LESSSS Gets Candid About the Evolution of Hard Techno

LESSSS stopped by to reflect on her career and discuss the importance of experimental freedom in the new era of hard techno.

French artist LESSSS is part of a new generation of producers who have infiltrated hard techno, prioritizing innovation that excites versus opting for traditional sounds and styles. Fans know her to be a charismatic figure in the scene backed by a fiery passion for music and an unrelenting drive for success.

“I think the best way to describe my sound is very energetic with many drums and vocals from proper shranz to rawstyle with plenty of hard techno,” she told EDM Identity. “I’m a developer.”

Despite its wild energy and relentless beats, the LESSSS sound ultimately reflects Leslie Goldsztejn‘s personality as a human being and the message she wants to convey. “The styles and sounds that encourage the listener to break free and don’t necessarily adhere to established norms are what inspire me greatly in my creative process. This is also the direction I aim to take with my music, she said.

Beyond the music, LESSSS incorporates a unique fashion style into her project with wild hair colors, oversized clothing, and fresh makeup looks that are uniquely hers. “It’s important for people to have something they can associate you with,” she explained. “For me, it’s my hair color and my very oversized style.” She never tries to match the latest trend. She claims that people notice and enjoy this style for its raw authenticity.

Before the superstar DJ that fans see now, however, Leslie was surrounded by musical influences of all genres during her childhood. “I’ve always known I had a special relation with music,” she explained. She had other passions like astrophysics and astronomy, but music eventually outweighed these interests when she graduated high school and needed to decide on a career path for the rest of her life.

LESSSS spent some time in Paris studying and obtaining a degree in sound engineering. During her time there, she earned her first gig after discovering her love for the art of DJing. LESSSS then decided to fully pursue a career as an artist shortly thereafter. From there, the project quickly gained popularity at an unprecedented rate.

Although she was navigating a brand-new experience, LESSSS explained that “the key to keeping my mind straight and not being overwhelmed by what was happening to me or my project was to be well surrounded.” Her agents, family, and friends all listened, supported, and believed in her during times she felt pressure from elsewhere.

These key relationships ultimately helped her navigate her meteoric rise to fame in the scene. While being prepared for a situation like hers is impossible, it’s important to remember that all one can do is try to manage as best as possible. “Keep a healthy lifestyle and focus on what makes you feel good,” she advised aspiring artists. “In my case, it was music.”

Today, LESSSS is part of a new generation of artists who consistently seek to push the boundaries of hard music. On the importance of musical innovation, she reminds the scene “to never stop trying new things and not feel obliged to respect any norms or rules. It can open new gates and maybe even create a new style!”

After all, she believes that breaking the rules is the reason the music industry will never die. At its core, the purpose of being a musician is to try to create something that people have never heard before. LESSSS showcased this mindset on her latest projects, GENESIS and GENESIS EXTENDED.

With these two key releases, LESSSS promises a new era in her sound and style for her loyal fans. “I’m going to focus on this artistic direction for now and try to push it as far as I can,” she says. “I’ll bring all the musical influences that define me as an artist such as rock, metal, and even French rap music. This is what you can expect for future releases!”

Mixing genres is not a new phenomenon in dance music. Fans need not look further than the American Hard Dance scene, which has championed hybrid genres over the past decade.

Of course, purists in all music genres typically reject new styles and innovations that deviate from cookie-cutter norms. LESSSS in particular finds herself at the intersection between hard techno and hard dance music today. While there are many elitist listeners, she’s carved her own space in this niche by embracing change and moving forward.

Photo Credit: @arnaudscheid

What was once forbidden is now encouraged as hard techno and hard dance can coexist on lineups without seeming out of place. “Hard techno artists can now share the stage with insane rawstyle artists and create a mix between two scenes that were never meant to be reunited before,” LESSSS pointed out. This cohesive unification leads to progressive events that include genres that everybody can enjoy while also discovering something new.

With 2025 on the horizon, LESSS has plenty of new records in the pipeline. Her first release of the year will be a remix of a French rap song she loves that’s been teased in her recent performances. She also has plenty of collaborations scheduled throughout the year. On the original release front, LESSSS shared that “the main goal of 2025 is to focus on producing music — especially an EP that would be a follow-up of GENESIS.”

Beyond the LESSSS project, the French artist wants to launch her record label to release her own tracks freely, supporting the up-and-comers she believes in who would greatly benefit from the visibility. While she has yet to make any concrete plans, LESSSS believes a project this big needs time to refine, so fans shouldn’t expect anything until late 2025 or early 2026.

Even with all of her success in the scene, LESSSS never forgets the moments when she felt like she wasn’t good enough for the industry, and she’s aware that many other artists may feel the same way she did back then. She urged them to take the first step to believe in themselves and their projects fully.

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