Diapasøn is a Dj-producer, promoter and at the head of the imprint Cosmic Wave Records. For 10 years, the label built-up a certain reputation and each release was supported by main figures like Dasha Rush, Amotik, Abstract Division, Claudio Prc, Marco Shuttle. The VA IV [CWR011] is now available. The compilation, written by ten notable artists, unveils nine tracks characterised by hypnotic, trancy and tribal sounds. From his studio based in Lyon, the insatiable crate-diggers speaks about the privileges and difficulties to manage a label, his definition of the psychedelic techno, his collective Resilience Techno, the importance of parity in the scene and his forthcoming live project among others. 

Welcome, a glass of?
Hi Sabrina, Club Mate would be perfect, thanks.

How was your childhood and music environment in which you grew up?
I was lucky to grow up in a family deeply immersed in music. My parents owned a shop dedicated to selling and renting pianos and musical instruments, and my older brother had a rock band that inspired me a lot. As for myself, I started learning the violin quite early at the conservatory, where I studied for about four to five years before moving on to guitar and bass, and later on to drums. It was only much later that I truly developed a passion for electronic music.

How did you discover electronic music?
I discovered electronic music during my studies about 15 years ago. I used to go out a lot in Paris, especially to Batofar and Concrete, and that period was very inspiring for me.

Who are your main influences?
I’m a fan of the Italian deep-techno scene, particularly artists like Donato Dozzy, Nuel, Dino Sabatini or Brando Lupi.

Could you describe your sound in a few words? 
Organic techno, mental sound, mesmerizing textures.

The psychedelic techno in 3 words? 
Hypnotic, trancy, Immersive.

Could you speak a bit about Resilience Techno?
Resilience is my Paris-based collective, created in 2020 during the Covid period by Mael and Tristan. At first, Resilience started by filming Dj sets in urban exploration spots, and later moved on to organizing events in clubs like Nouveau Casino and Point Éphémère. The collective’s goal has always been to also throw parties outside traditional clubs. One memorable example being the rooftop of the Magasins Généraux. Resilience will soon be launching its own label, with a major release planned for early 2026.

What are the gears you use for production?
I work by combining hardware and VSTs in Ableton. On one hand, I use an Arturia Beatstep Pro sequencer to control my Korg Minilogue and Moog DFAM via MIDI, along with my Push 2 controller, which helps me create and control my DAW remotely. On the other side, I use Ableton with all its plugins (Operator, Arturia, Plugin Alliance, Reaktor, Max for Live, and more). I find it’s a great combination for my workflow.

What is the philosophy behind your label Cosmic Wave records? 
Cosmic Wave was born in 2015, originally from a group of friends who simply wanted to share their own vision of electronic music. Over time, the energy of the collective evolved, and two years later the project naturally grew into a label, moving toward a deeper techno direction. The name reflects our mindset: Cosmic for our forward-looking perspective, the sci-fi atmospheres, and the focus on sonic exploration; and Wave for the waveform itself, but also for that continuous motion that runs through electronic music. Since then, our universe has expanded a lot. Today we explore a much wider spectrum, while staying true to the guiding line that has followed us since the beginning.

How do you usually select producers?
At the beginning, we used to receive a lot of demos from artists via email or social media, and we spent quite a bit of time listening to everything. Over the years, we’ve become more selective to stay in line with the label’s artistic direction. Today, we mostly trust the producers around us, those we’ve already worked with, but also new talents that we showcase on our VA compilations. Right now, our goal is to connect more with female artists around the label, just like we do through our events. It’s important for us to contribute to a better balance in the scene, even though the artists who are emerging are highly in demand.

As a label head, what kind of difficulties do you face today? 
For me, the main challenges I face today are financing projects and events. We’re also dealing with a very limited offer of alternative venues in Lyon to promote the label. We’d love to organize more events outside of clubs, but suitable spaces are becoming increasingly rare.

What kind of privileges do you have as a label owner? 
Guestlist? (laughs). No, to be a bit more serious, for many years now I’ve really enjoyed doing what I do. Meeting incredible people around music is a great way to share my passion with others and connect with artists, promoters, and everyone involved in the scene.

What does the vinyl represent for you?
For me, vinyl represents a certain ritual and a deeper connection to music. It’s not just about sound quality, it’s also a way of digging and really appreciating the music. I find it much easier to discover new tracks this way, because I naturally enjoy listening to a full record. There’s truly something tangible and personal about vinyl that digital formats just can’t replicate.

A banger in 3 words?
Powerful, surprising, timeless.

What about your next release as producer? 
I still produce on Ableton, but I don’t have any releases planned under Diapasøn at the moment. However, I’m currently working on a live project with a friend. We've built a lot of tracks together, so the project will be coming soon.

What about your next CWR events in 2026? 
We’re looking for a nice venue to celebrate CWR’s 10th anniversary, with an event featuring artists from the label. Our residency at Loupika continues in 2026, with dates in April and early July.

Your top 5 favorite vinyl shops? 
Yoyaku, Hardwax, Unite Centrale (rare wax here), Techno Import, Le Gram VG

Your top 5 favorite festivals?
La Nature Festival, Monument, La Vallée Electrique, Pe:rsona, Dekmantel.

Your top 5 favorite labels? 
Spazio Disponibile, Midgar, Space lab, Transmigration, Samurai Music.

Which artist is currently blowing you away?
At the moment, I’m really into Shoal, who’s been putting out some great releases. I’m also enjoying his recent side project with Vand : Voal.

For you, the music of the future in 3 words?
No-code, innovative, underground

Your top 5 new releases? 
- Voices From The Lake "Blue Not"
- Na Nich "Contour Without Form"
- Rrose "Elastic Flame"
- Emily Jeanne "Traversal"
- Inner Zone "Folded Realm"

Your top 5 old releases? 
- Steve Moore "Future 99"
- Nuel "Untitled B2"
- Skee Mask "Rev8617"
- Boards of Canada "Roygbiv"
- Donato Dozzy "S.T."

Finally, who is the current Diapasøn in 3 words?
A turntablist, producer, and deep-techno lover.

Anything else to add?
CWR’s next release, VA IV, is scheduled for December 17th.
Thanks Sabrina for your time and your trust.

Interviewed by Sabrina Bouzidi / photo by  Isabelle Lefranc