Charlotte de Witte on Techno, Creativity & Global Community

Charlotte de Witte released her debut album, Charlotte de Witte, recently, and she calls it her “most selfish” project yet. De Witte says she made choices for some of the album’s tracks based on what she herself “would enjoy”. The project was rooted not in ego, but in intention, and the whole process felt creatively freeing.

Charlotte de Witte, who is a techno pioneer, offered an intimate look into the making of her self-titled debut album “Charlotte de Witte”, as well as a candid conversation about her evolution as an artist. The evening felt less like a formal Q&A, and more like a creative discussion about herself, her community and her latest musical work.

Last month, Funktasy had the opportunity to attend A Creative Discussion with Charlotte de Witte at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles, U.S.A., where she discussed her album and creative process.

Techno Roots & Artistic Vision

Charlotte noted that some of the tracks on the new album lean slightly more commercial, e.g. the infectious “The Heads That Know” featuring Comma D. She balanced these commercial tracks with songs like “Memento Mori”, which taps into techno’s roots with a heavy bass-driven pulse. Overall, she described the album tracklist as having a catchier beat than her usual repertoire; however, she emphasized that these choices were rooted in a desire to share the love of techno with a broader audience. She also spoke about collaborations with XSALT and Lise Gerrard, and praised both artists for their unique energy.

The Spirit of Techno Community

Much of the conversation centred around community. Charlotte reflected on the importance of protecting techno’s underground roots, as the genre becomes more and more mainstream every day. She also shared memories from Tomorrowland, where she became the first techno artist to open and close the festival. She talked about how one year, after a stage fire, fans and artists came together to rebuild and continue the party at Tomorrowland, which perfectly captured the spirit of the techno community.

When Charlotte was asked whether she’d choose DJing or producing for the rest of her life, she said she’d choose DJing – because she loves making people feel good and helping them release their emotions. However, producing remains important to her, as it allows her to grow and challenge herself creatively.

The night closed with a quick chat about her favourite track, “The Age of Love”. This track is a great reflection of an artist who is rooted in passion for techno and dance.