Kaÿ Wagner - From Raves to World Stages

Hi Kaÿ.

How did growing up in Frankfurt shape your understanding

and appreciation of techno music?

From the age of 5 years, my grandmother used to take me with her to raves and that had

played a major role in my understanding of music today. I’m very thankful for that.

Your sound blends progressive acid techno with melodic peak-time beats. 

How did your style evolve to what it is today?

I started exploring different sounds from different genres and that led me to peak time techno

with all it’s sub genres.

You mentioned that music helped you through your illness. Can you elaborate on how it

provided support and motivation?

I’m a Liver Cancer survivor. At some point in my life I had given up on the idea of becoming

anything, Music is the only element that was able to pull me from that dark cloud and till today

whenever I look back, I’m so grateful to the frequencies that helped me heal and one of my

biggest motivation is to be able to help people the same way music helped me.

What specific preparations do you undertake before embarking on an international tour?

I try to focus on my mental health and set my mind straight to be able to handle the pressure

that comes with these certain tours. It’s a fun process to discover yourself through that.

How do you manage to balance your artistic pursuits with other aspects of your life, and who

supports you along the way?

That is defiantly a challenge for me. Recently I have been incredibly humbled by the support I

have been receiving from the fan; it pushes me to want to meet their expectations, However I

need to get better at prioritizing myself and my other interests such as football, surfing, friends

and family.

What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced in music production, and how have

you overcome them?

Trying to find your sound and what resonates with you as an artist, I’m still struggling with that

however I feel like I have come a long way since then and I’m looking forward to improving on the daily basis.

Who are some of your biggest role models in the techno scene, and how have they

influenced your work?

Adam Bayer, Charlotte De Witte and many more. Their journey as artists, improving, showing up is amazing. It inspires me to never stop even when I’m doubting myself.

Are there any artists you would love to collaborate with in the future?

Yes many artists and if I was to ever choose. It would be Charlotte De Witte.

How has technology influenced your music production and performance techniques over the

years?

If we look back when I first started till now there has been many changes in tech when it comes to music production, I believe keeping an open mind and coaching mentality to be able to improve through the journey is very important.

What have been some of the most memorable experiences from your tours around the

world?

Of that’s a great question, My 8 hour set in Cairo, Egypt was definitely one the memories I have had, I remember pushing through every boundary as an artist to be able to keep the crowd towards the end of the set. Another one had to be Mar del Plata, Argentina. It’s amazing, we danced until sunrise and the crowd didn’t want to leave at the end, I cried a lot that day.

Can you share any details about upcoming projects or releases you are excited about?

I have no intention of slowing down. There many projects in development and I can’t wait to

share it all with you.

Thanks for your time dedicated to us!

You can explore the music and releases of Kaÿ Wagner on Beatport. There, you'll find his latest tracks, top hits, and more, showcasing his impact on the global techno scene.