Thoms Traxx, an artist moving at the pinnacle of the Dutch techno scene

With a meticulous vision and fierce determination, Thoms Traxx is an artist moving at the pinnacle of the Dutch techno scene. His intelligent and resourceful approach to his craft gained him a well-respected name in his city of birth, Amsterdam, where he played at places like De School, Radion, Awakenings, and Lofi.

Over the course of the years, he became a critical figure of the Orphic rave organisation, curating events and fostering a close-tied community at the forefront of the city’s underground movement. Both as an artist and a personality, he has been captivating dancers, bookers, and music professionals across both established and new generations. Moved by curiosity and vigour, Thoms Traxx is an ever-evolving force that can’t be missed out on.

“I started clubbing back in 2012 where I slowly grew into the club culture and began to discover the music genres that attracted me the most. In the infamous club Trouw I got in touch with a lot of new artists and their unique sonic identities, making me eager to keep exploring. After the club closed, I finally got that feeling again at De School; there, my preference and passion for techno began to align, bringing new references which until nowadays shape my vision within the scene.

De School has had for sure the biggest impact on me – both as an artist and as a person. As the time went by, and I continued to develop my idea in regards to this scene as a cultural and musical phenomena, the nights I spent at De School really helped unravel what I liked – and naturally what I wanted to achieve as an artist.

In my opinion a club stands out in its multiple possibilities to discover and wander around, such as in a ‘not ending cycle’ in all its musical and architectural details. When it comes to musical programming, a club needs to focus and not forget to have some diversity in order to keep learning and ‘triggering’ the brain.“

As a member and resident DJ of Orphic, a collective with a strong vision and community at the heart of Amsterdam, Thoms Traxx plays a key role in organizing and sustaining the project, ensuring its essence remains intact while strengthening the bonds that unite its members and community. A deep connection to the local scene is one of the project’s fundamental values.

Balancing authenticity with a wider reach is a key challenge. Thoms Traxx and Orphic achieve this by highlighting local talent, curating immersive events, and preserving the finest techno spirit while embracing new influences.

“Orphic is an organization dedicated to organizing techno events and promoting community building. We aim to give visitors the feeling that there is room for diversity and that they do not have to conform to conventional norms. We embrace the beauty of diversity and encourage individuals to embrace their own unique identities.

In 2021 I joined as a resident where I had my first Orphic event on edition 006 1⁄2 (illegal rave) . In 2023 I also started helping with music programming. We have a united and highly passionate group of individuals running the collective, each holding their position with a lot of responsibility and unique visions – I think our strength lies on how much each of us has so much respect for the origins of this movement we claim to carry, which highly reflects on the beautiful individuals which continue to join us in our raves and community events.

I think the biggest challenge is keeping the movement authentic and true to its origins – without losing its essence – while adapting to new times, technologies and cultural shifts.

Thoms Traxx

When it comes to Orphic, we are strictly focused on local talent. By providing a platform for local artists and creatives, we aim to demonstrate that there is ample quality available within our own community. This not only stimulates the local cultural scene but also provides opportunities for emerging talents to thrive. I believe that events in our scene should serve as platforms where communities come together, forming sustainable connections with each other.“

DJing is an art that goes far beyond simply selecting tracks; it is an art form that involves storytelling, personal expression, and adaptability to different environments. From the deep emotional journey crafted through sound to the balance between performance and music production, each aspect shapes an artist’s identity. Additionally, the setting, whether an intimate club or a large-scale festival, plays a key role in defining the energy of a set.

“As a dancer, I always got blown away by the artists that would guide my mind inwards, a thrilling and amusing ability many of us call storytelling. This aspect of weaving sounds and layering different compositions into unique sets is also what I try to achieve as an artist. I select my playlists based on the feelings I have towards the space, hosting collective, and its crowd—which can be particularly exciting when it’s a new context I’m not yet familiar with. I also always ask myself: is it dark or daylight, festival or club or rave, who are the artists I’m sharing the stage with?

Many might not know, but I released one production which is a remix of a track by Franz Jäger called Red Star. The last two years I took a break from producing due to not having enough headspace in between my weekly job and all the energy into new opportunities coming up with gigs. But recently I got back into producing, which is something I’m passionate about and very excited to develop my vision through.“

The Dutch techno scene is in constant evolution, shaped by the closure of iconic clubs, the emergence of new venues, and the growing presence of active collectives. With diverse influences enriching the landscape, the scene continues to redefine itself, embracing fresh sounds and innovative approaches, sometimes also drifting away from the purer roots of techno.

I’m really lucky with the Dutch scene as there is always a lot happening and as it remains a reference for cultivating concepts, sub-genres and new talented artists. I hope this dynamic continues to grow, and that the hard work put in by those actively trying to keep it pure and genuine remains to overcome the commercialisation of the industry.“

As an artist who has been evolving in the scene for years, Thoms Traxx stands at the crossroads of emerging movements and the deeply rooted techno scene. This is reflected in his influences as well as in the projects he is part of, such as Minimal Collective, a collective operating at the intersection of music, art, and technology, showcasing contemporary culture since 2016.

“There are many artists that inspire me. Rødhåd in particular is a standout, as it was through his music in club Trouw back in 2013 where I firstly got attracted to this type of Techno. Ben Klock, Marcel Dettmann, Setaoc Mass, Donato Dozzy, Luigi Tozzi, Blawan, Makam/Talismann, among others are also artists I constantly look up to and get inspired by. Also, Woody 92, Spekki Webu, Hitam, Ignez, Mathys Lenne, Ruben Ganev are some examples of artists that more recently got into my radar, with their own musical expressions and unique sonic vision.

As a movement/platform Minimal Collective inspires me alot! I’m lucky to be part of this collective experiment that constantly pushes the boundaries of how art, music and technology intersects.“

In 2025, exciting projects are on the horizon for Thoms Traxx. Soon, he will take on the challenge of his first All-Nighter, a big challenge for him, not only due to the long hours but even more so because of the vast spectrum of possibilities such an extended set offers. Later this year, around August/September, he will embark on his first East-Asia tour. And this Friday, February 14, he is playing in Brussels for our community with the InDepth Invites on Gimic.