When Gary Beck recounts how Richie Hawtin once called him personally to sign his tracks, you immediately sense that this is someone who doesn’t just play techno – he lives it. Gary has carried this spirit within him ever since the legendary Pressure nights at the Arches in Glasgow. It was there that he saw Jeff Mills and Richie Hawtin DJ – moments that changed everything for him.

Today, he is one of the most influential voices in modern techno – an artist who cites Berghain experiences as his guide, avoids using AI in the studio and prefers to produce with real passion: “I write music very quickly and in the moment – that’s what drives me.”
And although he has played on the biggest floors in the world, Gary Beck is someone who consciously remains grounded: a five-pound entrance fee for his club night in Scotland? For him, it’s a matter of course – techno should be for everyone, not just for those who can afford it.

Gary talks to us about the power of shared experiences, his connection to Berlin and Berghain, musical freedom beyond algorithms – and why the invitation to contribute music to Rave The Planet touched him so deeply: “So many people, united in the name of techno and community – it’s just moving.”

The beat of Glasgow, the soul of techno

RTP: You come from Glasgow – a city that breathes so much musical history. Which people or nights had the biggest impact on you there? And what do you still take with you from that time when you work in the studio or stand on stage today?

Gary: For me, it was the Soma Records crew who ran the Pressure nights at the legendary Arches in Glasgow. I went to their events regularly, and those experiences changed my life. I watched Richie Hawtin and Jeff Mills doing their thing, and it was so inspiring. I still have those flashback moments in my head when I’m working in the studio.

RTP: When you think back to your early days, was there a moment when you realised, “Wow, something’s really happening here!”? A moment that has stayed with you to this day?

Gary: I would say it was when Richie Hawtin signed me to his Minus label in 2008. My life changed dramatically after that. All of a sudden I was getting requests to play all over the world, and I eventually quit my day job. When he phoned me that day to say he wanted to sign my music, it was like a dream come true.

RTP: With ‘Bring a Friend’ and later ‘Dal Riata’, you’ve released two albums that show very different sides of you. It’s exciting to see how you’ve developed! What did these two projects enable or show you artistically?

Gary: I find producing an album extremely challenging and exciting. I block off everything else to focus entirely on the project. This completely opens up my creative process, allowing me to take risks and try out styles I haven’t tried before. I feel I’m getting very close to going through this process again. It’s all consuming, but so rewarding

RTP: You founded your own label, BEK Audio, in 2009 – it’s really impressive to build something like that from scratch! How has your view of the label changed over the years? And what do you look for today when selecting new music or supporting artists?

Gary: I originally founded BEK Audio as a platform for releasing my own music, but that changed when I received demos from some incredible producers. Some were already established, others wanted to release something for the first time. BEK’s main style is energetic techno with groove and character. I run the label myself and do all the A&R. I don’t put myself under too much pressure with the label. If it takes months for the next release, then so be it. It’s quality over quantity for me.

RTP: You’ve played on some of the most important floors worldwide – from Fabric to Awakenings to Berghain. Is there one of these experiences that has particularly shaped you or had a lasting influence on your sound?

Gary: Berghain in Berlin has had a big influence on my sound. My early tracks were more in the tech house genre, but after playing regularly at Berghain from 2010 to 2016, I fell in love with a darker, more driving sound, which I continue to do to this day.

RTP: At the end of 2024, you were at HÖR and have released tracks on CROWD and Mutual Rytm – there’s a lot going on for you right now! What’s your focus at the moment – more studio work or testing out new tracks directly on the dance floor?

Gary: I just love being in the studio. It’s my passion above everything. I write music very quickly and ‘in the moment’, so I end up with an abundance of material! I play my sets using mostly my own material, so I’m always working on the next tracks to slot into upcoming sets, so I would say output is my main focus right now.

RTP: Do you actually use AI assistance tools in the production process?

Gary: No, that’s not part of my creative process.

