The iconic Time Warp festival returned to South America this past weekend, taking over São Paulo's Vale do Anhangabaú for two nights of pulsating techno. Celebrating its 30th anniversary year, Time Warp 2024 brought the spirit of the genre's birthplace – Germany – to Brazil, with a lineup boasting some of the most revered DJs in the world.

Friday Night Frenzy

The festivities kicked off on Friday, May 3rd, with a diverse range of talent taking the stage. Local hero, ANNA, delivered a high-energy set, while the legendary Rødhåd kept the crowd moving with his signature driving techno. The highlight of the night was arguably the back-to-back set featuring Ben Klock and the rising star, Adiel. Their contrasting styles fused seamlessly, creating a truly unique and captivating soundscape.

Saturday's Stellar Selection

Saturday night saw the energy levels ramp up even further.

The thumping basslines and robotic synths synonymous with techno might paint a picture of Berlin's sprawling nightclubs, but the genre's origins lie far away in the industrial decay of 1980s Detroit. There, amidst social struggles and economic decline, African American pioneers like Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson began weaving a futuristic soundscape. Their experiments with electronic music, influenced by funk, electro, and even sci-fi, birthed techno – a genre that would redefine electronic music.

However, it was Berlin that became techno's crucible. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 shattered physical and artistic barriers. The city's vast, abandoned spaces – remnants of a divided past – became the breeding ground for a new sound. Clubs like Tresor, carved out of a former bank vault, and Berghain, housed in a power station, pulsated with the raw energy of techno.