Regis

Regis is prominent figure in the UK’s electronic underground, Regis (the pseudonym of Irish-born Karl O’Connor) has been pushing against the grain of techno since the early 1990s. Grounded in the post-punk and industrial scenes of the '80s, his early work helped define a distinctively British strain of loop-driven, raw-edged techno.

Co-founder of the influential label Downwards, Regis championed a fiercely D.I.Y. ethos,  releasing music by a close-knit group of like-minded artists and cultivating a sound that fused industrial abrasiveness with minimalist drive. His early records, including the 1995 12" Montreal and debut album Gymnastics (1996), carved out a cold, stripped-back aesthetic that would echo throughout the genre.

In the 2000s, O’Connor’s practice evolved into darker, more textural territories. Albums like Penetration (2001) incorporated field recordings and drones, blurring the line between techno and sonic art. Collaborations followed, including with Chrislo Haas (of D.A.F.) and long-time peers Surgeon, Function, and Female, culminating in the formation of Sandwell District, a label and collective that became one of the most influential forces in reshaping 21st-century techno.

With his deep influence stretching from warehouse basements to Berlin’s Berghain, Regis continues to shape the future of techno by mining its most confrontational roots, resisting polish, rejecting compromise, and always sounding one step ahead.

@regis.dns