Italian DJ and producer Maike Depas is one of the rising names in the hard techno scene, known for mixing 90s rave energy with cinematic and psy-trance influences. After earning attention from DJ Mag Italia, Mixmag Germany, and FAZE, he’s now pushing his sound and visuals to new levels through his label, The Innovation Studio Records. With his new project ‘The Sphere 001’ and the launch of his futuristic persona Kyronex, Maike is stepping into an exciting new chapter. We caught up with him to talk about his latest work, his vision for hard techno, and what’s coming next.

Hey Maike, thanks for speaking with us! How are you doing today? 

Hey, thanks for having me! I’m doing really well.

I’ve just come out of an intense period of production and creative work in the studio. There’s a lot of new energy flowing right now, and I’m feeling inspired by what’s coming next.

Let’s kick things off with your latest project, ‘The Sphere 001’. This long-form filmed live set merges hard techno with cinematic visuals, can you tell us about the concept behind it and what inspired it?

“The Sphere 001” is the project that truly represents the evolution of who I’ve become as an artist. It’s not just a set, it’s an immersive experience that connects music, visual art, and storytelling. I wanted to show how a DJ today can be more than a selector, someone who builds a universe and invites the audience inside it.

The concept comes from my symbol, the sphere, which for me is a bridge between two realities: the present and the future. It embodies balance, energy, and timeless beauty, the same values I try to translate through my music. The live set was recorded in a cinematic environment, with lights, lasers, and visuals designed to amplify the emotions of each track and turn sound into a physical journey.

Musically, it’s a blend of hard techno, psy-trance, and cinematic influences, powerful but emotional, raw but refined. Half of the tracks are my own productions, some unreleased, and the whole narrative reflects the tension, euphoria, and release that define my sound. For me, “The Sphere 001” is a statement: a vision of what you will hear from me in 2026 across different stages worldwide.

The performance also introduces your new Kyronex identity, featuring futuristic fiberglass headpieces created with Tokyo artist Miq Han. How did this collaboration come about, and what does the Kyronex persona represent?

Kyronex is the visual and physical extension of my artistic identity, the point where sound, design, and the human form merge. I’ve always been fascinated by futuristic and cyberpunk aesthetics, and I felt it was time to bring that vision beyond music itself. The collaboration with Tokyo-based designer Miq Han was born from this idea: to create something that feels alive, not as a costume, but as a transformation of the body.

The fiberglass headpiece you see in “The Sphere 001” was entirely modeled along the lines of my skull. It represents precision, speed, and evolution, a symbol of what I call the “us of the future.” Kyronex is not about hiding behind a mask, but revealing another dimension of what we are becoming as humans in a hyper-technological era. It’s a bridge between biology and design, emotion and machine. Over time, this identity will evolve through new 1:1 elements, expanding into a complete visual armor that embodies my vision.

You’ve had an incredible past year with Hard Never Dies, a powerful compilation featuring SCARLETT., Akoriz, WarinD, and Marco Leckbert. What was your vision when curating that project, and how do you see it reflecting the current evolution of hard techno?

“Hard Never Dies” was born from the idea of celebrating a new wave of hard techno, one that’s raw, emotional, and forward-looking. I wanted to bring together artists who each represent a unique perspective on this sound, from SCARLETT and Akoriz to WarinD and Marco Leckbert.

The goal was to create a compilation that feels like a snapshot of where the scene is right now, while also pointing toward where it’s heading.

For me, hard techno today isn’t just about speed or aggression, it’s about energy, emotion, and identity. Each artist on the release brought their own world into the project, and together we built something that connects the underground roots of the genre with its evolving, more futuristic dimension.

“Hard Never Dies” is both a statement and a reminder: no matter how styles evolve, the raw spirit of hard techno will always endure.

Your track Back To You and the remix by Bonnie Strange hit the Beatport Top 10 and earned major streaming traction. What was it like the reaction to that?

