69db is a UK free tekno artist and live electronic musician associated with Spiral Tribe, SP23 and R-Zac. As a teenager, he is inspired by the illegal acid house parties of the late 1980s and decides to become a dance music producer. He busks on the London Tube, the Paris Metro and the Berlin U-Bahn to fund his early experiments in electronic music, and exchanges his drum kit for a Roland 303 and an EDP Wasp synthesiser.

Spiral Tribe and SP23

From 1991 onwards, 69db is a member of the Spiral Tribe Sound System. He also co-founds the original SP23 studio. Through this work, he helps push the emerging scene beyond conventional track production and DJing into live improvised performance.

Style and performance

His music draws on freeform jazz, dub, house, funk, hard tek and raw tribal rhythms. He works as a live musician rather than primarily as a studio producer, and his performances move through different styles and collaborations. Across his work, he emphasises the idea of music as a transformative force.

Releases and labels

69db releases tracks under the names Spiral Tribe, SP23, R-ZAC and Liveset Dub. His recordings appear on labels including Big Life, Drop Bass Network, Force Inc, Rabbit City, Labworks, Acid Orange, Expressillon and Trax Records Chicago.

Current identity

He continues to be identified with free tekno and the Spiral Tribe tradition, with live sets that combine spirituality and urban grit.