999999999: “There’s a unique energy in Venice — the music community is pushing boundaries”

Certain cities are well set up for a club scene to flourish. Take Berlin in the late-’80s, with its swathe of empty, available industrial buildings primed to host parties when the wall fell, or Ibiza’s Mediterranean climate enabling many open-air dancing spots. Venice, on the other hand, is a trickier proposition. The ancient city is hard to navigate with canals not roads, has crumbling buildings, and places restrictions on noise and large groups. Despite these challenges, a passionate and innovative dance music community are transforming the city’s cultural landscape, working tirelessly to build a techno scene that is brimming with potential.

999999999 are a leading example of the creative might that has been bubbling away in the city and is capable of much bigger things. The Venice-hailing duo have emerged from Northern Italy to become one of the best-loved techno acts on the planet, revered for the powerful, energetic sound that they unleash across blistering productions, DJ sets and live shows, which are fuelled by improvisation.

They note the impact of “intimate parties where the atmosphere was pure and unfiltered” in their hometown during their formative years, taking place “in warehouses or unconventional spaces, where it was all about the music and the people.”

“The freedom and creativity in those environments shaped our approach to how we wanted to make and share our music,” they add. “These smaller, dedicated communities are pushing boundaries and bringing fresh ideas to the city”.

With so much potential to build on in Venice, it makes for the perfect location to host the next stop of the Burn Energy Tour 2024, which will bring a focus to the Italian city and the exciting happenings in its underground, with the goal of contributing to its continued evolution.

“Collaboration is essential. Bringing together local promoters, artists, and collectives could create a stronger, more unified scene,” note 999999999, which is an approach that has informed the day and night programming of the tour stop.

Homecoming heroes 999999999 are on board to headline the flagship party on Saturday, November 9, joined by fellow Venezian Lady C, Berlin-born techno dynamo Lucia Lu, and the raw sounds of South London’s Theo Nasa. Now drawing massive crowds anywhere from Berlin to Buenos Aires, and establishing their NineTimesNine label as an essential outlet for high-intensity techno, we’re thrilled to be bringing 999999999 back to where it all began for what promises to be a spectacular party at a yet-to-be-announced site in Venice — with free tickets available to apply for here.

In the daytime we’ll be hosting a workshop on How To Break Into The Dance Music Industry, with a panel of experts made up of Rolling Stone Italia journalist Damir Ivic, Lady C and ilMuretto club’s Samuele Bucciol providing useful advice to help Venice’s grassroots community continue to grow and inspire the next generation of pioneers to keep taking the city to the next level.

With such an exciting energy building in Venice, this Burn Energy Tour stop promises to be a special showcase into a city and music scene that are totally unique. Ahead of the event, we spoke to 999999999 about the dedication of Venice’s creative community, Italy’s appetite for techno, and their spontaneous approach to creating musical chaos.

Apply for tickets to the party here, and read an exclusive Q&A with 999999999 below.

You both grew up in Venice. How did you get into dance music while living there and end up working together on this techno project?

Growing up in Venice, we were exposed to a lot of different types of music, but electronic and dance music wasn’t as big there compared to other cities. However, we were always curious and started discovering electronic sounds through friends, DJing in local clubs, and digging online.

As we explored the scene more, we crossed paths at different events and realised we shared the same vision and passion for the harder, more experimental side of techno. From there, it was a natural progression to start working together. We began producing tracks, playing sets, and just constantly bouncing ideas off each other. Venice may not have had a huge dance music scene, but that just pushed us to create our own path and make something unique that resonated with us. That’s how 999999999 came to be.

What were some of your formative nightlife experiences?

Some of our most formative nightlife experiences came from traveling outside of Venice to cities with stronger underground scenes, like Berlin, and Amsterdam. In those cities, we really felt the power and intensity of the rave culture, which left a lasting impact on us. The energy in the dancefloor, the connection between the crowd and the DJ, and the raw soundsystems—all of that really opened our eyes to what techno could be.

We also had key moments at smaller, more intimate parties where the atmosphere was pure and unfiltered. These events were often in warehouses or unconventional spaces, where it was all about the music and the people. The freedom and creativity in those environments shaped our approach to how we wanted to make and share our music. It wasn’t just about playing tracks—it was about creating an experience, something that felt immersive and intense. Those moments pushed us to dive deeper into the world of techno and ultimately helped form the foundation of 999999999.

Can you tell us about the music community in Venice? Is there much of a scene for techno?

Venice itself doesn’t have a very large or well-established techno scene compared to other major cities in Italy. However, there’s a growing interest in electronic music, and you can definitely find small, passionate groups of people who are really into it. Many fans of techno from Venice often travel to nearby cities, like Padua, Treviso or even Milan, to experience bigger events. But despite the challenges, there’s a unique energy in Venice, and it has the potential to develop more as the underground community grows. It’s all about creating the right spaces and opportunities for people to come together around the music.

Venice is quite a unique city, filled with canals and old buildings. Does this present challenges for nightlife there? If so, how do people navigate and overcome those to put on events?

Venice is definitely a unique place, and its layout (with the canals, narrow streets, and old architecture) presents some serious challenges for nightlife. The city itself isn’t really designed for large-scale events or parties, and sound restrictions are pretty strict because of the proximity of everything. It’s not easy to find venues that can handle the kind of energy and soundsystems needed for techno events. Plus, the logistics of moving equipment around and getting people to the right spot can be tricky with no cars and boats as the main transport.

But despite all that, the underground community finds ways to make it happen. People often use creative solutions like organising events on the mainland, just outside Venice, or in nearby cities like Mestre or Padua, where there’s more space and fewer restrictions. Sometimes, smaller, intimate gatherings are held in unconventional spaces, where the focus is more on creating a vibe with a dedicated crowd.

