Technasia

Technasia is a techno and electronic music group formed in Hong Kong in 1996 by Charles Siegling and Amil Khan. The act remains active and is associated with deep techno, electro and house, as well as a strong live and DJ focus.

Formation and members

Charles Siegling is raised and based in Paris, while Amil Khan is raised and based in Hong Kong. After meeting in China in the 1990s, they form Technasia and Technorient Music in Hong Kong, with the aim of helping to place South East Asia on the electronic dance music map. Siegling is also described as Technasia’s solo identity in later years, after Khan leaves the duo in 2008 to focus on raising his child. Khan remains involved in label and artist-management work. The group’s members are Amil Khan and Charles Siegling.

Releases and recordings

Technasia releases its first EP, Themes From A Neon City, in 1997. In 1999 the duo launches the label Sino, which goes on to host artists including Joris Voorn, John Thomas, Renato Cohen, Dubfire, Petrae Foy, Kelli Hand, DJ Skull and Steve Rachmad. Charles Siegling also launches Star Tracks, a solo label focused on techno DJ tools. The album Future Mix appears in 2001 and is presented as a tribute to a Chinese radio show of the same name. It includes excerpts and jingles from the broadcast. The album wins three awards at the 2001 Berlin Musik and Machine Awards for Best Album, Single and Newcomer.

The group later releases Popsoda in 2006. It includes collaborations with DJ Nasty, Fletch Flex, DJ Godfather, Joris Voorn, John Thomas, Renato Cohen and Dave Clarke, and also contains several vocal tracks. In 2003 Technasia releases Recreations, a collection built around earlier productions and created with Claude Young, Funk D’Void, Renato Cohen and John Tejada. Other notable tracks named in the discography include “Oxide”, “2 The Floor”, “Descent”, “Future Mix”, “Hydra”, “Force” and “Final Quadrant”.

Live work, residencies and label management

Technasia is known for Charles Siegling’s DJ sets and for live performances, both as a duo and later as a solo act. The act tours internationally and performs at major electronic music festivals, clubs and events. It also holds club residencies at venues including Womb in Tokyo, Nitsa in Barcelona and Rex Club in Paris. Around the mid-2000s, Technasia and John Thomas run The Steppin’ Show label and a recurring party at Rex Club in Paris, and they co-manage several other labels including Green, Ethique, Static Drum and Module.

Technasia also extends into artist production and booking management through Sino, working with artists such as Joris Voorn, Renato Cohen, Christian Smith, Steve Rachmad and Dosem. The group also takes part in the Sino Live! series with Renato Cohen, with performances at festivals including Wire in Japan, Circuito in Brazil, Electromind in France and Monegros in Spain.

Musical influences

Technasia’s work draws on early electronic music and is influenced by Yellow Magic Orchestra, Coil, Xymox, Einstuerzende Neubauten and Depeche Mode. Charles Siegling is also associated with a wide-ranging DJ style that moves from old-school house through techno and Detroit electro.