Phara spins an intricate, contemporary take on techno while never losing touch with the genre’s essence. Influenced by the pioneering sounds of Detroit, Berlin and the UK, as well as post-punk, wave, EBM and electro, he makes compelling, highly personal tracks that ooze energy.
Having emerged on the international scene with the Next Of Kin album on Black Sun Records, further experimentation with a slew of classic hardware synthesizers and outboard effects led to an analog-oriented practice and a selection of EPs that found a home at other blue-chip imprints such as Fuse Imprint, SK Eleven, Stockholm LTD and more.
Eventually, his urge to move rapidly spurred the setup of “Phaaar”, the gimmick-free record label that serves as an additional output for his own music.
It is clear Phara’s production method is informed by the club and vice versa: the groove and power present on his records move and intertwine in the same fluid motion that he taps into as a DJ.
He plays vinyl-only sets that navigate an intersection of fast rhythms, industrial atmospheres and dubbed-out pulses, backed by a collection of stone-cold classics. His venturesome spirit, understanding of dancefloor dynamics and pin-accurate mixing skills landed him a well-traveled booking schedule and a resident spot at Fuse, his hometown Brussels’ legendary techno venue.
In 2022, he ventured into new territory and debuted his live show, taking the Korg EMX-1—a machine he knows inside and out—from the studio to the main stage. Showing a whole lot can be done with little, these performances adequately represent Phara’s approach. The fusion of propulsive drum sequences, detuned chords and rumbling bass he fires from what is arguably his favorite piece of gear indeed both recounts and re-imagines the power of classic techno.
In summer 2024, Phara introduced ‘In Glass’, a new live project dedicated to a more spacious and immersive approach to electronic music. Focused on slower tempos where kicks are given room to breathe, chords drift through space, and harmonics play a central role, ‘In Glass’ serves as both a challenge and an escape from his established comfort zone.
The project’s first EP, set for release in February 2025 on Phaaar, embodies this ethos—layered, mesmerizing soundscapes inspired by cold winter days, held together by the familiar tensions and textures that remain integral to Phara’s sound.
