In 1998 Kevin Saunderson’s e-Dancer released Heavenly, the definitive Detroit techno album. Now, Kevin Saunderson, in collaboration with his son Dantiez, has created the first original e-Dancer album in over 25 years. This is groove-fuelled, underground techno straight from the heart of Detroit.
e-Dancer’s evolution into a father-son project was unveiled in October 2024 with the release of debut single, Melodica. On Emotions, e-Dancer lays down the next glimpse of the album with deep, hypnotic grooves, warmed by synths that echo the original essence of the alias.
Built to jack dancefloors worldwide, the self-titled e-Dancer is a 10-track collection of rich, soulful, underground techno that features propulsive rhythms, stripped-back percussion and bone-rattling basslines. Blending Kevin’s 1990s groove-driven legacy with Dantiez’s fresh, dynamic energy to evolve the iconic sound for a new generation of techno fans. It will be released on May 21, ahead of the 2025 edition of Detroit’s Movement Festival, the annual electronic music weekender which Kevin co-founded.
This milestone marks a decade of collaboration between Kevin and Dantiez, which began with their back-to-back debut at Boiler Room’s Chicago House Legacy Session alongside legends like Phuture and Roy Davis Jr. What blossomed over the next ten years is a powerful alliance between father and son. Bringing one of the most influential house music groups back to global acclaim, Kevin’s formative Inner City, with a live tour at revered festivals and venues like Glastonbury and Warehouse Project. Alongside the first Inner City album in 30 years, featuring a powerful Idris Elba collaboration. Now, the first e-Dancer album in over 25 years.
Kevin left an indelible mark with e-Dancer’s seminal debut album Heavenly, released in 1998. A timeless techno masterpiece launched amidst socio-political turmoil and protest. It served as a battle cry to unite people through the groove – a mission that Kevin has echoed across decades and one that has woven itself into Dantiez’s creative process.
“When I decided to make music, my path was to make people dance. It always will be. Dance is happiness; it’s joyful. It’s a connection between different cultures, races and people worldwide.”
Kevin says “I know it’s in Dantiez’s DNA too. When people hear the album, I hope they hear the connection between a father and son on the same path of creating music.”
“My productions are often deeper and emotive because I focus on the feeling of people coming together, dancing as one. I experienced the unifying power of music at my first Movement Festival when I was 10 years old, and it left a lasting impact” explains Danteiz. “I hope people feel the synergy between the original e-Dancer and its new iteration on the album.”
Dantiez, a self-taught producer who began making music out of high school aged 18, stands as a testament to the enduring power and potential of electronic music, blending his decade spanning heritage with a fresh wave of Detroit techno while paying homage to his father’s sonic palette. From the Motor City to the world, e-Dancer and the Saunderson’s continue to write the legacy of Detroit techno.
