin, The Lot Radio—they’re part of the landscape now. But beyond that polished world, there’s a raw energy bubbling up. Kitchen sessions, park jams, makeshift studios where the music comes first.
One morning, while scrolling through Instagram, I land on Athens Techno Hub, and what a find it is. A seemingly endless stream of raw, unfiltered techno DJ sets fills my screen, each one exuding pure underground energy. The gritty aesthetic, dimly lit walls, hypnotic glow of the lights, the iconic Xone 92 mixer, and of course, the pounding techno—it pulls me in instantly.
As a newbie DJ, I think, why not? I’m in Athens anyway, so I reach out. The response is cool, direct, and refreshingly open. We set a date.
My first time on camera? Terrifying. My fourth time wrestling CDJs? When I arrive, they immediately make me feel at ease—giving me time to practice beforehand, get comfortable with the setup, and settle in before my set. That small gesture makes all the difference. (And hey, maybe catch my set.)
Afterward, we sit down, crack open some beers, and talk for more than two hours. We have a lot to say, okay?
Athens Techno Hub using sound as a statement
“I never wanted this to be about me,” the brain behind explains. They keep a low profile, staying true to the underground ethos. No ego, no spotlight chasing. They’ve seen scenes get bogged down by that. “It’s about community.” As they speak, their hands move like waveforms, like loops layering on top of each other.
Athens Techno Hub is a space where both seasoned DJs and newcomers push themselves—a place to learn and grow.
“Reading a room, even when it’s empty. Building tension. Letting the music breathe. No deleted videos. If a DJ isn’t happy with their set, they learn from it. No hiding.”
In an era obsessed with perfection and polished end products, embracing the process of trial and error is liberating. Experimentation pushes boundaries, leading to unexpected sounds and creative breakthroughs that wouldn’t happen within our comfort zones.
“Recording live strips you down before it builds you up. Every mistake is amplified. Every hesitation is exposed. Some people freeze. Some thrive. But everyone learns. And that’s the point.”
Reclaiming the Underground
The more time I spend in the studio, the more conversations we have, the more I realise this place is born from frustration. Frustration with how polished, packaged, and expensive techno has become.
“Five-thousand-euro DJ setups. VIP booths at ‘underground’ clubs. Festivals where the music is just background noise for influencer content.”
You can hear the exhaustion in their voice.
Athens Techno Hub is a quiet act of resistance. Shared gear. Open space. No chasing clout. Just the craft.
“DJs come in thinking they’re not good enough, that they don’t have the right equipment or connections. Then they get on the decks, and something clicks.”
It’s experimental. Techno stripped back to its essence—raw, emotional, expressive. Not just a product.
“We’re reclaiming space,” they say. “Even if it’s just this one.”
Voltage, Connection, The Bigger Picture
Athens Techno Hub values collaboration with collectives, labels, and artists determined to keep the underground alive. One key link is Voltage Records—same mindset: techno as a craft, not a commodity.
They run an online radio, a label, and even hosted a club night last December in collaboration with Athens Techno Hub.
“Our residents—Naama, Lucid, others—do podcasts there,” I’m told. “It matters. It keeps the scene alive.”
Beyond the Music: A Philosophy
As we finish our beers, the conversation shifts to the stereotypes surrounding electronic music, not just in Athens but everywhere. The usual assumptions—excess, hedonism, escapism.
“Oh, you listen to techno? You must be a junkie.”
But Athens Techno Hub is about something else.
“This is an art form,” they say. “Skill. Sobriety. Discipline. History.”
Or as VTSS puts it, sober raving is a real thing.
“We give DJs a space to grow. But also a space to fail. That’s rare. Most places only want the perfect set. We care about the process. The struggle before the breakthrough.”
The Unwritten Future
Stepping back into the Athenian night, the bass still resonating, I know Athens Techno Hub is more than just another project. It’s a statement. A reassuring sign that the underground is here, alive, shaping the future of techno—one set at a time.
“This is just the beginning,” they tell me before I leave. And I believe them. The educational aspect of what they’re building will only grow. This hub doesn’t need a flashy sign or industry validation. It exists on its own terms—where music, passion, and community collide to shape what’s next.
They’ve recently launched a studio space, where new DJs can book educational sessions, practice on CDJs, and tackle the dreaded Xone 92 with some help of course.
Athens Techno Hub is a reassuring sign that the underground is not only alive but thriving.
And before you go, in collaboration with the Athens Techno Hub team, we’ve picked a few DJ sets you should check out. But honestly, dive into all of them. It’s a goldmine of raw talent and real music.
Essential Athens Techno Hub DJ Sets
VSSLS – Groovy Hip-Hop, great sampling skills
Watch here
Lucid – Ear for Detail, Hypnotic
Watch here
AMH – Tunisian Roots, Signature Style Dj Set
Watch here
Barbara Stalos – She had me hooked from the first second
Watch here
