Derrick May

Born in Detroit and raised in the Belleville area of Michigan, Derrick May established himself at the end of the 1980s as one of the central figures of Detroit techno alongside Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson, with whom he forms the Belleville Three. His work as a producer and DJ develops an aesthetics at the crossroads of Chicago house, electro-funk and melodic, tense and futuristic techno, often built on dry rhythms, bright synth pads and a strong sense of movement. Under the names Derrick May, Mayday and Rhythim Is Rhythim, he launches the Transmat label and releases tracks that have become touchstones of the genre, including "Nude Photo" (1987), "Strings of Life" (1987) and "It Is What It Is" (1988). Associated with Detroit's Music Institute club, an important venue on the local scene, Derrick May also played a role as a conduit for the next generation of the city's producers, particularly around the Transmat ecosystem. His discography remains relatively compact, with Innovator (1996), The Mayday Mix (1997) and Mysterious Traveller (2002) with System 7, while his DJ activity has kept him permanently on international electronic stages.