“It’s very easy to lose yourself in all the possibilities of a large show and end up creating something more for the eyes than for the ears” Richie Hawtin warns against the spectacle of modern DJingGone are the days when DJing was mostly an auditory experience; now, it’s a full-blown assault on the senses, with lasers, pyrotechnics, and LED screens vying for attention alongside the music.
“It’s very easy to lose yourself in all the possibilities of a large show and end up creating something more for the eyes than for the ears,” warns techno pioneer Richie Hawtin, taking aim at the sensory overload that’s become the norm in modern DJ performances.

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A veteran of the electronic music scene for over three decades, Hawtin is no stranger to pushing boundaries. However, his recent performances have taken a decidedly minimalist approach, with a focus on sonic exploration over visual spectacle.
“It’s important to remember that we’re performers and people want to be entertained,” Hawtin acknowledges in a recent chat with MusicTech. But he’s quick to emphasise that entertainment doesn’t necessarily mean sensory bombardment. His latest concert series DEX EFX XOX, strips away the excess, leaving behind what is, for him, at the heart of DJing – the music itself.
“This show looks back in order to look forward,” says Hawtin. “It’s about remembering where this culture came from. Lighting was always part of the DJ experience, but it wasn’t something that you directly looked at – it was something you were inside of even when you closed your eyes. I’m trying to do something on a main stage that brings us back into that hypnotic state.”
“I’m always trying to create and control new audiovisual experiences,” he continues. “Every club setup is like an art installation. Now that DJing has taken an incredible step up, it should be comfortable on a main stage, but it’s very easy to lose yourself in all the possibilities of a large show and end up creating something more for the eyes than for the ears.”
As Hawtin puts it, “I think there’s a trend these days to over-entertain and try to get as much attention as possible.”
“Right now, I just want to continue delving even deeper into the art of DJing; to focus on the sound and give people an evolving, heartening version of what DJing is.”
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