MARKOR Uncovers Beauty in the Struggles of “PAIN”

Hard dance artist MARKOR reflects on the past year of his career, opening up about overcoming struggles and becoming the best version of himself.

MARKOR has been around since the early dawn of hard dance in America, contributing to the polarizing genre that is hardcore. His journey in hard dance has been eventful, as he was exposed to the harder styles through local raves and went on to dominate Southern California’s underground airwaves before earning placements on respected international labels.

Nearly a year ago, however, everything changed when MARKOR experienced a life-changing injury. He took some time away from the scene to re-evaluate his trajectory, focus on his health, and make a game plan for his exciting return. Now, a year removed from the worst of it, MARKOR is fully back with a vengeance, ready to reclaim his spot as one of the leaders in American Hard Dance.

Since his full-time return, MARKOR has put the scene on notice with a string of releases on DJ AniMe‘s ABSOLUTE RECORDS label, a flurry of shows around California, and a brand-new style that he’s dubbed gabber techno. Despite the busy and monumental year he’s had, MARKOR was kind enough to stop by and open up about his time away from the scene due to injury and how he found the best version of himself amid his struggle.

Stay tuned to the gabber techno frequencies of MARKOR by streaming his newest releases on Spotify, and read on for our full conversation!

You experienced a significant change due to an injury last year. What happened, and how did it impact your musical career?

Yeah, that injury last year really changed everything for me. I blew out my back and herniated a disc. It was bad. I couldn’t walk for about a month, and the doctors weren’t sure if I would fully recover. Dealing with insurance and appointments while waiting for answers took forever, and in the middle of all that, I lost my job. It was a heavy time.

I’ve got my daughter full time, just me and her, and suddenly not being able to work or move right was terrifying. I’ve always tried to be smart about saving, but that kind of uncertainty hits you differently.

All I could really do was sit down and make music. Producing became my outlet; it was how I released all that frustration and fear. When the doctor told me I couldn’t go back to my old job, that’s when it clicked. “This has to be it,” I thought. Music couldn’t just be something I did on the side anymore, so I gave it everything I had.

Looking back, that injury forced me to go all in on MARKOR. It turned a really dark moment into a turning point. The pain, the energy, and the emotion all went straight into the music, and people felt it. That’s when things really started to shift.

How are you feeling nearly a year removed from your injury and now that the MARKOR project is back in full effect?

I’m about a year into this injury now, and I’ve learned a lot through it. Back injuries really test your patience. I’ve read a lot and talked with other DJs who have gone through the same thing, and it’s shown me that recovery takes time and consistency.

Before all of this, I was a gym rat. I worked a full-time job and still put everything into the MARKOR project. I can’t hit the gym the way I used to yet, so I’ve replaced that with yoga, stretching, physical therapy, and a lot of walking. That’s my “L & L.” Lots and lots of walking.

I’m still technically injured and still in some pain, but it’s getting better. I can perform again, which means the world to me even if I’m sore afterward and have to ice my back once the show’s over. The recovery is slow, but the progress is there. My doctors think I’ll keep improving without surgery. That’s the goal, though surgery is something I might have to consider later on. No more jumping off speakers for now.

But honestly, it feels incredible to have MARKOR back in full effect. Seeing people connect with the new sound and direction has been amazing. As much as the fans are excited, I’m even more excited about what’s coming in 2026.

Photo Credit: @curiouskatphoto

You’ve picked up a ton of momentum lately, most notably with three records on DJ AniMe’s label, ABSOLUTE RECORDS. Being a hard dance producer on American soil, how important is it to receive support from one of the biggest names in the scene?

Honestly, that’s one of the biggest blessings to come out of my injury. When I slowed down my sound, AniMe noticed it. I entered her remix contest for “Detonate.” I didn’t win, but she messaged me saying that she really liked what I did. It had that mix of hard techno, hardcore, and gabber. I told her, “Yeah, that’s gabber techno.” She said, “Send me more.”

I sent her a batch of tracks I’d been making during my recovery, and she picked three: “You Can’t Stop Me,” “Jungle Techno,” and “Pain.” Each one meant a lot, especially “Pain,” which came straight from what I was going through that year. Seeing her play those tracks across the world has been surreal.

AniMe has been nothing but kind and supportive, and she really believes in what I’m creating with this fusion I call gabber techno. It pulls from hard techno, hardcore, gabber, and all the sounds I love. As an American artist in this scene, having someone like AniMe back me means everything. I’m beyond thankful for her support and encouragement.

One thing all your records have in common is that they’re under a new term you’re coining: “gabber techno.” For the uninitiated, how do you define it?

Gabber techno is something I naturally made while experimenting. I’ve noticed that many hard-techno DJs incorporate older hardcore tracks, edits of hardstyle, or sounds reminiscent of the early gabber days. They were pulling from the same energy I’ve always loved in the hard dance world. It was blending hardcore, hardstyle, rawstyle, and uptempo into techno.

That inspired me to ask myself, “What if I actually add the gabber elements into it?” I began building tracks with that attitude. Hard techno at its core, but with gabber kicks, hardcore aggression, and that underground rave edge. Over time, the sound developed into what I call gabber techno.

