Dave Tarrida

Spanish-born and Scottish-bred, Dave Tarrida is a pioneering techno DJ, producer, and label founder, known for his influential role in shaping Edinburgh’s experimental techno scene and beyond.

Tarrida’s career launched in the early 1990s when he co-founded the legendary Sativa club in Edinburgh (1991–1996), a vital hub that welcomed talents like Neil Landstrumm, Tobias Schmidt, Claude Young, and DJ Hell. In 1994, he co-founded Sativae Recordings with Steve Glencross, a label that released early works by artists such as Cristian Vogel, Adam X, and Jay Denham.

In the mid-90s, Tarrida began producing his own music, debuting as Pujol with the Chupacabre EP on Scandinavia. His collaboration with Tobias Schmidt on The Test EP in 1998 marked his entry onto the prestigious Tresor label. His first solo album, Paranoid, was released on Tresor in 2001, followed by Life’s a Glitch on Sativae in 2004.

After relocating to Barcelona in 1999, Tarrida continued to refine his sound, securing residencies at clubs like Moog and Nitza. Since 2010, he has been based in Vienna, remaining a vibrant figure in the European electronic music scene. In 2013, he founded his own label, Autofake.

Dave Tarrida’s signature sound is dark, quirky, and experimental, yet unmistakably dancefloor-oriented. Influenced by the Sheffield bleep era and German techno pioneers like PCP/The Mover, he has played at iconic clubs and festivals worldwide, including Tresor, The Omen, Ultrashall, Rex Club, Flex, Fabrik, and Fuse.

Throughout his career, Tarrida has not only evolved as a boundary-pushing artist but also championed the development of fellow producers, leaving an indelible mark on the global techno landscape.