The reaction to “Back To You” was incredible. It marked my first real step into a more EDM and festival-oriented sound, while staying deeply connected to my emotional and hard roots. Seeing it reach the #1 position on the Beatport Mainstage chart and resonate with so many listeners proved that sometimes it’s important to let emotions flow in their most primal form, that’s when music feels truly real.

Bonnie Strange’s remix gave the track a completely new dimension. It added a vibrant, euphoric energy that perfectly balanced my original vision. For me, this release was more than just a streaming success; it was a moment of artistic transition, showing how my sound can evolve while keeping its soul intact.

2024 saw the release of Sexy Devil Horse on your own label, The Innovation Studio Records, with features from Luca Agnelli, OGUZ, and CHRS. How important is it for you to build a platform for collaboration and innovation through your own label?

The Innovation Studio Records has always been more than just a label for me, it’s a creative ecosystem where collaboration and experimentation come first. With “Sexy Devil Horse,” I wanted to highlight that philosophy by bringing together artists like Luca Agnelli, OGUZ, and CHRS, who each represent a different side of the hard and emotional techno spectrum.

The goal of the label is to connect visionary artists from around the world and give them the space to express themselves freely, without boundaries. I believe innovation happens when you combine different minds and energies in the same room, that’s exactly what The Innovation Studio Records is built for. It’s not just about releasing music, but about shaping the sound of the future together.

With support from outlets like DJ Mag Italia, Mixmag Germany, and FAZE, you’re quickly becoming one of the most talked-about names in European hard techno. How do you feel about that?

It’s honestly an incredible feeling. I’ve been building this project step by step, driven purely by passion and a clear artistic vision, so seeing major media outlets like DJ Mag Italia, Mixmag Germany, and FAZE recognize my work means a lot. It tells me that people are connecting not just with the music, but with the story and the energy behind it.

At the same time, I try to stay focused on what really matters, evolving as an artist and keeping my sound authentic. The hard techno scene is growing fast, and I feel proud to contribute to its new wave with a futuristic and emotionally-driven approach.

Hard techno is evolving rapidly right now, blending influences from trance, industrial, and even cinematic music. Where do you see the genre heading next, and what role do you hope to play in shaping that future?

Hard techno is going through one of its most exciting transformations. It’s becoming more hybrid, blending trance, industrial, cinematic, and even EDM influences, but what really matters is the emotional energy behind it. I believe the future of the genre will be defined by artists who can merge intensity with emotion, creating something powerful yet meaningful.

My goal is to help shape that direction by bringing a more cinematic and futuristic vision to hard techno. I want to push the boundaries of production and performance, turning each release and live set into a full voyage to another dimension.

As an artist who constantly experiments and pushes boundaries, how important is it for you to take creative risks and challenge the expectations of what hard techno “should” sound like?

Taking creative risks is essential, it’s the only way to keep art alive. I’ve never been interested in following formulas or sticking to what people expect hard techno to sound like. For me, the goal is to evolve the genre without losing its raw spirit. That means blending different influences, from cinematic textures to psy-trance atmospheres and pure hard techno mayhem, and turning them into something new while keeping the same intensity that defines the underground.

When you experiment, you expose yourself, but that vulnerability is where the most powerful ideas are born. Every time I step into the studio, I try to challenge my own limits and build a sound that feels authentic, futuristic, and emotionally human at the same time.

Finally, thanks for taking the time to chat with us! Is there anything you’d like to share with your fans or tease about what’s coming next from Maike Depas and The Innovation Studio?

Thank you for having me, it’s been a pleasure. I can’t reveal too much yet, but what’s coming next will push my project to a completely new level, both musically and visually.

With The Innovation Studio, my goal is to expand the platform globally and bring together even more visionary artists who share the same drive for experimentation. The next chapter will be about evolution, creating experiences that go beyond sound, where music becomes something you can truly feel and see. The journey has just begun.