It’s not limited to one style. A gabber techno set can include hard techno, hardcore, hardstyle, rawstyle, and all the genres that shaped me. Right now is the perfect era for that kind of crossover. Here in the US, crowds are open to it, and that freedom lets me play whatever I feel in the moment. Everyone’s been really supportive of the sound, and it feels like the start of something fresh.

What made creating gabber techno the logical next step in your career?

Honestly, it was the massive support from everywhere. When people started asking me about what direction I was going in, I’d tell them about this new sound, gabber techno. Once I explained it, everyone’s reaction was like, “Holy shit, that’s cool.”

At EDC this year, I caught up with AniMe, Darksiderz, CGK, and a bunch of other artists. Everyone was curious about what I’d been working on, and once I broke down the concept, they were all into it. Even Lil Texas came up to me at the pool party and said, “I’ve heard your new slowed-down sound, and I love it. It’s something different.” Hearing that from peers I respect meant a lot.

The support from the community — not just here in the US, but also from DJs and producers in places like the Netherlands and Germany — has been amazing. People message me saying they love what I’m doing, and that kind of feedback fuels me. It just confirmed that gabber techno was the right move. It’s something unique and fresh, and I feel like there’s still so much more to come with it.

Photo Credit: @curiouskatphoto

Although this newfound style is your main focus, do you ever plan on crossing back into pure hardcore or uptempo as you previously were?

Oh, hell yeah. Hardcore will always be my first love. I’m still making hardcore and uptempo tracks, and I always will. That part of me isn’t going anywhere.

Gabber Techno is just something new I wanted to explore. Before, I felt like I was stuck in a box and had to stay in one lane. Now I feel free to do whatever I want, and honestly, that mindset came from the injury. It really was a blessing in disguise. It made me realize I don’t have to limit myself musically; I can do it all.

With all these changes to the MARKOR project, you’ve also told us about upcoming visual updates. Can you provide more details about the changes in your visual presentation with the mask, and why they’re important?

Yeah, I guess people have heard the rumors about a visual change coming. I wouldn’t call it a full change as it’s more of an upgrade. I’ve put a lot of thought and work into it, and it’ll happen sometime in 2026.

Without giving too much away, I’ll say the ski mask isn’t going anywhere because that’s part of who MARKOR is. But there’s definitely an evolution happening. It’s difficult to explain without revealing the full concept, but the upgrade will represent growth, both creatively and personally.

I’ve always been into wrestling, like WWE and pro wrestling, and I love storylines, especially the dark or comical ones. I’m also a huge Marvel fan, especially Deadpool, so I’m really into that mix of dark humor and chaos. All of that plays into what’s coming next. I think people are already starting to see little hints of it now, but it’s going to evolve into something very cool with content people will really want to follow.

I’m working with a well-known mask maker who has done designs for other artists in the hard techno and hard dance scenes, so it’s going to be professionally built and really special. I can’t say much more yet, but the people, colleagues, producers, and artists who have seen it are very excited about it. I think fans will be, too.

Photo Credit: @curiouskatphoto

You’ve been extremely busy this year releasing plenty of new music, with your most recent remix for ALWZ SNNY just coming out. Heading into 2026 and beyond, what else can fans expect on the music front from MARKOR?

The ALWZ SNNY remix was a fun one. That track really took me back. If you’re into microwave kicks and a little bit of cheese, that one’s for you.

Heading into 2026, fans can expect a lot more gabber techno, but also some more emotional tracks. I miss the melodies and those breaks you can actually sing along with. I feel like in the middle of all this hard techno and hardcore hybrid energy, there’s still space for emotion and musicality, and that’s something I want to bring back.

One thing I can talk about is a remix I did for SCND CRCL, which is Darksiderz and CGK’s hard techno project. You recently saw me on stage with Darksiderz at Academy LA, where we dropped the remix I did for their track called “Shake That Ass.” They really love it, and it has that Gabber techno vibe. We also dropped it at Bar Sinister in Hollywood for the Scummy Bears show, and the reaction was insane. When those gabber kicks hit, the place went wild. It’s got a great melody too, and I can’t wait for this one to drop in November.

I’m also working on a collaboration with Darksiderz and have several solo projects in the works. And who knows? Maybe some releases on overseas labels, too. Expect more music, more shows, and a lot more gabber techno energy in 2026.

I’d love to end this on a positive note. Your story spans years, since the beginning of the hard dance movement in the States. If you could travel back in time and offer a young MARKOR some advice, what would that be?

Oh man, great way to make me feel old! But seriously, if I could go back and talk to my younger self, I’d tell him to quit his job and go all in on music. Have more faith in yourself and believe that you can make this your full-time life.

That’s the advice I’d give to any upcoming artist, too. I’m not saying quit your job tomorrow, but trust yourself and take the risk. You only get one life, and if this is your passion, you’ve got to chase it. It’s okay to be different. Believe in your sound and what makes you stand out.

I get messages from artists asking for advice on production, content, and branding, and I always try to help because I’ve been there. This industry has ups and downs, but if you have the passion and drive, the ups make it all worth it. You need thick skin and patience. So, to my younger self and to any artists reading this, don’t give up. Keep going. You can make it happen.

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