‘Technanima’ is an audiovisual experiences production company focused on promoting electronic music, headquartered in the city of Oruro, Bolivia, founded in May 2016 by Oruro DJ Álvaro Fernández, also known as Alvar Stone within the artistic scene.
The first promotional event, titled ‘Technanima Showcase,’ with which it officially began its activities, took place in one of the local bars in Oruro, called “591,” which was recognized at the time in the city for fostering alternative artistic activities, led by its owners: musician and renowned Oruro artist and current drummer of Llajtaymanta, Armando Landaeta, and his partner Andrés Garrón, a businessman committed to Rock who continues to contribute to the local scene with his activities from the city of Cochabamba.
It was at ‘591’ where Oruro DJs performed: Lui & Jar, Moshe RV, Monkey Dub, and Alvar Stone, the current owner and founder of the production company. Along with the initial support of Álvaro’s family and university friends: Carlos Valer, Juan Macías, Jorge Arce, and Pablo Cuevas, it was possible to realize the first official event.
Throughout 2016, the second Showcase also took place at ‘591’ with a larger turnout, and the third version at the pub “Royal Concert,” thanks to the hospitality of its owner Rodrigo Calustro. This event featured local DJs such as Luis Miguel Ballesteros, still known as DJ Mike, Rolando Arias known as DJ Rol Star, Ramón Salvatierra known as DJ Raymond, and Rolando Revilla known as Moshe RV. These local artists offered their support without demanding any form of payment, contributing their talent, warm friendship, and trust to the project, which was still in its early stages.
In September of the same year, Technanima began a new cycle of events with the support of Latitud Music Bar and its owner, the artist Daniel Arancibia, a renowned singer-songwriter and composer from Oruro. He opened the doors of his establishment and his home, and to this day, continues to do so for many artists of different genres from the national and international alternative cultural scene. He has become one of the cultural promoters who has provided the most support to Oruro’s nightlife entertainment scene for over 8 years, hosting a variety of artists week after week, each characterized by a particular style.
The spirit of friendship, passion for art, and the important technical collaboration in sound by specialists Javier Salas, Armando Landaeta, and Sergio Cabrera, made it possible to bring artists from other parts of the country. The year closed with the first “Closing Party,” featuring guests Nina Schatz from La Paz, Ronald Rojas also known as Hipnotica (an artist with extensive experience born in Oruro, founder and owner of the “Subliminal Senses” label from Cochabamba), and DJ Cristoball, an Oruro photographer and audiovisual producer who also currently resides in Cochabamba.
In 2017, Technanima continued producing events more focused on Techno and House at Latitud Music Bar and at “Green House” with the support of Augusto Mendez Cortez, Leandro Gonzales, and VJ MarCos, bringing together important local DJs and artists as well as those from other parts of the country, such as Ajayu and Lalo Lopez from Cochabamba.
In October, a commercial agreement was reached with the national Premium Vodka brand: “1825,” which made it possible to bring the first international guest from Germany, DJ Recombinant. Similarly, on other dates during the year, Ztrada from Tarija and Mauricio Araujo, also known as DJ ChoWi, one of the most representative exponents of electronic music Oruro has had, participated. His legacy of friendship in the local scene endures to this day, being one of the founding members of the “El Poder de tus bajos Oruro” (The Power of Your Bass Oruro) movement.
It is thanks to this perseverance and the constant support at that time from Oruro DJs Leandro Gonzales and Rodrigo Aguilar Nemer, and the support of Latitud Music Bar, that it was possible to secure the presence of renowned La Paz artist Paul Jove (Pituko) for the event called “Closing Party 2017” in December.
In 2018, events became more frequent at Latitud Music Bar, incorporating visual elements and more elaborate stage presentations including 3D mapping by artists such as Axel Téllez, known at the time as VJ Iguana, and VJ Bob. Among the DJs and producers who made their debut in Oruro were artists like JoC H and Lexand from La Paz, Zairi Torrez from Cochabamba, Persy Ramirez also known as DJ Antuchac from Oruro, and the return of Nina Schatz and Hypnotica. In October, Ztrada, Feccio, and Musqux from Tarija visited, with the collaboration of a great friend: Ariel Guzmán, known as DJ Uru Ari, and the support of “Shock” nightclub.
In November 2018, in a coordinated effort with Latitud Music Bar, 4 nights of electronic music were presented at “Expoteco” in Oruro as part of the so-called “Beck’s Open Weekends” at the “most important fair in Western Bolivia.” This consolidated the presentation of Jorge Alejandro Uriarte known as DJ Alex Magnum, one of the most important Trance exponents from La Paz; Efraín Candia known as DJ Erofex, owner of the Neurotrance Records label; André de Oliveira known as DJ Lexand, one of the most important hard techno artists and producers in the country, currently residing in Mexico; Javier Rosell known as DJ Sonor, a La Paz DJ with extensive experience in specialized clubs and discos across the country; José Henry known as DJ JoC H from La Paz, a high-level professional audiovisual producer and owner of the production company 3600 Stage along with Nina Schatz (Yohana Henry); and as local representatives: DJ Leio and Alvar Stone.
