Seth Troxler

A luminous figure behind shadowy tech-house grooves, DJ and producer Seth Troxler entered the world in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Growing up with a stepfather who worked the decks, he absorbed techno and hip-hop from an early age, an influence that aligned perfectly with the family’s relocation to Detroit when Troxler turned 14. There he dove headlong into the city’s thriving techno community, first as a regular at underground raves and soon as a promoter who organized his own events—one of which featured the esteemed selector Magda when the budding impresario was only 15. By 2002 the 16-year-old had taken a post as dance-music buyer for a Detroit record shop while also securing his inaugural club residency. Following high-school graduation he joined an Omar S–curated European tour on the FXHE label; after completing college he relocated to Berlin, Detroit’s transatlantic counterpart in electronic music. His first vinyl offering, the 2006 12-inch “Love Bezerker,” opened doors to further pressings on Wagon Repair, Raum, Wolf + Lamb, and NRK. Troxler co-founded the Visionquest imprint alongside Ryan Crosson, Shaun Reeves, and Lee Curtiss, and later established the solo-run imprints Tuskegee, Play It Say It, and Soft Touch. An enthusiastic devotee of food and drink, he regularly stages pop-up restaurants at dance festivals, spotlighting barbecued fare and smoked meats.