Who are the best techno DJs, in the world…ever?
Well, we can only give you the collective considered opinions of us here at Meemix.
It’s all subjective of course, so you may feel that your personal favourite has been missed off this list.
But even if that is the case, as a lover of techno, you should find something to appreciate about each and every one of these top techno DJs.
Here’s our diverse list, including pioneers, current heavyweights, and relative newcomers on the techno scene.
The Best Techno DJs…and Where to Find Them!
#1. Charlotte de Witte
The reigning, defending, undisputed champion of the techno DJing world…
…Charlotte de Witte.
CdW first crashed onto the techno scene under the DJ name of “Raving George”.
At the time, she thought she wouldn’t get a fair crack of the whip if it were apparent when sending out mixes, that she was, well, a she!
Fair enough I suppose, the music industry and clubbing world have been far from immune to the odd bit of gender bias over the years.
For Charlotte, those days are long forgotten and Raving George only gets out occasionally nowadays.
Not only is she an amazing DJ to see play live, because her passion for DJing shines through in all of her sets…
…but she’s also a top techno producer, turning out some brilliant stuff on her KNTXT label.
Here’s a little bit of Charlotte de Witte Djing at the Amsterdam Music Festival in 2023:
DJ Style: Techno, Acid Techno, Trance
Where You Can Find Her: For pretty much all of 2024, mainly in the U.S.A., Mexico, Germany, Spain, London
#2. Carl Cox
You know a DJ has put in a solid shift when you can remember the first time you saw them play.
And I can remember seeing Carl Cox at The Gatecrasher Summer Sound System at Turweston Aerodrome in 2001.
Well, when I say “remember”, it’s not so much with crystal-clear clarity, we’re talking more abstract, trippy flashbacks.
But I do definitely remember that his techno sound absolutely blew me away.
Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him all over the place, probably most notably on more than one occasion at Space, Ibiza, during his Sunday night residency there.
Carl Cox is an absolute techno legend who delivers a unique set every time he plays, and he delivers it with unrelenting energy and passion.
Thank you, big man, you have provided the soundtrack and the vibe to some of the most fun nights of my life…as well as the odd messy afternoon!
Here’s some:
DJ Style: Techno, Acid Techno
Where You Can Find Him: Columbia. Argentina, the U.S., the U.K., Spain, Italy…the man never stops!
#3. Adam Beyer
If you love techno, surely you must love the Swedish techno DJ master Adam Beyer.
He just smashes it every single time he plays a set.
I really want to avoid saying he takes you on a journey, but…
…he takes you on a goddamn journey!
Founder of Drumcode Records, one of the most influential labels in techno, the man is another living legend of the genre.
So what’s his sound?
Industrial techno, minimalist techno, rhythmic, melodic techno, all perfectly melded together with drive and intensity.
It’s a beautiful thing, and if you haven’t experienced his sound live already, and you ever get the chance, do not deny yourself.
Are you still not convinced?
Watch his set below, all the way through, and tell me you don’t love it!
DJ Style: Techno
Where You Can Find Him: All over Europe and the U.K. on the regular, and sometimes in the U.S.
#4. Amelie Lens
Belgium just keeps on churning out top-quality DJs.
Amelia Lens is a really engaging DJ, and while you can get a feel for her style and energy by watching video clips of her sets, the energy she DJs with does not come across to its full effect.
Her sets are full-bore and she clearly loves every single minute of them.
A raver before becoming a DJ, just like all the absolute best DJs, Amelie Lens comes at techno from a place of genuine love for the sound and the scene.
Click below and enjoy:
DJ style: Banging Hard Techno
Where You Can Find Her: Regularly across Europe and often in the U.S.
#5. Jeff Mills
Jeff Mills is sometimes referred to as “The Wizard” in techno circles.
The man is a genuine pioneer of Detroit techno, and he has driven the scene and the sound forward for decades.
I don’t know if there is a DJ out there with deeper technical skills than Jeff Mills.
I think you could put him in front of just about and DJ / music production set-up, and he would get something brilliant out of it.
Three 1210’s and a mixer? No problem! A Roland TR-909? For sure! A USB stick and a modern-day controller? Well, yeah, but hey, my gran can pull that off!
DJ Style: Detroit Techno, Industrial Techno, Acid Techno
Where You Can Find Him: Pretty much all over the planet this year.
#6. Richie Hawtin
If minimal techno is your bag, Richie Hawtin might just be your man.
Pushing the boundaries of electronic music for a few decades now.
His Plastikman alias and the M-nus label have had a big impact on the development of techno, introducing innovative production techniques and performance concepts, such as his tech/music CLOSE live shows.
DJ Style: Detroit Techno, Minimalist Techno
Where You Can Find Him: USA and Canada first half of the year, Europe and U.K. second half.
#7. Sven Väth
Techno seems to be spawning legends left-right-and-centre right now.
And Papa Sven is most definitely up there with the very best of the techno DJ legends.
In fact, Sven Väth is such a legend of the genre, that the techno world would not have progressed in the same way without him.
Almost unbelievably, he’s been at it since way back in 1981.
But somehow, his DJ sets still sound fresh and innovative.
It has always been the case that you never quite know what you’re going to get at a Sven Väth gig because he always seems to go somewhere you didn’t quite expect.
Just about any type of techno is possible at a Sven Väth gig…apart from the slow stuff!
The founder of Cocoon Recordings, a true techno legend, Väth is not done yet.
Try this Tomorrowland set for size:
DJ Style: Techno in all its forms
Where You Can Find Him: Europe and the U.K.
#8. Anfisa Letyago
Anfisa Letyago has been tearing it up these last couple of years.
Letyago’s sound bridges the gap between classic techno and contemporary EDM flourishes.
It’s pulsating and driving just as much as it’s melodic.
She’s definitely a natural when it comes to connecting with the crowd, and it’s partly this ability that makes her performances pretty special.
With releases on some of the genre’s most prestigious labels and support from techno titans, Anfisa might just be a future techno legend in the making.
Catch her whenever you can, but in the meantime…
…watch this video and pretend you’re there:
DJ style: Techno, Acid Techno, Trance, Goa Trance
Where You Can Find Her: Regularly across Europe and often in the U.S.
#9. Helena Hauff
Unpolished, dark, industrial, that’s the way Helena Hauff likes her techno.
And if you’re going to see her play, you’d better make sure you do too.
She’s one of the few big-name DJs who is still using vinyl, and for that, we love her just a little bit more than we already did.
Go find her. You’ll be glad you did!…unless classical music is your thing, in which case, you’ll be absolutely appalled.
DJ style: Techno
Where you can find her: Regularly across Europe and occasionally in the U.S.
Wrapping it Up!
These techno DJs represent the pinnacle of techno DJing and also contribute significantly to the genre’s evolution…
…each with their own distinct style and sound.