Our mission is to reclaim techno as a manifestation of Black expression in a society that has oppressed it by creating spaces, both virtual and IRL, that celebrate the black roots of techno. An assertion and a reminder that Techno IS Black.
UPCOMING EVENTS
FRI FEB 27 2026 BLACK TECHNO MATTERS & Midnight FM present… DJ STINGRAY 313, FEMANYST, XAV, CARLOS SOUFFRONT, ETHER PLEASER & KIVA @ TRANSMISSION
Join us Friday February 27 at TRANSMISSION for a special Black History Month collaboration between BLACK TECHNO MATTERS and Midnight FM.
Upstairs we’re honored to showcase two innovators. Detroit Techno legend DJ STINGRAY 313 graces our decks with his relentlessly inventive and provocative sonic sound that is deeply intertwined with techno history’s past, present and future. Then, prepare for your system to be rattled by the unapologetically bold and speaker testing high octane sound of FEMANYST, techno alias of house legend Lady Blacktronika hailing from San Francisco. Rounding out the upstairs lineup will be Black Techno Matters crew member XAV who is known as a melodic spell caster on the decks as well as a community mover in the Richmond techno scene. He's also been working in the studio and will be dropping a new EP on the Black Techno Matters music label later this month!
On the bottom floor, Midnight FM is excited to host the long awaited return of CARLOS SOUFFRONT, a master selector, beholden to no genre, and yet finding that perfect tune at the perfect moment. Joining Carlos, are two Midnight FM favorites. First is ETHER PLEASER, who built his name as a resident of the TURBO/140+ collective, blending and bending techno toward the future. And opening the night is Midnight FM resident and recently crowned "Jolliest Man in Navy Yard", KIVA who plays with a lithe and effervescent confidence that shows through both his selections and his laughing spells heard through the fog and soundwaves.
***To accommodate those with visual sensitivities this will be a low light event with no flashing lights, no strobe lights, and no lasers. ***This is a NOTAFLOF event.
Experience the mission of BLACK TECHNO MATTERS at a city near you as the BTM crew traverses across US cities during the Liber8 US 2026 Tour!
In previous years, the innovative collective pulled off the feat of throwing multiple Liber8 US events in multiple cities during Juneteenth week. In 2026, the crew is spreading out the celebration throughout the year, and giving each city its own space to shine. The tour kicks off Jan 16th (MLK weekend) in DC followed by Richmond, VA on Feb 28th, then heads to other cities in later months.
We hope that the Liber8 US 2026 Tour will be a statement to the music community and to the world that BLACK TECHNO MATTERS, and show what's possible when black artists organize together.
“The Liber8 US events extend the reach of our mission, spreading the knowledge of the black origins of techno across the country. Not just celebrating our history, but also organizing in the present to elevate ourselves into the future. Liber8 U.S. is about people power and showing what’s possible when black artists organize together with intention. And our intention is not just to party, but to liberate ourselves in body and mind and across time and space, using techno as a means to escape the chains of this oppressive society and travel to an alternate timeline where we are free to be ourselves and express ourselves. It’s time to Liber8 US!”
- Bernard Farley, Founder of Black Techno Matters
K-HAND
This month we're highlighting one of the techno innovators, K-HAND (Rest in Power).
Sonic Sessions is BACK—we’re giving live feedback on demos for our first session of the year on Wednesday, February 4! You’re invited to send in an original, unreleased track that will be heard in an intimate setting by other artists and the Black Techno Matters label team themselves, followed by thoughtful discussion on your track.
Fill in the form to submit your track by Wednesday, January 21. We're keeping sessions small again in 2026 so we can guarantee full playback and commentary within our timeframe. Whether you’d like to submit a demo for the Black Techno Matters music label, test your mixdown or mastering techniques, or simply flex your creativity and talk about it, we’re excited to hear from you!
We’ll email selected artists by Friday, January 30. Check out Sonic Sessions on the Black Techno Matters website for more details on how to submit.
Stay tuned for more—we’re ready to hear what you send us! Two weeks to the deadline starts now! 😊
