Audio State is a Romanian techno artist who has dropped hard-hitting tracks on influential record labels ranging from Monika Kruse’s Terminal M to Pan Pot’s Second State. He has played headlined DJ sets across Europe, and is known for having an exhilarating style that combines driving percussion and intense synth lines. Audio State’s new ‘Sine Wave’ EP is out now via Sam Paganini’s record label JAM, and we invited him for this interview to discover more about the release…

Hi Adrian, can you start by giving our readers a bit of background about you and your music style? 

“First of all, huge thanks for inviting me. Well, I come from Romania, specifically Cluj-Napoca, the second largest city in the country. I am a techno DJ and producer, and I have been making music for approximately 11-12 years, give or take. I started music production with minimal and then tech house until 2018, and from there on, I have been producing only techno music. You could say that between 2016 and 2018, I had a shift in my perception of electronic music that brought me to where I am today. As for my style, I would say that it would be hard to describe because it has changed a lot since I started in 2018. It went from melodic and cosmic, peak time techno to more industrial, raw, and hypnotic, but still keeping that big room feeling of peak time style.”

Can you remember the moment you fell in love with techno, and who are some of your main influences? 

“I am happy to say that I’ve been through many stages and genres (trance, house, deep house, minimal, progressive house) when it comes to electronic music, and all of them shaped my current sound in a way or another. The moment when techno music took over for me was back in 2011, at one of Adam Beyer’s shows in Bucharest, when I was totally blown away by the music he played that night. It was also the first time I had heard about Drumcode too. Beside Adam Beyer being a huge influence for my music, some other notable names that inspired me a lot are Enrico Sangiuliano, Sam Paganini, Richie Hawtin, Chris Liebing, Sven Väth, John Digweed, Sasha and Scooter.”

Tell us about the techno scene where you live in Romania?

“The techno scene in Romania is relatively young and small, primarily due to the dominance of other genres such as rominimal or tech house, which are more accessible to the general public. Another contributing factor is the scarcity of venues suitable for hosting techno events. Unfortunately, there are very few clubs at the moment that fully embrace techno music. However, I remain confident and optimistic that the scene will gradually expand with the support of emerging artists like myself, as well as others, and with the backing of major festivals like Untold, Electric Castle, or Saga, which are striving to attract renowned techno artists to our country.”

You have released on record labels such as Pan-Pot’s Second State and Monika Kruse’s Terminal M, which release in your back catalogue are you are most proud of? 

“The release that I love the most at the moment is definitely “Warehouse Impulse,” a track released on Second State last December. It's a track that inspires me greatly, and what I appreciate the most about it, is its timeless quality reminiscent of a classic techno cut, featuring classic Detroit stabs, hypnotic grooves, and a captivating vocal. Additionally, whenever I play this track, the crowd goes crazy for it.”

What’s in your music studio, can you list some of the equipment that’s essential to your sound?

“Well, this is a simple one (laughs), as I do not use any external equipment. I do have an Arturia Microfreak, but I rarely use it. I'm one of those producers who prefer to work entirely in the box. I believe that the most essential tools for shaping my sound are my VSTs, as they play a significant role in my production process. However, if I were to name a VST that I can't live without, it would be the UAD Pultec EQ. It's an incredible tool, especially for refining the low end.”

Your new EP is out via Sam Paganini’s record label JAM, and it would be great to discover more about your three fantastic tracks on the release?

“Well, the EP consists of three tracks: “Sine Wave,” “Dopamine Rush,” and “Hypno.” Sine Wave stands out as the strongest one, having already received widespread support from Sam Paganini himself since last year. It has a big room feeling, enhanced by the vocal I've incorporated, making it even more impactful. It might even become my new all-time favourite track of my own, haha! (Laughs).

The second track is a more hypnotic cut, featuring an industrial, modular-like synth that keeps listeners immersed throughout the entire journey. As for the third and final track of the EP, Hypno, it's another hypnotic and raw piece, yet equally strong, featuring a mesmerising synth arpeggio with heavy processing. I'm immensely proud of these three tracks, and I sincerely hope that people will enjoy them as much as I do.”

 
How did you first make contact with Sam Paganini, and what made you decide to sign your music to JAM?

“I've always been a fan of Sam Paganini's music, starting from his early releases on Cocoon and later following his Drumcode hits. When he opened his label, JAM Music, I began closely monitoring its releases, loving each and every one he put out. I started sending demos multiple times until I finally got signed one track on the label's compilation last May. I had the opportunity to meet Sam during a summer festival in Romania where he played my track in front of me. Afterwards, I continued sending him tracks until he finally selected three of them for an EP release. I chose JAM Music primarily because it's a label that remains true to techno music, regardless of current trends, and always offers a fresh sound that you can't find anywhere else.”

What gigs and other releases do you have coming over the next few months?

“I have just one other release prepared at the moment and expecting some label confirmations for the second part of the year. As for the gigs, I have another one confirmed for June in Berlin and working closely with my agent for an Europe tour in the autumn.”

Thanks for running through our questions, is there anything you would like to add before we finish? 
“Thank you for having me and supporting my music, it’s been enjoyable to chat with you today, best wishes.”

Get Your copy of Sine Wave here.