Plastikman

Plastikman, the influential alias of Richie Hawtin, helped shape minimal techno in the early '90s, using obsolete gear to create haunting techno anthems. Hawtin, also known as F.U.S.E., established Plus 8 and M_nus labels, moving to Berlin as minimal techno's epicenter. While less prolific in the 21st century, projects like 2014's EX and 2022's Consumed in Key show Hawtin's enduring impact.

Growing up in Windsor, Ontario, across from Detroit's techno pioneers, Hawtin's Plus 8 Records, formed with John Acquaviva, showcased precise techno. Plastikman debuted in 1993, followed by the alter ego F.U.S.E., with releases like Sheet One and Dimension Intrusion. Despite setbacks in the mid-'90s, Hawtin's Concept 1 series and 1998's Consumed marked a return to cutting-edge techno, leading to a diverse career with ventures in sake, technology, and a revival of the Plastikman project.