Schranz… In San Francisco…

Article Eric Duplantier

On Halloween this year, I was fortunate enough to go to a Factory93 event at Cow Palace in San Francisco. Factory93 is a brand under Insomniac focused on techno music. As a techno fan, I knew this would be a fun event. The lineup was stacked: 

  • Max Gardner 
  • SPFDJ 
  • Klangkuenstler 
  • Dax J 
  • Amelie Lens

It was my first time seeing all of these DJs with the exception of Dax J, who I saw at Dour music festival in Belgium earlier this year.  

It was not in the main area at Cow Palace, but the room to the side. It was a very industrial space, concrete, metal bars, and smoke filled; all you can see are silhouettes and lights/lasers. The perfect environment.  

Schranz is a sub-genre of techno that originated in Germany. It has a very full and heavy sound, usually above 150bpm. I have heard it before in the clubs I have been to in Germany, but never in the states. Klangkuenstler is, unofficially, the king of Schranz and is known for blending the industrial raw sound with futuristic and sci-fi visuals/lights at his “Outworld” shows. He did not disappoint. It was fast, hard techno all night long. He brought a piece of Germany with him, which I appreciate. With everyone in costume, it is an immersive experience.  

My favorite set of the night, unsurprisingly, was Klangkuenstler. I had heard Schranz before but something about it that night just scratched an itch I didn’t realize I had. It brought me back to Kit Kat club in Berlin… I eagerly await the next time I get to hear Schranz in the States.  
What is really special about events like these is the freedom they bring. Rave spaces are about escaping into a judgment-free zone. It was truly freeing to be in a space where you can be as you are.  

Sincerely, 

 。°⭒*eric*☽₊˚.⋆