“Techno” is a word that brings up a lot of different thoughts for many. First and foremost is a generalization of the electronic music, which is simply not true; secondly, a rich history of releases predominately coming from Detroit and Berlin; and thirdly, the dreaded cloud hanging over the “minimal” subgenre. Any artist associated with the genre knows that it’s an immersive world with layers upon layers of past influences, thoughts, sounds and rhythms surrounding a steady beat. While there are people who are straightforward with their tunes in techno, there are artists who stay behind the sound of their productions and let listeners decide where they should be in the world that is electronic music. One such producer is Darren Cunningham, better known by his production moniker “Actress.” While working under a mysterious guise, his tunes are shrouded in a mist of grays, beiges, and whites, perhaps depicting a murky London skyline or just a cloudy day anywhere in the world. The music of Actress, which is intimate, inquisitive and intricate all at once, fits perfectly on the label which Cunnigham runs: WERKDISCS. With a prolific roster of producers (Zomby, Lone, Lukid, Nochexxx and more), Cunningham’s music fits the mold of forward-thinking house/techno as well as contributes to making listeners think while toe-tapping.

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