Plastikman

Plastikman is the electronic music project of Canadian producer Richie Hawtin. Emerging in the early 1990s, Plastikman is closely associated with minimal techno and is recognized for its tightly focused, textural approach to sound design.

The music emphasizes sparse arrangements, precise percussion, and transformed timbres created with analog and modular gear. The project’s debut album Sheet One (1993) on Novamute/Mute helped define its stark aesthetic, with the track Spastik becoming one of Plastikman’s signature pieces.

Plastikman has played a significant role in the evolution of minimal techno and live electronic performance, balancing studio production with live sets that foreground stripped-down structures and careful sound processing. The alias is part of Hawtin's broader label activities, notably the Minus imprint, which releases techno and experimental material associated with his sound design approach.

Over the years Plastikman has released several albums and EPs, continuing to influence artists exploring minimalist techno, modular synthesis, and immersive club-oriented soundscapes.