Keith Carnal

Dutch DJ and producer Keith Carnal shapes a warm, melodic strain of techno laced with retro influences across his debut full-length Retrofit, issued in 2019.

North Holland native Carnal entered a household steeped in music and absorbed parental staples such as Dire Straits, New Order, and Donna Summer during childhood. Techno seized his focus in his teens, yet when he first pursued production his social circle leaned toward house and electro, directing those initial efforts accordingly. Tracks began appearing on Hotfingers, Suara, and Tuamotu from 2008 onward, until he circled back to his original techno affinity and resumed work in that vein. Satisfied with the results by 2014, he forwarded a demo to Affin founder Joachim Spieth, who responded by committing to multiple 12"s that included the widely embraced “Objective.” Further material surfaced on Arts, and Carnal launched his own imprint, SEC ND° (“Second Degree”), in 2018. His practical, dancefloor-focused melodic cuts earned him status as a selector’s favorite among techno tastemakers of varied persuasions. Retrofit arrived on his label the following year, shifting toward a reflective, home-listening sensibility distinct from earlier releases and drawing primary inspiration from soundtrack composers including Vangelis, Angelo Badalamenti, and Hans Zimmer.