Decoder

Backed early on by Richie Hawtin and Jeff Mills, Decoder has grown into one of techno's most compelling voices. Working within the genre's futurist lineage, he pares dance music back to its essentials: rhythm, weight and feeling. First experimenting with Fruity Loops at the age of ten, the Dallas-born producer developed his sound through influences ranging from video game soundtracks and synth-pop to Aleksi Perälä and Perlon-era minimalism. The result is a distinctive approach that balances hypnotic grooves, sci-fi textures and quiet melancholia. Often built around unreleased material, his DJ sets blur the boundaries between studio experimentation and dancefloor functionality, weaving together patient groove-building and an instinctive sense of play — qualities he'll bring to his Dekmantel Festival debut.