MarAxe Control, Groove and the Heart of Techno

I guess I have evolved over the years. All those hours in the studio have given me a workflow that I feel comfortable with, and I do not overthink things the way I did many years ago. Nowadays, I trust my instincts more.

I also avoid having too many plugins or too much hardware. Too much stuff crowds everything for me, so less is more. It makes me more productive, but it also forces me to push the limits of what I already have.

I have adjusted to that over time and developed what you might call a blueprint, or a formula that has become my sound. Inspiration can come from a particular sound or from life in general. By the time I start working, I usually already know what I want to do. I just create what is in my head and let my feelings drive the process.

Sometimes I do, and sometimes I do not. I try not to think about genres when I produce. I just produce.

If I am doing a remix, though, I always try to make something that fits the label's profile or the character of the artist's original track. I would never make a hard techno remix if something more hypnotic were expected.

In a way, I have two outlets. One is harder, while the other is more hypnotic and groovy. When those two sides come together, you get the somewhat harder hypnotic style that I am known for.

Whatever style I am working in, I always begin with the groove and build from there. The process is basically the same. I am also strongly influenced by the techno we had 20 or 25 years ago, so I think I unconsciously create things that take me back to that era.

When I listen to a demo, I listen to bits and pieces of the tracks. I listen with three ears: the two on my head and the one in my heart. If all three react, I know I have found something.

A proper presentation from the artist is also very important. From time to time, I receive demos with no real introduction, just a private SoundCloud link. Sometimes the track is not even exclusive because it has already been sent around to many other people. It may also be in a completely different genre.

When that happens, it kind of pisses me off. It shows that someone has not done their homework and does not really respect or care about the label. I also receive demos that need an extra push before I can release them. Whenever I can, and I always try to, I give feedback.

As for the label's name, STØK means 'messy'. Some labels have a very distinct sound and stay strictly within that lane. I want STØK to have a broader sound and to experiment, whether that is within hypnotic techno or the more traditional hard techno side.

From time to time, DJs reach out and say they are grateful to have found a label releasing the more classic hard techno and hardgroove sound they are looking for and playing. It is kind of difficult to find nowadays, so I want to do my part.

The label is also a way for me to help others and give new producers a platform when they need that extra push. People opened doors for me too, so in a way, I am trying to give something back and pay it forward.

Its authenticity. Actual skill and talent. People with knowledge, and honest people who treat others with love and respect. Techno should never lose its heart and soul. We are the people who bring those things into the scene.

A few years ago, someone I thought was a friend in the business turned out to be narcissistic and very dishonest. That person seemed to be involved only for the attention it gave. As soon as they had enough to eat, so to speak, they moved on to other things and are probably still using people.

I despise people who use others for their own gain. That is not what the scene needs. I feel bad for every talented producer and DJ who is being used or pushed aside because of someone's ego, or because they do not have enough 'influencer points' on social media.

There is so much happening today that affects the scene in different ways, both positively and negatively. AI, social media and everything else surrounding us. Thankfully, there are still many of us trying our best to keep the core alive. Who knows? Maybe one day things will calm down, and we will all be able to share the space completely equally.