Self-managed communities and the value of building a scene: Fading Shapes Hub

In recent years, different initiatives have begun to emerge within the underground techno scene aiming to reinforce something that has historically been central to electronic music: community building. One of the most interesting examples is Fading Shapes Hub, a platform driven by producers connected to hypnotic techno that combines education, exchange, and collaboration between artists.

Projects like this reflect a dynamic that has always existed within the underground. Much of the real growth of the scene does not necessarily happen at large festivals or within the most visible parts of the industry, but rather in smaller yet highly active spaces: self-managed communities where artists share knowledge, processes, and experiences.

Within these environments you’ll find feedback rounds, collective listening sessions, collaborations between producers, and discussions about sonic identity or production techniques. For many artists taking their first steps, having a space where they can receive honest feedback or simply exchange music with other producers can make an enormous difference in their development.

But their importance is not only technical. They also serve a cultural function: keeping alive the collective spirit that has historically defined electronic music, a scene that has always been sustained through exchange between artists, collaboration, and the constant discovery of new talent.

Within this context, Fading Shapes Hub emerges as a project led by Spanish producer Linear Phase together with Ivanhoe, aiming to strengthen this sense of community among Spanish-speaking producers. Through free activities, collaboration rounds, collective feedback sessions, and an academy with accessible masterclasses, the project has gradually established itself as a space where new talents can develop with support from others.

To better understand how the initiative was born and what vision it holds within today’s scene, we spoke with Carlos (Linear Phase) and Nico (Ivanhoe).

Fading Shapes: Interview with Carlos (Linear Phase) and Nico (Ivanhoe)

The origin of the community

How did the idea of creating a Spanish-speaking techno community come about?

Carlos (Linear Phase)
I started with a WhatsApp group with some producer friends. The group grew very quickly and many ideas started to emerge, which led me to look for volunteers for what would later become BRUMA, the community label.

Nico (Ivanhoe)
I joined to help with support and little by little we got to know each other better. One day I visited his studio in Barcelona and we had a conversation that changed everything. Carlos explained his vision for the future and I told him that in my corporate career I had developed skills that could fit well: organization, community design, and educational activities. It felt like a good match.

A community built in Spanish

Why in Spanish? Was that a conscious decision?

Carlos (Linear Phase)
Honestly, most of our members were Spanish speakers, and from the beginning we called it “Techno Production in Spanish.” There’s already a lot of information in English, and we believe there should be more in our language.

Nico (Ivanhoe)
Although we don’t want to stay there forever. The vision is to evolve into something more multicultural, with different languages. At a time when tools like AI allow us to communicate across language barriers, it would be contradictory to build walls.

How the project took shape

Did you identify any particular problem within the scene that led to this?

Carlos (Linear Phase)
It was quite natural. Everything has formed around the proposals and needs of the community. For me the biggest challenge has been organization, because we’re a relatively large team of volunteers and there’s a lot going on: two labels, several platforms, podcasts, and courses.

Nico (Ivanhoe)
We also experience it from different perspectives. Carlos from decades inside the scene. Me from my own process: I learned mostly on my own, and even today I keep learning every day by managing the community and collaborating with others. That says a lot about how important it is to have an environment where you can grow.

Personal decisions behind the project

Were there personal experiences that influenced the creation of the community?

Carlos (Linear Phase)
I’ve been doing this for more than twenty years and some time ago I decided to leave a conventional job to dedicate myself entirely to music. Not only to Fading Shapes, but also to my own development as a producer. It was a necessary decision.

Nico (Ivanhoe)
In my case there was also a turning point. I lost my job and my apartment in Barcelona and had to move to Morocco for eight months. While rebuilding my life, Carlos’ group already existed and I stayed connected to music. It became an anchor for me. I think that influences how we think about the project: that no one should have to go through their process completely alone.

Who is behind the project

Who makes up the team and what role does each person play?

Carlos (Linear Phase)
Nico is the one who gives structure to everything that was in my head. He has a background in corporate learning and training that really shows in the way he approaches the project.

Nico (Ivanhoe)
Carlos is the face and the musical direction of the project. As Linear Phase he’s been producing for over twenty years, with more than fifty releases on labels like Soma, Edit Select, and Planet Rhythm, and he’s also the founder of Barcelona Modular Society. His experience and connections within the scene are essential.

The goal of the project

What is the main purpose of the community?

Carlos (Linear Phase)
That producers don’t learn alone, but more importantly that they don’t move forward alone. That they collaborate, help each other and build things together.

Nico (Ivanhoe)
And that it remains accessible. All community activities are free and voluntary. The educational side has a cost because instructors need to be paid fairly, but we always try to ensure that there’s high-quality free content available.

The sound of each producer

What kind of sound defines you as producers?

Carlos (Linear Phase)
My sound moves within hypnotic and raw techno. I work a lot with hardware and Eurorack modular synthesizers, which force you to commit to the sound in real time.

Nico (Ivanhoe)
I’ve only been producing for a couple of years, so I’m in a very different place. I started closer to progressive and house sounds, but within the community I began exploring VCV Rack and gradually moved toward something darker and deeper.

Sonic diversity within the community

What kind of sound fits within the community?

Carlos (Linear Phase)
Anything that is techno.

Nico (Ivanhoe)
We have producers making minimalist tracks, others working with dark textures and drones, others more dub-oriented or melodic. The criteria isn’t aesthetic — it’s about attitude and commitment to the craft and to the community.

The importance of collaboration rounds

How do the collaboration rounds work?

Nico (Ivanhoe)
It’s one of the activities that defines us the most. Producers sign up and we pair them based on availability. Then we follow the process and at the end we organize a group listening session where both the results and the process are shared.

That creates real connections between participants.

Carlos (Linear Phase)
I participated in the last round. You learn more in two months working with someone else than in many months working alone — and I say that with twenty years of experience.

The impact on the scene

Do you think this space can have an impact beyond the community itself?

Carlos (Linear Phase)
It already is, even if on a small scale. And that small scale is where it really matters.

Nico (Ivanhoe)
The real impact is having Spanish-speaking producers who are better trained, with stronger criteria and real connections between them.

Looking toward the future

How do you imagine the evolution of the project?

Carlos (Linear Phase)
More specialized courses with producers from major labels, more releases, and more collaborations.

Nico (Ivanhoe)
But above all we want it to remain human. That someone can join without knowing much and still find a real path for development, surrounded by people who genuinely want them to succeed.