As part of our continued commitment to music, we’ve partnered with global electronic music magazine RA to bring you a series of films that look at the real scenes and real stories behind dance music.
Some cities have obviously offered more in this field than others, so we wanted to explore what makes the dynamic of these cities unique and celebrate them for giving us so much good music. In doing so we spoke with some of the most important figureheads in each city, uncovering the reasons why the sounds created there are affecting the electronic music scene on a global level.
REAL SCENES BRISTOL
The eyes of the world have turned to the UK in recent years and have found some of the most exciting, genre-defying young artists to emerge from electronic music. But while London’s scene can be fractious and hard to pin down, there seems to be something in the air in Bristol that unites its participants.Whether they’re creating dubstep, house, techno or something else entirely, the cross-pollination in Bristol is unique.
RA and Bench journeyed to Bristol in order to explore how the city has flourished in recent years, discovering why this small city is one of the most influential electronic music outposts in the world today.
REAL SCENES DETROIT
You can’t talk about electronic music without mentioning Detroit. The city’s DJs and producers birthed the genre we now call techno. Detroit, though, has always had a creative streak, due largely to the boom and subsequent bust of the auto industry. Quite simply, Detroit is a city of extremes, and its music reflects that.
For many, the legacy of Detroit is just that—a legacy. We’ve partnered with RA to bring you another edition of Real Scenes to destroy this myth. RA and Bench found a number of artists with their eyes (and ears) firmly set towards the future. After our time here, it’s clear that Detroit will endure and innovate for years to come.
REAL SCENES BERLIN
Berlin has always been a special place, and especially so when it comes to electronic music. When the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, techno became the underground soundtrack to the reunion between East and West. In recent years, it’s become an international destination for ravers – a cheap place to party with clubs that are renowned throughout the world.
Techno has become a business in the meantime. Yet Berlin still maintains a credibility that other cities lack. To understand why, RA and Bench have teamed up for another edition of Real Scenes. We went to the German capital eager to find out about its unique history and the reasons behind its continued relevance.
