Hard Techno Scene Rocked by Allegations of Misconduct and Abuse
The hard techno music community is grappling with a wave of serious allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse against several prominent DJs, prompting festivals to drop artists and sparking a wider conversation about safety and accountability within the scene.
Allegations Surface Against Shlømo, Odymel, CARV, and Others
Accusations of rape, sexual harassment, coercion, and other forms of misconduct have been leveled against French DJs Shlømo and Odymel, as well as German DJ CARV. The allegations initially came to light through a series of Instagram posts from user @bradnolimit, who claims to be a former representative of the Steer Management agency. The account shared screenshots of conversations and testimonies from alleged victims.
Several festivals and promoters have responded by removing the accused artists from their lineups, including HIVE Festival, Pitch Music & Arts, Face2Face, XXL, Digi Festival, Verknipt, REBELS Mexico, Neolitika, Sea You Festival, and GLITCH Festival. Mixmag reports that the situation has been dubbed “hard techno’s #MeToo” on social media.
Industry Response and Calls for Accountability
The allegations have prompted widespread discussion within the techno community. Amelie Lens, a leading figure in the scene, delivered a strong statement on Instagram, emphasizing the need for both women’s safety and men’s responsibility to challenge harmful behavior. We Rave You highlights Lens’s call for men to “interrupt the joke” and “check their friend” when witnessing potentially inappropriate behavior.
Lens likewise shared a personal experience of being threatened and harassed, expressing frustration with the lack of support from law enforcement. She urged individuals not to force victims to relive trauma in order to validate their experiences.
Other female DJs, such as SPFDJ and Biianco, have echoed Lens’s sentiments, describing a systemic problem of inappropriate behavior and a culture where men often prioritize self-protection over empathy. A collective of female DJs has called for artists accused of misconduct to be banned from festivals pending investigation.
Steer Management’s Response
Steer Management, the agency that previously represented Shlømo, Odymel, and CARV, initially announced a “thorough review” of the allegations. The agency subsequently announced it had suspended collaborations with the accused DJs. EDM Tunes reports that several artists on Steer’s roster, including William Luck, Onlynumbers, 6ejou, Natte Visstick, and Lola Cerise, have announced they will no longer be working with the management company.
Accused DJs Respond
Shlømo has denied the accusations, labeling them “slander” in an Instagram story. CARV admitted to sending explicit messages and images to multiple women, characterizing it as infidelity, but denied any criminal wrongdoing.
Ongoing Investigation and Calls for Change
The situation remains fluid as investigations continue and more information comes to light. The allegations have ignited a crucial conversation about power dynamics, safety, and accountability within the hard techno scene and the broader electronic music industry.