Adam X meets Anthony Rother - Sonic Groove Podcast SGX025

In this episode, Adam X sits down with German electro pioneer Anthony Rother to trace his journey from discovering electronic music in the early-to-mid 1980s to becoming one of the defining figures in modern electro. Anthony reflects on his first encounters with electro, hip-hop culture, and breakdancing before discussing his earliest experiments with making electronic music during the late 1980s.

Anthony looks back at his introduction to the Frankfurt techno scene in the early 1990s, including meeting Heiko Laux and becoming connected with the Kanzleramt camp. From there, the conversation follows his evolution as both an electro and techno producer, leading up to his breakthrough 1997 release, Sex With Machines, the record that established him on the international electro and techno map and paved the way for a string of influential releases throughout the turn of the millennium.

The episode also covers the controversy surrounding Anthony's remix of Kraftwerk's Numbers for the Electroluxx compilation Space Night, his influential years releasing music on his PSI49NET record label (1998–2002), followed by the launch of his Datapunk record label, where he developed the futuristic electro-punk sound that would become synonymous with his name throughout the mid-2000s.

The conversation also explores Anthony's lesser-known ambient productions released on Fax +49-69/450464 Records during the first decade of the 2000s and his friendship with the late Pete Namlook. It continues with Anthony's return to producing classic electro with a contemporary approach throughout the 2010s, followed by a more "Technobeat" electro direction that emerged after the pandemic.

The episode concludes with Anthony discussing self-releasing and distributing both his classic catalog and new productions, his current and forthcoming projects, and a thoughtful conversation with Adam on the future of AI and its impact on music. I

If you're into the real history of electro and techno, hit like and subscribe. Drop a comment with your favourite Anthony Rother track or release.

Chapters and topics:

• Discovering electronic music, electro, hip-hop, and breakdancing in the early-to-mid 1980s

• First experiences producing music in the late 1980s

• Entering the Frankfurt techno scene, meeting Heiko Laux, and Kanzleramt • Sex With Machines (1997) and the records that followed

• The Kraftwerk Numbers remix controversy and the Electroluxx Space Night compilation • The PSI49NET record label (1998–2002)

• Founding the Datapunk record label and developing the electro-punk sound • Ambient productions on Fax +49-69/450464 Records and his friendship with Pete Namlook

• Returning to classic electro with a contemporary approach throughout the 2010s

• The post-pandemic "Technobeat" electro style • Self-releasing music, reissues, and independent distribution

• Current and forthcoming productions Thoughts on AI

🎙️ Host: Adam X

👤 Guest: Anthony Rother

🎬 Post-Production: Waxed - for more info visit https://waxed.market/

📺 Published by Sonic Groove Podcast. 100% Human.

Special thanks to Keith Tucker / DJ K1 (Puzzlebox, Detroit) for allowing us the time and space to have this conversation.

🎧 Prefer audio? Listen to this episode on your podcast app: https://sonicgroove.podbean.com/ #electronicmusic #podcast #AnthonyRother #SonicGroove #AdamX #Techno #NYCTechno