MSU Museum Charts Detroit Techno’s Rise with New Sound Exhibition
MSU Museum’s newest exhibition, Detroit’s Techno Music, will be on display at its East Lansing location on Abbot Road from February 4 through April 30, 2025.
Called “Techno: The Rise of Detroit’s Machine Music,” the exhibition combines a powerful 45-minute sound installation from Underground Resistance with visual art by Andrew Charles Edman. It follows how this raw, electronic sound evolved from local clubs to worldwide dance floors.
On February 18, pioneering producers Carl Craig and Mike Banks will gather at WKAR Studio. They’ll join Dr. Julian Chambliss to discuss electronic music’s enduring impact on culture during “Techno Futures: Detroit’s Afrofuturist Groove.”
Black musicians kicked off this revolution in mid-1970s Detroit. Using synthesizers and drum machines, they created something unique. Three friends – Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson – pushed the sound into new territory.
By the late 1980s, Detroit’s electronic beats had taken over Europe’s clubs. Soon, huge dance parties emerged worldwide, driven by this raw machine music.
Underground Resistance exploded onto the scene in 1990. Mad Mike Banks, Rob Hood, and Jeff Mills blended hard beats with powerful messages about social change.
The Music Institute became the hub for Detroit’s electronic artists. This small club grew into a breeding ground for fresh talent and new sounds.
The exhibition links techno’s origins to Afrofuturism – where sci-fi dreams meet Black cultural expression. This blend influenced both the music’s sound and visual style.
Visitors can experience how Detroit’s electronic movement grew from local parties to packed venues worldwide through audio, visuals, and memorabilia.
The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular admission includes access to the exhibition.
