Scene
“Kids Like Us explores identity, dislocation, and connection through the lens of techno culture, centering a sense of nostalgia for profound moments that brought lost youth together in a time of cultural change.” – NOWNESS
A new short film, Kids Like Us, dives into the warehouses and dancefloors of 1990s Detroit, capturing the raw energy of the city’s underground techno scene. Produced by Richie Hawtin and directed by Detroit native Luke Jaden, the nine-minute film offers an intimate glimpse into a movement shaped by sound, resistance, and DIY community.
The film is set in Detroit for a reason. This is where techno was born – a city that shaped the sound and gave it meaning. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, Detroit became a global landmark for electronic music, thanks to the pioneers like Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson (The Belleville Three), who blended funk, machine rhythms, and raw urban energy into something entirely new. But Detroit was more than just a setting – it was the pulse of the scene. Its economic struggles, abandoned spaces, and restless creative energy gave young people the freedom to gather, experiment, and build something of their own.
Filmed during a real party, the project avoids any staged setups. Jaden wanted it to feel like a memory – grainy, dim, slightly chaotic – not polished or cinematic. That approach mirrors Hawtin’s own ethos: a career built on process, not perfection.
The film follows a group of young people in search of connection and meaning, turning to techno as a space of freedom and identity. Shot on 35mm film and layered with Hawtin’s original music and sound design, Kids Like Us blurs the line between documentary and fiction, grounding its story in emotional and sonic reality.
For Hawtin, the project is also a return to the city that shaped him. Though born in the UK and raised in Canada, Detroit’s sound and proximity pulled him into the orbit of pioneers like Jeff Mills, Robert Hood, and the Belleville Three. As a key figure in the city’s second wave of techno, Hawtin helped define a minimalist, conceptual style long before it reached global recognition. His role in the film adds both depth and authenticity.
“Kids Like Us” premiered on NOWNESS, a platform known for spotlighting bold, boundary-pushing short films that live at the intersection of art, fashion, and subculture.
