Contributing Writer
French techno producer and DJ Hayden F returns with Thoughts and Prayers, a five-track EP complemented by a powerful remix from Mexican techno veteran Fixon.
Released on his own Silencio Records label, the record traces a sharp line between punishing, fast-paced rhythms and hypnotic melodic passages that lend the whole release a sense of lift. It is tough, engrossing music, built for full immersion rather than surface-level impact.
The sound of the EP moves between hard, driving percussion and moments of unexpected clarity. Hayden threads in drifting pads, rising tones and small flashes of harmony that cut through the weight. The tracks feel tightly coiled but never static, shifting shape in ways that keep the tension alive while opening space for something more emotive to emerge.
With the EP out now, Hayden F has put together an inspirational selection of some of the cuts he wishes he’d made himself.
SHXCXCHCXSH – !!!…
This duo has been a huge influence on me. They’re a reminder of what happens when you ignore every rule and still land somewhere emotional. Their raw, mechanical sound shouldn’t work… and yet it hits harder than most “melodic” music. I’ve been fascinated ever since.
Shlømo – Burned Hand (Emmanuel Remix)
One of my first big techno obsessions. This track shaped the way I understand contrast: brute force on the surface, melancholy underneath. It’s the perfect balance between the dancefloor and something more introspective.
Nine Inch Nails – Closer
It’s one of those tracks that carries its own universe, careless, tense, intimate, a little dangerous. Their production style is so specific that it ended up influencing entire generations, myself included.
Kraftwerk – Radioactivity
A classic I only discovered properly after seeing them live. Instant emotional shock. Since that moment, this track has been a constant in my life.
Alarico – Ikura
A more recent one, but it represents everything I love about modern techno, especially from this artist. Minimalism, groove, emotion. Nothing is wasted, everything is intentional. Pure class.
I Hate Models – Cyanure Dance
This one brings back memories of careless raves. I love the electro/club textures and the cinematic energy he manages to create. He was one of my references for a long time.
Daft Punk – Alive
I picked this track, but honestly, the whole album could be here. It’s the record I’ve listened to the most in my life. Timeless and futuristic at once. It shaped the entire landscape of electronic music. Masters at work.
Björk – Bachelorette
Do I even need to elaborate?
Norbak – Nove Zero Nove
A punch of contemporary techno. There’s something uniquely surprising in the way he builds this track, ideas you wouldn’t expect to work, but somehow they do. It hits hard and right, even for people who don’t like techno.
Vitalic – Poison Lips
A French classic that shaped my teenage years. To me, it represents everything that makes Vitalic so good: emotion, attitude, and that unmistakable edge.
Hayden F – Thoughts and Prayers is out now on Silencio Records