Not only did the Detroit sibling group Octave One — Lawrence, Lenny, Lynell, Lance, and Loren Burden — have a solid instrumental floor-filler when they first released “Untold” in 2000, but two years later, when they added strings and vocals (by Ann Saunderson, wife of another Detroit techno master, Kevin Saunderson), they went Top 50 in the U.K. The track’s stirring string intro, soulful groove, and searching vocal hook (“Just open your heart, just open your mind”) have made it a techno and house standard.
You can hear ‘Black Water’ & ‘Black Water’ are different sounding tracks… It’s actually the track named ‘Untold’ that Ann Saunderson writes the vocals to… That track become the ‘Blackwater’ track we know today!
Origins and Early Career
Octave One emerged in the late 1980s during the second wave of Detroit techno, alongside artists like Jeff Mills, Carl Craig, and Underground Resistance. Their debut track, I Believe, was released in 1990 on Derrick May’s Transmat Records, marking their entry into the scene with a blend of raw, futuristic, and soulful sounds.
Signature Sound and Legacy
Known for their deep, melodic, and rhythmically complex productions, Octave One blend traditional techno with live instrumentation, creating a sound that is both mechanical and deeply emotional. Their music often features heavy drum patterns, warm synth textures, and driving basslines, making their performances highly dynamic.
Live Performances and Global Influence
Unlike many techno producers who rely on DJ sets, Octave One are known for their live performances, using hardware and synths to create unique, improvised versions of their tracks on the spot. This approach has earned them a dedicated following worldwide.
Their influence extends far beyond Detroit, as they have toured extensively and shaped the global techno sound with their releases on their own 430 West Records label, which has been home to many underground techno gems.
Octave One | Boiler Room Festival Berlin
