I Hate Models — a French DJ, producer, and one of the most influential figures on the modern techno scene. His name has become synonymous with emotional depth, industrial power, and a unique sound philosophy that blends aggression with melancholy, rave energy with nostalgia for the lost romance of the underground. He is known for his unmistakable style, where industrial techno, acid, trance, and EBM intertwine to create a cinematic sonic journey.
For I Hate Models, techno is more than music — it’s a means of emotional expression, a way to merge destruction and beauty. His sets are cathartic and chaotic; his tracks — deep and melancholic. He’s an artist who broke the boundaries of traditional techno and became the voice of a new generation of ravers.
Early Years
The artist’s real name remains a secret — I Hate Models deliberately stays anonymous to emphasize the idea that what matters is not the person, but the emotion and the music. Born in France, he developed an early fascination with sound, visual art, and philosophy. His influences include punk culture, industrial music, post-rock, and atmospheric electronica.
He began his career in the early 2010s, gradually shaping a distinctive sound that blends hard techno, acid trance, breakbeat, and ambient. The name I Hate Models symbolizes a protest against templates and formulaic thinking in electronic music — a pursuit of individuality and honesty with the listener.
Breakthrough and International Recognition
His breakthrough came in 2016 with the release of “Warehouse Memories” on the Arts label. The track instantly became an anthem of the new industrial techno wave, earning him recognition as one of the rising stars of the underground. This was followed by releases such as “Daydream”, “Cyanure Dance”, and “State of Control”, which cemented his reputation as a master of emotional and cinematic techno.
In 2018, I Hate Models released his debut album “L’Âge des Métamorphoses” on Perc Trax. The record became the artist’s musical manifesto — a fusion of hard techno, ambient, trance, and noise, with each composition conveying a distinct emotional state: fear, loneliness, anger, hope.
From that moment, his name appeared on the lineups of the world’s biggest festivals: Awakenings, Time Warp, DGTL, Possession, Reaktor, Exit, Dour, Boiler Room, Verknipt, and Sonar. Each performance is an emotional storm that takes the audience on a journey from ecstasy to catharsis.
Musical Style
I Hate Models’ style can be described as emotional techno: deep melodies, acid lines, powerful kicks, dramatic breaks, and samples with philosophical or nostalgic meaning. He unites opposites — light and darkness, aggression and tenderness, chaos and order.
Key Features:
- BPM ranging from 135 to 150, with constant energy build-up
- A blend of acid, trance, industrial, breakbeat, and ambient
- Emotional melodies and cinematic transitions
- Samples from films, interviews, and philosophical speeches
- Strong dramaturgy in each track — “from pain to light”
I Hate Models’ music is often perceived as an audio portrait of our era: dark yet sincere, filled with both pain and hope.
Selected Releases
- Warehouse Memories (2016)
- Daydream (2017)
- Cyanure Dance (2018)
- State of Control (2019)
- L’Âge des Métamorphoses (Album, 2018)
- Intergalactic Emotional Breakdown (2020)
- Stardust Memories (2021)
- Feel the Same (2022)
- Last Kiss Before Death (2023)
- Echoes of Melancholy (2024)
His releases have been featured on major techno labels such as Arts, Perc Trax, Khemia, Disco Inferno, and Possession. Each work stands as an independent piece, revealing a new layer of the artist’s inner world.
Festivals and Performances
I Hate Models headlines some of the biggest raves and techno festivals across Europe and the world:
- Awakenings (Netherlands)
- Time Warp (Germany)
- Possession (Paris)
- Verknipt (Amsterdam)
- Reaktor (Amsterdam)
- Sonar (Barcelona)
- DGTL (Worldwide)
His live sets are emotional performances where visuals, smoke, lights, and sound merge into a sonic theater. Each show is a unique experience — an introspective journey for every listener.
Achievements
- Over 300 million streams across digital platforms
- Recognized as one of the most influential techno artists of the 2020s
- Headliner at Awakenings, Time Warp, Possession
- Creator of the conceptual album L’Âge des Métamorphoses
- Featured in the DJ Mag Alternative Top 100
Interesting Facts
- I Hate Models deliberately hides his face and name, believing that an artist is a conduit of emotion, not a brand.
- His tracks are often inspired by cinema, philosophy, and psychoanalysis.
- Many compositions explore themes of time, solitude, memory, and transformation.
- He actively uses analog synthesizers such as Roland TB-303, Juno-106, and Moog Sub37.
- On stage, I Hate Models creates an atmosphere of “emotional chaos,” where pain transforms into energy.
Legacy
I Hate Models is not just a DJ but a philosopher of rave. He has crafted his own language of techno — where every track is an emotion, and every performance is a revelation. His music breaks stereotypes and unites generations of listeners, from acid and trance lovers to industrial and EBM fans. Today, I Hate Models stands among the defining artists of the 2020s techno scene, inspiring a new wave of authenticity and emotional expression in sound.
