MXGN on Live Techno, Breaking Production Rules and Building a Hybrid Performance
- Undrtone Blog
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
More producers than ever are pulling back the curtain on how they make music, but few have embraced it quite like MXGN. Alongside a growing catalogue of releases on labels including Filth on Acid, Teletech, No Mercy and NineTimesNine, the Liverpool artist has built an audience by breaking down production techniques, experimenting with hardware and documenting a creative process that rarely follows convention.
That openness reflects a wider philosophy running through the entire project. Rather than encouraging producers to follow established formulas, MXGN wants people to challenge them.
"I am starting to see a drop in diversity in the scene," he explains. "People are posting a lot of the same content and sharing the same methods over and over."
After years spent experimenting in the studio, he has developed his own workflow and now sees value in showing others there is no single route towards making electronic music.
"There is no right or wrong way of producing music. The best way is to try things no one else does. That's how you build your own sound."
That mindset also explains why the MXGN project has gradually expanded beyond conventional DJ sets.
While many artists move into live performance later in their careers, the transition felt surprisingly natural because his productions were already being created that way.
"I have always produced music in a live setting," he says. "Assigning sounds to buttons and faders so I can jam everything in real time before arranging the track later."
That approach eventually raised a simple question.
"What if I could bring that same freedom into my performances?"
Months of experimentation followed, eventually resulting in a hybrid setup that now sits at the centre of his live shows.
Built around Ableton, the current rig combines a Xone:96 mixer with a Roland TB-03, Moog Subsequent 37, TR-8S drum machine and additional controllers that allow him to manipulate almost every element of the performance on the fly.
"The opportunities are endless compared to a normal DJ set," he says. "It really interested me to get creative with it."
Despite the growing technical complexity, MXGN insists the setup wasn't designed on paper before gradually coming together. Instead, it evolved organically over several years through constant experimentation.
"My first bit of kit was a Trigger Finger," he recalls. "I'd spend hours jamming away, creating build-ups, drops and breakdowns while controlling every sound."
As new equipment gradually entered the studio, every purchase was chosen because it served a specific purpose rather than simply adding more technology.
"I would say it all came together through experimenting with different things and finding out what works for me."
That same balance between preparation and spontaneity now defines every live performance.
Although the foundations take months to build, no two shows unfold exactly the same way.
"My main live set has been built over the last eight months," he explains. "Every performance is unique and thought of on the spot. It's very risky compared to a DJ set, but it's definitely worth it."
Perhaps the clearest example of that philosophy arrives with his recent livestream inside a Liverpool church.
Rather than choosing another warehouse or industrial setting often associated with harder techno, MXGN deliberately searched for somewhere that would feel unexpected.
"I wanted to choose a unique space that I hadn't seen before," he says. "I scouted a few different locations, but this one grabbed my attention the most."
Despite the surroundings, however, the performance itself will remain entirely instinctive.
"My plan is to set up my equipment and just jam. No structure or planning. Just pure in-the-moment decisions. Exactly like I do in my own studio."
That willingness to embrace uncertainty extends beyond the music itself.
MXGN's videos have attracted millions of views by placing performances in unusual locations while combining educational content with live demonstrations. Rather than relying on polished studio clips, he prefers creating something that immediately sparks curiosity.
"I think the videos grab people's attention because of how unusual they are," he says. "It creates a sense of mystery."
"I like to push the boundaries as much as I can to create content that's not only engaging but also obscure."
The locations themselves become part of the storytelling, complementing the energy and atmosphere of the music while avoiding repetition.
At the same time, he is keen to remind people that social media rarely captures the preparation behind every performance.
"There is a huge amount of work that goes into a live set," he explains. "Building all the individual sounds from scratch and making sure they all flow together."
That attention to detail reflects the same philosophy running throughout his productions.
Known for high-energy, acid-driven techno, MXGN sees performing and producing as two separate disciplines, even if they constantly inform one another.
"I don't just make music to be played on the dancefloor," he says. "I also make music for general listening, whether that's in the car or the gym."
Live performances, meanwhile, demand something entirely different.
"When I do a DJ or live set, I want to give the best possible performance for that exact setting. Sometimes harder, sometimes softer, but always high energy and acid driven."
Looking ahead, the live side of MXGN is only becoming more ambitious.
Future plans include synchronising hardware with lighting and visuals to create increasingly immersive performances while continuing to expand the setup itself as new creative possibilities emerge.
"I want to bring the live sets to life even more," he says. "Syncing buttons with lights and visuals to create a more immersive experience."
For an artist whose entire project has been built around experimentation, that feels like the next logical step.
Rather than chasing trends or repeating established formulas, MXGN continues to treat every production, performance and piece of content as another opportunity to discover something unexpected.
And if that encourages the next generation of producers to break a few rules of their own, all the better.
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