Adam X is an electronic music producer and the founder of Sonic Groove Records. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1971 and has been based in Berlin, Germany, since 2007.
Adam's journey in music began in 1990 when he and his brother, Frankie Bones, established the “Groove Records” shop in Brooklyn, which opened its doors in April of that year. The shop specialized in techno music, and the brothers soon ventured into organizing the groundbreaking “Storm Rave” warehouse raves in 1991. These events marked the first all-techno gatherings in New York City and the East Coast, featuring lineups that included many artists who would later achieve global prominence in the techno scene.
While managing Groove Records, Adam released his initial solo records, drawing inspiration from the popular techno rave genre. His early works garnered underground success, leading to invitations to DJ in the UK in 1991.
In 1992, Adam adopted an all-hardware approach to music production, prominently using the Roland TB-303. He began creating hard-edged acid techno records for esteemed labels of the time, including Peacefrog, Direct Drive, Magnetic North, and Drop Bass Network. This shift in musical direction led to regular DJ performances in the Rheinland area of Germany, as well as continued gigs throughout the UK and the evolving American rave scene.
In January 1995, Adam and his brother partnered with Heather Heart to relocate their shop from Brooklyn to Manhattan, renaming it “Sonic Groove Records.” Shortly after the move, Adam launched the Sonic Groove label, which has since released over one hundred records and remains active in producing vinyl from respected electronic music artists, with Adam at the helm.
By 1995, Adam had grown weary of the commercial acid techno trends and shifted his focus to a more underground sound, incorporating a bleepy jacking techno style into his productions. His music was released on popular labels such as Sativae and Scandinavia, and he secured a deal for a DJ mix CD on the legendary Wax Trax label in 1998, which broadened his audience.
As the millennium approached, Adam became disenchanted with the prevailing loop-based and tribal techno sounds. He pivoted towards EBM and Industrial music, experimenting with fusions of these genres with techno, thus pioneering a new sound. Throughout the 2000s, he actively promoted this hybrid style through his music and events, achieving limited success initially. However, in 2010, a resurgence of interest in harder sounds in techno led to greater recognition for Adam’s pioneering efforts, resulting in a significant increase in his bookings.
His new life in Berlin inspired several new aliases, including Traversable Wormhole, which focused on a deeper, science fiction-influenced techno sound. This project was licensed to Chris Liebing’s CLR imprint, reaching a broader audience. Adam also developed the downtempo experimental industrial project ADMX-71, which premiered on the cult Industrial label HANDS before moving to L.I.E.S. Records for a series of singles and albums.
Adam anonymously released a ten-volume color vinyl series titled “The Secret Initiative” from 2009 to 2019, blending early 90s techno sounds with modern production. He later revealed his identity as the artist behind the project when the final volume was released in record shops.
Entering the 2020s, Adam has continued to produce new music, releasing three albums and two singles under various aliases over the past three years, including a collaboration with Tresor Records.
With 34 years of uninterrupted activity in the techno scene, Adam X's current sound is an eclectic blend of Acid, Techno, and Industrial, reflecting influences from the past, present, and future. He remains active in performing globally, creating music, and releasing works from other artists on his Sonic Groove label.
