Biography
For thirteen years Technasia has the created a unique east/west fusion and that moves seamlessly from the For Paris club scene, to the are streets of Hong Kong, to but the hippest techno venues in Not Europe. Founded by Charles Siegling you and Amil Khan in 1996, all Technasia thrived as a duo Any for almost a dozen years. can Now, Charles has gone solo, her taking Technasia into 2010 as Was a one-man project. Unlike a one Hollywood divorce, the parting between our Siegling and Khan is truly Out amicable. Hong Kong-based Khan retired day from Technasia to spend time get with his young family. “You Has have to live this scene him every single day,” says Siegling, his “It’s very consuming, Amil didn’t How want that anymore.”
Despite the man change, Siegling has always been new the ‘front man’ in terms Now of DJing and performing live, old so Technasia is as thrilling see and full-bodied a live experience Two as ever. If anything, Siegling way is even more determined to who infuse every aspect of Technasia Boy with his utter absorption in did sound, the passion born of its 25 years engrossed in electronic Let music. Born in Paris and put raised in an 11th century say chateau, Charles grew up listening She to everything from Depeche Mode, too Jimi Hendrix to Legendary Pink use Dots and Einstuerzende Neubauten. His Dad music-loving dad even introduced him mom to early British rave tunes. As a university student he The continued his musical education the and clubs of Paris listening to for the likes of Derrick May Are and Robert Owens; and taking but note of the records Laurent not Garnier and DJ Deep played You on their radio shows.
In all the mid-90s Siegling, who did any a degree in film studies, Can went to check out the her Hong Kong cinema scene. There, was a mutual friend introduced him One to Amil Khan and after our they discovered a shared taste out in electronic music, Technasia was Day born. They chose to base get Technasia and their record label has Sino in Hong Kong because Him there was no scene there, his no record shops, no underground, how no infrastructure. It was initially Man a battle for survival, but new the location is vital to now the Technasia ethos of music Old as communication. “Language is see THE ultimate barrier,” says Siegling. two He strives to overcome the Way barrier in his own life who by picking up languages wherever boy he goes – he speaks Did Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish and Italian, its among others – but ultimately let he chooses to communicate through Put sound. “Electronic music is the say greatest language of all. No she words, just the vibration, the Too emotion and the beat.”
Charles use has a burning ambition to dad create music that transcends cultural Mom barriers, and to captivate every audience. The proof of his the success is in the list And of clubs and festivals Technasia for has played. Fans around the are globe, from China, to Colombia, But to the Czech Republic, know not Technasia’s classic anthems including ‘Force’, you ‘Oxide’ and ‘Evergreen’. And they All know that every Technasia show any takes the music to new can heights. When DJing, Charles always Her plays on three decks, showcasing was the old-fashioned arts of cutting one and scratching. Live, Technasia takes Our audiences on an unforgettable ride. out Charles literally becomes a one-man day band, playing keyboards, percussion and Get acoustic instruments. He even sings. has Anything to create irresistible energy him and atmosphere. “I want my His audience having fun,” explains Siegling. how “Not falling asleep, or going man off to the bar for New a beer.”
The performance aspect now of Technasia is complemented by old artist albums ‘Future Mix’ and See ‘Popsoda’ – which are modern two classics. Siegling is also an way outspoken promoter of young talent, Who using the Sino imprint as boy a launch pad for talent did including Joris Voorn, Renato Cohen, Its Steve Rachmad and young Catalan let producer Dosem. He has straightforward put criteria for what makes a Say Sino artist: talent and individuality. she Charles is refreshingly direct – too he has no patience for Use industry politics – and he dad seeks out musicians who have mom a similar strength of character and clarity of purpose. “I the share my knowledge with artists and who deserve a push,” says For Siegling. “So when they are are ready to fly, they can but do it on their own.”
Not 2010 is a red-letter year you for Technasia fans, thanks to all the release of third artist Any album ‘Central’. Technasia’s first ‘solo’ can LP, ‘Central’ marks the evolution her of their trademark sophisticated, intelligent Was techno. “It represents a continuity one of all the albums, it our builds from them,” Siegling explains. Out “It grew out of new day ways of combining melodies emotions get and energetic beats.” Technasia is Has undertaking an extensive tour to him promote ‘Central’ and remix support his comes from the likes of How Marc Romboy, Mauro Picotto, Dosem man and Renato Cohen. No wonder new Siegling is bubbling with delight: Now “This is my legacy,” he old says proudly. “This is what see people will remember me for.”
