Alan Fitzpatrick

Renowned for a commanding yet forceful approach to big-room techno, British DJ and producer Alan Fitzpatrick has issued material since the late 2000s on imprints such as Drumcode, Bedrock, and Cocoon, fusing relentless, powerful rhythms with melodic elements drawn from the drive of classic rave sounds. A global favorite among club audiences, he has delivered extended, high-octane performances at innumerable venues and events, maintaining steady bookings in Ibiza alongside flagship spots like Fabric and Tresor. Among his standout cuts are the radiant 2012 release “Skeksis” and the thunderous 2016 track “We Do What We Want,” which inaugurated his own We Are the Brave label; that same year he also delivered the widely praised Fabric 87 mix CD. Expanding into more atmospheric territory, he surfaced as 3Strange in 2020 before unveiling the expansive, guest-filled Machine Therapy full-length the following year.

Originating from Southampton, England, Fitzpatrick absorbed funk and soul early on through his father’s Motown collection, later embracing 1980s pop before immersing himself in dance culture via the rave and acid house movements. Once established as a committed clubgoer, he encountered techno and began developing his own productions. A prolonged period of refinement occupied the entire noughties decade while he sharpened his skills behind the decks and in the studio. His entry arrived in 2008 via the debut single “Nine Hours Later” on his self-run Eight-Sided Dice label, quickly followed by additional releases. True recognition materialized the next year, however, with “Weed Killer” on Len Faki’s Figure, “Reflections” on John Digweed’s Bedrock, and “Static” on Adam Beyer’s Drumcode. His robust, high-energy, persistently groovy aesthetic—markedly distinct from the austere, monochrome Berlin approach dominant at the time—immediately resonated among techno insiders. Repeatedly championed by those same prominent names who featured his records in their sets, Fitzpatrick rapidly emerged as a prominent figure on the international scene, bolstered by his steady output.

Throughout the ensuing five years he placed dozens of singles on respected outlets including Cocoon and Hotflush, though primarily on Drumcode, which also issued his first artist album, Shadows in the Dark, in 2010. Sought after for remixes for artists such as Róisín Murphy and Leftfield, he simultaneously earned acclaim as a DJ whose groove-driven performances generated celebratory atmospheres worldwide. Bald, powerfully built, and heavily inked, he projected an imposing figure at the controls yet endeared himself to dancers through an irreverent, lighthearted demeanor. He secured a residency at Fabric, the storied London club where he had previously logged countless hours on the floor, and in 2016 issued his inaugural mix album, Fabric 87, as part of the venue’s established series. He further founded We Are the Brave with the anthemic “We Do What We Want,” which achieved major festival success; later tracks on the label included “They All Called ’Em Garys” and “El Jefe” alongside Sasha. Additional appearances came via Unknown to the Unknown with 2018’s System Addict, followed by the seven-track EP 11:11 the Awakening on We Are the Brave in 2019.

During 2020 Fitzpatrick reworked Patrice Rushen’s post-disco classic “Haven’t You Heard” for FFRR, collaborated with Jamie Jones and Reset Robot, and issued further experimental pieces under the 3Strange alias. Machine Therapy, his first full-length in more than ten years, arrived via Anjunadeep in 2021; spanning breaks, house, and ambient textures, it featured contributions from Kele, High Contrast, Lawrence Hart, and additional artists.