For close to a decade, 999999999 (9x9 for short) have been at the forefront of unrelenting, high-energy hard techno music.
Students of the underground, the duo have built a cult following with their gritty, improvisational live sets and unwavering commitment to hardware.
Ahead of their highly-anticipated appearance at Pitch Music & Arts Festival, the Italian act share insights on their creative process, the global techno resurgence and what’s in the pipeline for their label, NineTimesNine.
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For many artists, there’s a defining moment when they realise their music is connecting with people. For 999999999, rather than a singular event, their come-up moment was a slow-burning awareness that their sound was truly leaving a mark.
One of the earliest times the duo noticed their star on the rise was at the legendary annual Awakenings techno festival in the Netherlands, where they recall “noticing the energy in the crowd growing….especially when people began recognising tracks from previous sets.”
Armed with a lethal mix of keen audience perception and a hefty involvement in the hands-on process of spontaneous sound production, their live experiences make for an auditory experience to behold.
The duo share that the ability to hone these skills cohesively in a live setting is “all about reading the room… Chaos is what makes our sets exciting. It keeps us and the audience on our toes.”
“We start with some loose ideas, but we’re always ready to switch things up if the crowd’s energy calls for it”.
For better or for worse (depending on who you ask), the modern era of electronica is notably digitised. As many acts rely on pre-programmed sets and soundscapes alongside the unprecedented assistance that contemporary music gear allows for, 999999999 stands apart with a notably hands-on approach.
“Analog gear gives us the ability to stay in the moment and react to what’s happening in real time. It’s not about perfection; it’s about feeling the music and letting it evolve naturally during each set.”
Parallel to the intensity of their tactical, kinaesthetic approach, their musical stylings lean heavily into the industrial, raw feel of the underground. On underground club culture, 999999999 notes, “There’s something special about the intimacy of a dark club where you can see every face.”
Inversely, performing at a large-scale festival like Pitch Music & Arts is a completely different beast. “Festivals give us a chance to reach a massive audience and the energy is overwhelming in the best way… Both experiences fuel us differently and we love adapting to each.”
Having played everywhere from Bogotá to Berlin, they’ve witnessed firsthand the global rise of hard techno. On this upsurge, the duo drew comparisons between the real world and how it exists alongside the escapism of music.
“The world feels like it’s moving faster and getting more intense and harder techno reflects that. It’s music that matches the times: powerful and direct. People connect with that intensity because it feels honest,” they say.
As techno continues to evolve, 999999999 sees the genre’s mainstream growth as an opportunity to push the boundaries while staying true to their roots.
Their self-owned label, NineTimesNine, has become a go-to platform for their specific breed of electronica, but they’re looking to expand their reach, aiming to “expand into more multidisciplinary projects, including collaborations with visual artists and fashion brands”.
“We want the label to be a hub for creativity, not just in music but across different forms of expression.”
As for what’s next, in 2025, they plan to dive into “unexpected sounds and collaborations, blending different influences” all while holding onto their “raw, analog edge” and sensibilities
While their music may not be traditional or heavy in lyricism, it tells a story all the same – one of “freedom and chaos, breaking down walls and losing yourself in the music.”
With their unrelenting energy, commitment to live improvisation and passion for pushing the boundaries of techno, 999999999 continues to prove why they’re one of the most pivotal pioneers and key tastemakers in the global electronic scene today.
For tickets to see 999999999 at Pitch Music & Arts 2025, head here.
