Stephan Bodzin: How "Singularity" Shaped Melodic Techno
· re:union Radio editorial · 2 min read
Stephan Bodzin's track "Singularity" is a blueprint for melodic techno — and reveals a lot about Herzblut, Life and Death, and Afterlife's evolution.
Stephan Bodzin is one of those names you simply can't bypass in today's melodic techno. His track "Singularity" is part of Bodzin's second album "Powers of Ten", released in 2015 on his own label Herzblut. To this day, the track stands for the emotional, melody-driven sound that many only later associated with the genre term "melodic techno".
At a glance
- "Singularity" released in 2015 on Life and Death, then on the album "Powers of Ten" (Herzblut)
- Stephan Bodzin, born 1969 in Bremen, founded Herzblut back in 2006
- DJ Hell coined the term "Bremen Sound" for his style
- Afterlife, Tale Of Us's label, was restructured into a standalone festival brand in 2025
An Own Label as Foundation
Bodzin founded Herzblut back in 2006 and released his debut album "Liebe ist..." (2007) there. His third album, "Boavista", followed in 2021 on Afterlife.
The "Bremen Sound"
Bodzin likes to describe himself as a "melody man". DJ and producer DJ Hell once nailed it:
"Stephan Bodzin's tunes as the 'Bremen sound'"
What's meant is a blend of classically trained melodics — Bodzin has a formal musical education — and a driving, technoid foundation. Exactly this combination went on to significantly shape later waves of melodic techno.
Afterlife: From Duo Label to Festival Brand
Anyone talking about melodic techno today can hardly get past Afterlife, the label and event format founded by the Italian duo Tale Of Us (Carmine Conte aka MRAK and Matteo Milleri aka Anyma) in 2016. Since 2021, both have pursued mainly solo projects, and since January 2025 they no longer perform together. The English-language Wikipedia sums up the development like this:
"Since 2021, both members have led solo projects, Milleri as Anyma and Conte as MRAK."
In February 2025, Afterlife announced it would appear going forward as a standalone festival series in Mexico City and Barcelona — with stage days curated separately by Anyma and MRAK. From a duo label, it has become a brand that has outgrown its original founders.
Why This Matters for Today's Sound
Tracks like "Singularity" show that the melodic techno often hyped as a trend has a long backstory. If you're into current minimal techno releases or darker techno flavors, you'll find a blueprint in Bodzin's discography and the Afterlife history for how genres form over years.
FAQ
Is "Singularity" a new release?
No. The track dates from 2015 and appeared first on Life and Death, then on the album "Powers of Ten" via Herzblut. It's still considered one of the definitive melodic techno tracks today.
Does Afterlife still exist as Tale Of Us's label?
Not as a classic duo label anymore. Since 2025, Afterlife is a standalone festival brand whose stage days are curated separately by Anyma and MRAK.
Source: Wikipedia: Stephan Bodzin, Wikipedia: Tale of Us, MusicBrainz: Stephan Bodzin, XLR8R: Podcast 406 – Stephan Bodzin
