16 Mar NEWS | STEVE RACHMAD – 45 YEARS IN MUSIC
STEVE RACHMAD — 45 YEARS IN MUSIC
In 2026, Amsterdam’s most renowned craftsman of high-quality electronic music reaches an impressive milestone. Steve Rachmad — a name respected since the earliest days of house and techno and revered ever since — celebrates 45 years of living with and shaping music.
The story begins in 1981, when 11-year-old Rachmad bought his first record and started a lifelong love affair with sound. Music quickly became the central thread of his life: from collecting records and DJ’ing, to producing, and steadily developing one of the most respected catalogues in the scene. Over the last decades he has become known for a sound rooted in warmth, harmony and precision, bridging Detroit-inspired techno, timeless house, and deep electronic experimentation.
Anyone who has ever met Steve knows that he rarely seeks the spotlight for anything other than the music itself. But 45 years dedicated to music is a rare milestone in any genre — and even rarer for an artist who remains as relevant to audiences and peers today as he was decades ago.
To mark the occasion, 2026 will see Steve Rachmad touring extensively, appearing under his birth name and his active aliases Sterac, Steve Rachmad, Sterac Electronics and Parallel 9. Special performances throughout the year will reflect the many facets of his work: DJ sets, live collaborations and carefully curated appearances across the globe.
Highlights include a series of special events and collaborations, among them appearances with longtime musical partners and friends, as well as a dedicated celebration night on April 18 at Amsterdam’s Tillatec, where Steve will invite colleagues, friends and family for a night dedicated entirely to the music. He will perform two sets himself, showcasing different chapters of his sonic journey: STERAC & Parallel 9.
Alongside the touring schedule, new music will arrive throughout the year. Releases are planned on respected labels including Dekmantel, Kynant and TECHNO Records, featuring new material from his different monikers. A particular highlight will be his first album in 20 years, to come out on Dekmantel this summer, conceived as a listeninglong-play and preceded by a dancefloor-focused EP on the same label.
Few electronic artists are played so consistently by fellow DJs across generations. That longevity is perhaps best explained by the two core elements of every Rachmad composition: love for the craft and undeniable talent. As a result, it’s safe to say that new classics are on the horizon.
At the same time, fans and collectors can look forward to exciting developments around his existing catalogue. Rachmad will gradually make his entire back catalogue available on Bandcamp, offering a carefully curated gateway into decades of music released under multiple aliases. Official merchandise referencing his different monikers will be available for the first time ever.
To accompany the celebrations, long-time management partner AD Sound will be sharing additional content and special moments with fans throughout the year.
Because, as they put it best:
“This milestone is for everybody.”