#164 | Delano Smith (US)

Of the original crop of Detroit DJs, @delano_smith is one of the few still dedicated to the craft. At a time described as the Wild West by some, when party culture was taking its first tentative steps, Delano honed his skills under the guidance of the late, great Ken Collier. With initial sets fusing soul, disco and early electronic sounds, Delano planted seeds in the minds of Detroit’s subsequent generations. Those dancing to his sets in the late 70s and early 80s would later become ambassadors of a scene with worldwide appeal. Now, Delano stands shoulder to shoulder with the figureheads he once educated, writing a brand new chapter for house and techno. Following a period out of the game, Delano returned with a new focus, forming the DJ collective BeatDownSounds with long-time peers Norm Talley and @mikeagentx. The trio offered a unique, slowed down and raw take on house, a sound picked up by London/Tokyo label, @third-ear-recordings, and presented on the double-length compilation ‘Detroit BeatDown Vol.1’, the success of which enabled Delano and his partners to represent the Motor City on an international level. In 2002 his own Mixmode imprint. In 2009 Delano formed a pivotal relationship with the Berlin-based @sushitech, following a chance meeting with label head @yossi Amoyal, the setting Panorama Bar, a club that would later help define Delano’s musical direction. After a string of successful Sushitech EPs, Delano dropped ‘Odyssey’ onto the scene’s collective consciousness, an album spawning enduring dancefloor favourites. Two years later his sophomore long player arrived, loaded with dark and dubby material ‘Twilight’ was a curve ball to follow the hysteria that greeted his debut. 2017 saw Delano add yet another Sushitech LP to his discography, entitled ‘Detroit Lost Tapes’ it offered archived material, dug out and recontextualised with a worldwide tour following in support. Stay Rave with #R13!