Marco Faraone | True Techno 100
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Italian DJ, producer, and label head Marco Faraone has long stood as a bridge between the underground and the global techno mainstage.
From the smoky intimacy of his early club nights to his current status as a festival fixture and respected figure on labels like Rekids and Drumcode, Marco Faraone’s path has been defined by instinct, authenticity, and a refusal to compromise. Speaking to True Underground, he reflects on his roots, his ethos, and the shifting landscape of techno.
Marco Faraone’s earliest memories of the scene are steeped in the visceral energy of small, dark clubs – rooms heavy with smoke, sweat, and liberation. “There was nothing contrived, just people living the music as an act of freedom,” he recalls. “No one judged you; only the sound and what it transmitted mattered. That pure connection between music and people overwhelmed me. It was a revelation, and since then I’ve never stopped chasing that feeling.”
As the culture expanded, Marco Faraone watched techno evolve from underground movement to global industry. “The scene has changed immensely – from niche culture to a global phenomenon. Today it’s more accessible, but also more dispersed. There’s more professionalism, but less risk and experimentation.” For him, remaining grounded in that raw, instinctive essence is crucial. “Techno has never been a trend but a free and ever-evolving language.”
His rise to international recognition came gradually, built on consistency rather than calculation. “It wasn’t a single moment but a path,” he explains. “When people started recognising my musical signature – not just the name on the lineup – I realised something had changed.” Maintaining credibility while performing across high-profile stages, he says, comes down to intent. “The underground isn’t a place; it’s a state of mind. If you play with sincerity, the audience feels it.”
This belief in authenticity forms the foundation of UNCAGE, Faraone’s label and creative platform. Conceived as a space for freedom and experimentation, it became both a laboratory and a manifesto. “UNCAGE gave me the chance to express myself without limits,” he says. “It’s a space where I can experiment, make mistakes, take risks, and answer to no one. It’s the most honest and instinctive part of me.”
UNCAGE’s mission, he adds, is to keep that spirit alive – a commitment to freedom, research, and authenticity. Every release must carry meaning. “We select artists who share that vision, even if they’re not the easiest to promote. UNCAGE is a home for those who want to say something true – without filters or compromise.”
Collaboration plays a central role in his evolution, pushing him toward new sonic and emotional dimensions. “Every artist brings a different world,” he says. “From many collaborations, I’ve learned the importance of space and silence. Sometimes removing is more powerful than adding. Letting the sound breathe – it’s a more mature and profound way of producing music.”
Despite the genre’s current fragmentation, Marco Faraone sees vitality and potential in techno’s future. “There’s a lot of music, but not always a lot of substance. The future belongs to those who unite authenticity with innovation while staying true to the roots. Techno shouldn’t become a formula – it must remain a free and visceral expression.”
Balancing global recognition with artistic integrity is, for Marco Faraone, an act of discipline and self-awareness. “I don’t chase trends; I evolve while staying true to my vision. Success, if it comes, should be a natural consequence – not the goal.” Founding UNCAGE, he says, was the defining decision of his career. “It allowed me to believe in my path, even in difficult moments. I’ve never taken the easy road, and maybe that’s what earned me respect in both worlds – underground and mainstream.”
Marco Faraone and his philosophy is rooted in freedom, experimentation, emotional truth and embodies the tension that defines modern techno: how to remain loyal to the underground while shaping the future on one’s own terms. His label UNCAGE is a declaration of independence, a reminder that real artistry survives only where compromise ends.
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