Club culture and participation at Rave The Planet

RTP: You’ve often talked about Berlin – especially clubs like Berghain and Tresor. When you’re here, what do you take away from this city or the scene? Is there anything that particularly inspires you here?

Gary: As I mentioned, my experiences DJing and losing myself at Berghain really helped strengthen my affinity for Berlin. Tresor was also an important part of my development, as I played there a couple of times a year. However, I haven’t fully explored Berlin yet. I’d like to go back for a week soon and lose myself in the city.

RTP: Let’s talk about Rave The Planet. You contributed music to our Supporter Series Vol. 28, which will be released on 31 October – by the way, thank you so much for your support! Looking back on the project, how did you find the contact and collaboration? And what does the idea that rave is more than just a party, but also a statement and a culture, mean to you personally?

Gary: I’ve seen a lot of videos, and it’s really moving to see so many people coming together in the name of techno and community. I was very happy when Claudia from the Rave The Planet team asked me to contribute music to the Supporter Series. It was a pleasure to be able to contribute a small part, and I hope to experience the parade live one day. I think it’s very important these days to protect the cultural movements in our scene, as I see how much of it is being destroyed in the name of greed and profit.

RTP: Rave culture is always very much about togetherness and respect. How important are these values to you – especially when you’re on stage or working behind the scenes with others?

Gary: Togetherness is everything, and having people come together and party in a safe protected way is imperative. That was such an important part of my development in the scene. Being with people you love and having the absolute confidence to let yourself go without worrying about what others think. I think the introduction of smart phones has had a very negative impact on the scene, and I respect the clubs and promoters who speak out against it.

Underground, Brexit and sustainability

RTP: Especially now that techno has become so big again, it’s easy to fall into the trap of conforming to trends or algorithms. How do you deal with that? And how do you stay true to yourself in a scene that can sometimes be very fast-paced?

Gary: I’m still firmly rooted in the underground and don’t look much beyond that. I’ll always ‘do what I do’ and stick to it because I love it. I’m not really a big fan of social media, as I’ve never been very interested in showing my face for a social media post. I also host a night in Scotland where we charge £5 admission. I’m not looking to capitalise on anything. It’s about having a great clubbing experience at a price that’s affordable. Sadly, I see far to many people being priced out of the scene, which is a real shame.

RTP: Brexit was a real turning point for many British artists. How has travelling and touring changed for you since then? And what do you think needs to change to make culture work more easily across borders again?

Gary: As a Scotsman, I never wanted any of this to happen, and neither did the majority of Scots. It was clear that it would be a disaster. For us, everything has changed dramatically in terms of the economy and travel. Culture and art should know no boundaries, and I sincerely hope that politicians will recognise this. Unfortunately, most of them lack compassion, so I don’t expect much.

RTP: Sustainability is always a difficult issue when it comes to touring and air miles. How do you personally deal with this? And are there small, realistic steps you would like to see artists or promoters take?

Gary: I think it’s very important not to let it consume you completely. I like to take a few days off from it regularly! I tend to work in creative bursts over the course of a few days. I tend to know when I’ve exhausted myself, so I’ll take myself away to the mountains with my dog quite regularly, and switch off. It’s easy to overthink things in this scene, especially with the onslaught of social media that’s now required!

Peace, community, emotion

RTP: You juggle many roles at once – headliner, producer, label operator. How do you manage that without overworking yourself? And how do you know when it’s time to slow down a bit?

Gary: I would echo my answer to the last question. Overthinking can lead to major burnout! Take some time away when you’re not feeling it. Distract yourself with something else.

RTP: Imagine you’re on a truck at our parade – music is playing, everyone is dancing. If you could say a few words to the crowd at that moment, what would you say? And which of your own tracks would you most like to let them loose to?

Gary: Peace, love and community! Followed by repeated shouts of “TECHNO”. The track I would play is ‘Algoreal’ by Soma Records. It’s such an emotional track that would probably bring me to tears.