Subsequently, in December 2018, the arrival of one of the most important pioneers of electronic music in Bolivia, Álvaro ‘Conejo’ Arce, better known as Ra-Beat, was arranged for the first time. He is currently part of one of the most important electronic fusion music projects in the country, “Radio Cutipa,” known for collaborations with renowned alternative rock artists from Bolivia. This event also featured the return to the city of Paul Jove (Pituko) in a much more Techno-inclined phase, with a warm-up DJ set by Alvar Stone. This date brought together more fans of the electronic scene in Oruro, as captured in the photographs by José Mamani Oporto, who was present supporting several events and capturing interesting moments during the nightlife celebrations, which were already gaining greater acceptance from the Oruro public.
In February 2019, Technanima gained the support of more companies that began to give visibility to the artistic movement related to Oruro’s electronic music genre at various events. Among these, the support of WKM Radio and Marcelo Irahola, Cervecería Boliviana Nacional, 3600 Stage – Productora, Iron Gym (from a great friend who was one of the first to trust the project: Germán Labraña), Cerveza BECK’s, Irupana, and the La Paz collective “CUATES y TECHNO” stood out.
Among the artists who performed were: Paradoks from Belgium, who was on a South American tour; Miguel Anté from Cochabamba, owner of the Tezana Records label, who now resides in the U.S.A. with releases supported by titans like Hernán Cattaneo and Nick Warren, among many others; Ajayu, who had already made important releases on national and international labels; the renowned La Paz DJ and producer Pablo Asturizaga, who currently resides in Spain and, in an act of generosity, collaborated with the “REVIVE AMAZONAS” event in support of wildlife affected by fires in the Bolivian Amazon; and the return of Lalo Lopez and Alex Magnum.
Visual artists included VJ Sirio, VJ Bob, the HORUS visual artist staff from Cochabamba, and VJ Iguana, along with the constant support of local artists like Leio, Raymond, Antuchac, and Nemmer, at events held throughout the year at Latitud Music Bar, Búnker Nightclub, and Café Pub 360.
In March 2020, a health emergency was declared worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a period of recession in all activities of the entertainment sector around the world, including Technanima in this difficult situation.
In September 2022, the long-awaited return occurred after many changes within the country and also in the world of the music industry, with the intention of bringing the sound experience disseminated during confinement, titled “TRIPPIN’SESSIONS,” to an in-person communal space. These sessions were curated by Alvar Stone and DJ Antuchac with a more progressive and melodic sound.
With the intention of introducing the brand with a new image in this new post-pandemic stage, the event “TRIPPIN’SESSIONS by Technanima” was held. It took place at Latitud Music Bar, once again featuring Nina Schatz as a guest, who was on a tour through Bolivia celebrating 10 years of an impeccable career, and DJ Paul Jove (PITUKO), who had become a fraternal friend to the entire Latitud Music Bar and Technanima team over the years. Visual decoration was by VJ Iguana and DJ Fabu handled the warm-up. The event was promoted with the support of WKM Radio and Juan Carlos Treviño, a renowned local radio personality, creating unforgettable moments for each and every attendee.
The next event took place in August 2023, with a more psychedelic and visual proposal featuring the first live band that mixes electronic elements and generates 100% original compositions. On this occasion, the guests were: San Tüpac from La Paz, a La Paz band that fuses progressive rock with electronic nuances from synthesizers and guitar pedals, generating a unique sound thanks to the talent of great friends and artists: Camilo Gisbert on bass, synthesizers, and charango, César Carranza on guitar and bass, José Tapia on guitar, and Luis Mario Zalles on drums. The visual installation was by VJ Tracking, who also presented a Drum and Bass selection under the name DJ Kenta, a well-known promoter with extensive experience alongside Sub Room in La Paz. To close with a flourish, an extended set by Paul Jove (Pituko).
Although the frequency of events over the last three years has been marked by long pauses, these occurred due to personal reasons in Álvaro’s life and significant restructuring within the production company, which prevented the continuation of adequate logistics to arrange dates more consistently. Nevertheless, the production company returns in December 2024 with the participation of local artists: DJ Leio Sovel and DJ Moces, as part of the series: “AFTERBANGER” at Latitud Music Bar, creating a reunion of celebration and gratitude with the public and with the people who were part of what Technanima was until the end of 2024.
In 2025 and to date, DJ Alvar Stone has continued to perform at events organized by Latitud Music Bar alongside Pituko, Ocasional Talento, Rez P, and other local and national artists. However, for now, the events and spaces generated as a production company are on hiatus with no return date.
The commitment remains firm to music and art, always based on conscious authenticity, freedom, and respect – values we believe make ‘Techno’ more than a musical genre, but a cultural resistance movement that must be preserved at all costs in the face of a reality increasingly filled with actors and actresses within a music scene detached from artistic meaning and purpose, and leaning more towards a disloyal and superficial context in the country.
Heartfelt thanks to all the beings who trusted and contributed to making this project a reality, and to those who still do so that it may continue.
For and by music from the soul, Technanima.