In this Sonic Groove podcast, Adam X sits down with NYC techno legend Abe Duque for a fast-moving deep dive into five decades of club music, from early DJ roots to his defining 90s output and beyond.

Abe breaks down his Kirlian era, key releases on Sähkö and Disko B, and building NYC techno from the inside through Tension Records and the Limelight years. He shares stories from extensive European touring, scene politics, and the real backstory behind “The Blunt EP.”

The conversation shifts to the 2000s with the Abe Duque label, life in the studio as a producer and engineer, and his biggest crossover moment with Blake Baxter on “What Happened,” a mid-2000s anthem that remained in rotation for years. Abe also opens up about the Berlin chapter, family responsibilities, and how those shifts changed his path.

Today, he continues to shape the next generation through education and mentorship, teaching Ableton and developing new talent at 343 Labs in New York.

If you enjoyed this episode, like, subscribe, and drop a comment with your favourite Abe Duque record.

Chapters and topics

• Early DJ years and NYC beginnings

• Victor Calderone, Gene Lefosse, and meeting Patrick Pulsinger

• Limelight era and launching Tension Records (1993)

• Sähkö connections and Pansonic stories

• Scene politics and “The Blunt EP”

• Marriage to Sil Brokesch

• Studio work and DJ Hell’s New York Muscle

• “What Happened” with Blake Baxter and its impact

• Berlin period and family challenges

• Teaching Ableton, Dubspot, and 343 Labs

• Thoughts on the current techno scene

🎙️ Host: Adam X

👤 Guest: Abe Duque

🎬 Post-Production: Patrick DSP @ Neptune Mastering

📺 Published by Sonic Groove Podcast. 100% Human.

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