2026 Tec-Troit interview with Raul Rocha (DJ Roach 313)

Tec-Troit is a free and fast approaching festival coming to Detroit June 26-28 2026. Raul Rocha aka DJ Roach 313 is a globally recognized talent as a DJ but also a community leader in founding this three day event. It’s special not only in the fact that it gives performers on all levels a massive chance to shine but the good, family and art camaraderie is very strong.

The lineup is stacked featuring local and world renowned headliners including Jon Dixon, Mike Banks with A Guy Called Gerald, Blake Baxter, Juan Atkins, Stacey Hale, Punisher as Hazel Eyez, Blake Baxter, Strand with Optic Nerve doing a Mojo Tribute and so many more. www.tectroit.com

Raul Rocha aka DJ Roach’s roots run deep in the city and its music. At a very young age seeing Jeff Mills perform as the Wizard and regularly listening to the Electrifyin’ Mojo gave both he and his older brother DJ Rolando the jump to become DJs.

His strong ties with the Underground Resistance family over the years have always been a good source of inspiration. UR founder Mike Banks encouraged him to start his record label (Nuestro Futuro) and provided timely advice on Tec-Troit over the years.

 

Both Rocha and his festival have come a long way. Tec-Troit, which started in a tent in Harmonie Park in 2011 has become a nonprofit in 2026. He lavished praise on his “right hand” DJ Moses Malone, his board, and volunteers from all over the world that make Tec Troit a success year after year.

VP: Coming up, were you a member of UR? I know you came through that family.

RR: I was an Assault DJ for a minute. I don’t know how official it was, but that was the word from Mike and I always played UR and Detroit stuff when I started getting into techno. I don’t have a track on their label but they’re my boys. I hang tight with all of them.

VP: Did being around UR’s collaboration spirit help foster community love in you?

RR: Yeah, I  think it did. Just hanging in that kitchen (UR building) listening to conversations and being in the studio there’s lots of good things that I always look back on. Mike talked to me and pushed me.  I learned a lot of patience from Mike and Corn (Cornelius Harris) and how they grow their relationships. Everybody works together. There’s a lot of clicks out there. But sometimes you just gotta kind of sit and lay in the cut and let things happen.

VP: What else contributed?

RR: Looking back at my festival, it is how everybody comes together. I have a team, and now we’re a nonprofit. There are so many connections with artists too. Like (Detroit group) Strand.  They have some bangers and it is great to see them back. And they’re going to be back at this year’s festival too with Optic Nerve (Mojo tribute set.)

VP: What inspired you to start Tec Troit? We already had Movement rolling. Did you see a void? (not in a mean way)

RR: I noticed a difference from when it (Movement) was free (admission). The people changed. People that already discovered techno discovered it. And they’re going to pay that money to go. Which is great. I’m glad they started the festival. What I see missing is the people that used to go. They wouldn’t necessarily buy a ticket to go to the festival now. If their cousins were playing or something like that (maybe.) If it’s free then they go. Then they might discover they like it and then we get fans out of it.  And it trickles down. It might turn into a DJ. It might produce a dancer. They might be a part of the community. That’s the way I look at at it.

VP: It was a supplement I thought when you started it. The local presence and family vibes were high. It gave people who have been really grinding a moment.

RR: You’re right. Absolutely

VP: What are/were some of the biggest challenges you face/faced with Tec-Troit?

RR: Getting little cooperation from the city (early on) and then not finding the help you need. It’s hard to find somebody that has the same drive and is willing to do it for what you are doing it for. I look at my board, we all do it because we love it.

It gets a little easier each year but there’s always obstacles to run through…We look for sponsors that will do it for our same values…The city is getting better at it and we love working with them. There’s other things like we can’t use the shipping containers this year. We have to move the stages around but it’s going to be cool.

VP: Who are some of the people on your board and those that make everything work?

RR: My right hand man Moses Malone. My board. Big shout out to Ron Castellano who allows us to use the historic property. It just makes it feel great surrounded by the buildings and it’s so cool. We also have to thank our vendors and volunteers from Detroit and around the world and my own family of course.

VP: What are a few things you are excited to see at this year’s festival?

RR: I’m tagging with Frankie Bones. I’m really excited to do that. I want to see Blake Baxter live. Punisher has a new moniker Hazel Eyez. Everyone is good. Strand and Optic Nerve Mojo Tribute. Model 500 and Vintage Future at the afterparties. Lots of stuff you don’t want to miss. Oh and we have the Detroit Bus Tours also and they do a great job. We’re all together and we can give you guys a platform. We try to make it cool every year.

VP: And where can people donate?

RR: Cash App or Venmo, just type in TEC dash TROIT. You can also go to our website www.tectroit.com and scroll down. The festival will have the code also. We appreciate every penny and we will always make this festival happen!