It’s not easy, but the challenges force people to be resourceful and passionate about making events happen, which can lead to some really special, unique experiences. It’s all about working within the constraints and turning them into opportunities.

Is the energy of those passionate groups you mention changing the music scene in Venice? If so, how?

Yes, the energy of those passionate groups is definitely starting to change the music scene in Venice, even if it’s happening slowly. These smaller, dedicated communities are pushing boundaries and bringing fresh ideas to the city. They’re organising underground events, collaborating with artists from other cities, and creating spaces where people can experience electronic music in a more raw and authentic way.

What’s interesting is that even though Venice is known for its history and tradition, this new wave of energy is making space for something more modern and experimental. The enthusiasm of these groups is creating a buzz, and we’re starting to see a shift where people who might not have been exposed to techno or electronic music are getting curious and involved.

It’s still a challenge to grow the scene in a city like Venice, but the dedication of these people is creating a strong foundation. Over time, this energy will continue to build, and we think Venice has the potential to become a more important spot for underground music in Italy. It’s exciting to watch it evolve.

What could be done to help the techno scene in Venice develop even more?

To help the techno scene in Venice develop even more, a few key things could make a big difference. First, there needs to be more accessible and supportive venues. Right now, the restrictions on sound, space, and logistics make it tough to host events. If there were more dedicated spaces for electronic music with proper soundsystems and fewer limitations, it would really help the community grow.

Second, collaboration is essential. Bringing together local promoters, artists, and collectives could create a stronger, more unified scene. Partnering with people from other cities where techno is more established could also introduce new ideas and connections. Workshops, label showcases, and collaborative events with international artists could expose more people to what techno is all about and raise Venice’s profile in the wider electronic music world.

Finally, more support from the city itself would be helpful. Venice is an iconic location, and if there was backing from cultural organisations or even the local government, it could allow for bigger events and festivals. Showcasing techno as part of Venice’s artistic and cultural fabric could make it more accepted and attract more interest from both locals and visitors. It’s all about building the infrastructure and getting more people involved in the long term.

Do you think DIY, grassroots energy is important for nightlife?

Absolutely, DIY and grassroots energy are crucial for nightlife, especially in the underground scene. It’s where creativity and passion thrive, leading to raw, authentic experiences. Some of the best nights come from these smaller, community-driven events, where it’s all about the music and the connection. DIY culture keeps the scene alive and real, pushing things forward without being controlled by commercial interests. It’s all about passion, and that’s what makes the underground special.

What is the techno scene in Italy like in general - is there a big appetite for it? How does it compare to other countries you play in such as Germany and the Netherlands?

The techno scene in Italy has definitely grown a lot over the years, and there’s a big appetite for it, especially in cities like Milan, Rome, and Turin. The energy is strong, and the crowds are passionate, but the scene can be more fragmented compared to places like Germany or the Netherlands, where there’s a more unified, established culture around techno.

In Italy, there are a lot of smaller, dedicated communities driving the scene forward, but it’s not as consistent across the country. In Germany and the Netherlands, techno has a deeper history and is more ingrained in the culture, with a wider range of clubs, festivals, and opportunities to play. That makes the vibe different—there’s a certain openness and structure there that allows for more experimentation.

Overall, Italy’s scene is evolving fast and has its own unique intensity, but it’s still catching up in terms of infrastructure and support compared to the techno hubs in Europe.

What draws you to the type of intense, energetic techno that defines the 999999999 project?

What draws us to the intense, energetic style of techno that defines 999999999 is the raw power and emotional release it brings. We’ve always been attracted to music that creates a physical and emotional impact, and with this kind of techno, there’s an intensity that connects directly with people on the dancefloor. It’s fast, relentless, and full of energy, it breaks down barriers and pulls you into the moment.

For us, it’s about pushing boundaries and creating something that feels alive and chaotic, yet controlled. That energy fuels our creativity, and we love how it gives the crowd a sense of freedom and release. It’s a direct expression of everything we want to convey through our music—unfiltered, raw, and powerful.

Improvisation is a big part of your artistic process, how does this inform the type of music you make?

Improvisation plays a huge role in how we create music. It keeps everything unpredictable and alive, which is at the core of our sound. When we perform or produce, we don’t like to follow strict plans—we prefer to let the moment guide us. This allows us to capture raw, unfiltered energy and experiment with new ideas on the fly.

That spontaneity pushes us to constantly evolve and keeps our music dynamic. It’s all about reacting to the energy in the room or in the studio, which brings an element of chaos and surprise to what we do.

You play both live sets and DJ sets, how does your approach to each of these compare? Are you trying to do something different to dancefloors with each style?

In our live sets and DJ sets, our approach varies while still aiming for an intense experience on the dancefloor. During live sets, we focus on raw energy and improvisation, creating something unique in the moment that fosters a dialogue with the crowd.

In our DJ sets, we curate a journey, carefully selecting tracks that flow and build energy while still allowing for some improvisation.

Both styles aim to create powerful moments, but live sets lean into unpredictability, while DJ sets focus on a cohesive experience. Ultimately, whether we’re playing live or DJing, our goal is to make the dancefloor feel alive and connected.

Are you looking forward to returning to Venice for the Burn Energy Tour? What can fans expect from your set?

Yes, we're absolutely looking forward to returning to Venice for the Burn Energy Tour! It's always special to play in our hometown. Fans can expect a high-intensity set, full of raw, acid sounds, and a lot of energy. We always aim to create an experience that pulls people into the music and keeps them moving from start to finish. Expect some new tracks and maybe a few surprises along the way.

Venice is the third stop on the Burn Energy Tour 2024, following events in Budapest and Warsaw, with a final stop set for Spain. Stay tuned to Burn Energy and Mixmag’s Instagram pages for updates.