I realise that the topic I am going to research may not be such an obvious choice considering my ethnicity. But I also think that it’s important to talk about the issues that are significant to us, and that, perhaps, even a white caucasian woman’s voice may have some value. Coming from a small town in Poland from a working class background I didn’t get much exposure to clubbing. After coming to London I started working in various clubs and naturally immersed myself into the scene. As an immigrant and a woman, I have always had to fight for respect and my own voice, which I hadn’t even realised at a time. After discovering Detroit’s techno, particularly Drexciya, and its origins and history, I felt deeply touched and wanted to find out more. It’s the history of oppression, pain, racism and discrimination but also a history of the community, unity, resistance and music. History of techno.

Here in the Western world a commodification and industrialisation of techno occurred and its original purpose almost entirely vanished. In many places touched by social injustice, the electronic music scene is still a tool for fighting the oppressor and therefore being stamped on, silenced and criminalised. At the same time, The West made a multi-million business out of what truly is a resistance movement and completely ceased to acknowledge its roots.

I believe that privilege should oblige those who have it to educate themselves and others about the world and art we are all engaging with, to make the clubs safe and inclusive spaces, especially considering the minority groups thanks to which this whole culture emerged.

Language is a very powerful tool, although sometimes it can overcomplicate or neglect the matter. It is the main form of interpersonal communication, but it can be also used to create delusion and spread propaganda. Using non-verbal communication systems such as image and sound can enrich and deepen the conversation. Therefore, using all those elements together opens up more possibilities for intersectional inclusion, makes communication easier and the message more accessible.

As a privileged person, I would like to hear, learn from and present the voices of people from underrepresented groups who are experiencing discrimination and oppression and ask them, how we, as an international community, can help to decolonise and give access to music and sound art to those less privileged.