Explore the cultural, historical, and imaginative roots of techno, one of the most influential electronic music genres in the world. Journey deep into the sonic landscapes of Detroit, unpacking the forces that shaped the birth of techno and the visionary Black youth who created it. Hosted and written by Julian C. Chambliss.
Presented by WKAR Public Media in partnership with MSU Museum at Michigan State University.
Supported in part by MSU Federal Credit Union.
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In the final episode of RISE, host Julian Chambliss examines how Detroit-born techno became a global phenomenon while its Black origins were often overlooked. -
Host Julian Chambliss explores the deep connections between techno music and Afrofuturist worldbuilding.
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Episode 4 explores the pivotal role of DJs in shaping Detroit techno.
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Episode 3 explores how affordable electronic instruments like the Roland TB-303 and TR-606 empowered Detroit’s Black youth to invent techno.
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Explore how Detroit’s history, shaped by Black migration, industrial boom, deindustrialization, and grassroots activism, laid the groundwork for techno.
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Techno is more than music—it's Black speculative practice rooted in Detroit's future-forward sound.
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Discover the untold story of Detroit techno—where Black innovation meets the future.
More About RISE
RISE is a documentary podcast that explores the cultural, historical, and imaginative roots of techno, one of the most influential electronic music genres in the world. Hosted and written by Dr. Julian C. Chambliss, Val Berryman Curator of History and curator for Techno: The Rise of Detroit’s Machine Music exhibition at the MSU Museum and produced by award-winning audio journalist David Weinberg, the podcast journeys deep into the sonic landscapes of Detroit, unpacking the forces that shaped the birth of techno and the visionary Black youth who created it.