Atsushi Maeda

In techno, a genre of dance music, Atsushi Maeda prioritizes above all else bringing astonishment to the dance floor, a concept that guides his performances and sometimes leads the audience to new heights. As the founder of rural, an open-air event that now heralds the arrival of summer, he has consistently provided audiences with new musical experiences, embodying the same philosophy he employs during his own performances. In recent years, he has revitalized his activities as a DJ, and during the European tour celebrating rural's 15th anniversary in March 2024, he showcased sets that represented rural at various locations. He has captivated audiences at Asian festivals such as Organik in Taiwan, Karma Kastle and Wonderfruit in Thailand, and at clubs such as Bassiani in Tbilisi, The Block in Tel Aviv, 1986 Gallery in Vilnius, and Ankali in Prague. At Wonderfruit, as a curator, he invited key figures from various Asian countries to the stage he managed. While focusing on techno, he also introduced variety in the concept over the four days. Furthermore, he worked with the sound team that he has shared time with at rural for many years, and added evolution to the underground aspect of the festival in terms of production, earning him acclaim and demonstrating his capabilities.