Chloe MooreChloe Moore spoke to Philippines-born, Dublin-raised techno TOLENTECHNO, a key member of one of the capital’s most prolific parties, The Shed Residents.
Balancing life as a barber, DJ, and all-around man about town, he’s become a familiar presence in the city’s cultural orbit, contributing wherever there’s energy to be built.
There’s a certain feeling bubbling through Dublin right now. Beneath the smouldering weight of gentrification and shifting nightlife spaces, a new wave of creatives and independent ventures are pushing back against the tired narrative that “Dublin is dead.” Alec stands firmly in that camp. As both a promoter and DJ, he’s placed real faith in the next generation of electronic music, championing local talent while also helping usher emerging international acts onto Dublin dancefloors.
Whether he’s running club nights in Tengu or Wigwam, cutting hair in What Barbers on Drury Street, or quite literally DJing out the window of Emporium, Alec has become hard to miss. His day-to-day movements trace a map of the city’s creative pulse, bridging fashion, music, and community in a way that feels entirely organic.
In many ways, he embodies a new generation of Dublin creatives: resourceful and determined to keep things moving regardless of the obstacles.
Alec, thank you so much for chatting with me! So, tell me, how did you get started with music and hairstyling? Did one lead to the other, or have both of those passions always been a part of your life?
No problem, thanks for having me, Chloe! Both interests kinda started independently. I started cutting hair when I was 16. After getting one too many bad haircuts, I made it my goal to be able to listen to my mates’ requests and create the look they wanted. So I started giving my friends free fades at my friend Charles’ house, using his dad’s clippers until I was confident enough to buy my own set to cut at home. In college, when I was around 18-19, I started to go out to electronic music nights.
Places like District 8, The Academy, & Index are where I discovered my love for all things techno. I picked up DJing right before the lockdown. So when we were isolated in our gaffs, I had so much free time to DJ, and I just fell in love with it. Both passions didn’t lead to the other, but both are similar, as I discovered my interest in them and started to teach myself, practice, and put in the grind to hone my craft. I love doing both, so I’m super happy to be at a point in my life where both play a big role.
Which specific techno sub-genres or eras really shape your music, and how would you describe your vibe overall?
Ooft. That’s a tough one cause I love all genres. When I started getting into techno, I was shaped by the Michael Bibi & Pawsa era of tech house. But as time went on, I was more inspired by the sounds of Ellen Allien & Hadone and leaned into the heavier, more cinematic, & acid sounding techno. But right now, I’m currently loving the modern hardgroove era that utilises elements of jazz, house, & disco. Artists like Human Safari, Lorcan Kelly, 1morning, & Zero Idea are prime examples. My vibe overall really depends on the day, what mood I’m in, & the event I’m playing at. But I guess it’s always something upbeat, bassy, fun to dance to, and always expect a few vocals as I do love a lil bootleg.
How do you think your work as a hairstylist shapes your creative approach to DJing, and vice versa?
Hmmmm, I think they both shape each other creatively because they help me with chops! Behind the decks and in the barbershop! Nah, only messing, but to be honest, I don’t really think they shape each other. The two are very different arts, but what I will say is that they both help me to express myself creatively every day. Massive shout-out to What Barbers and James for giving me a home to work on my skills. Oh, and they both help me keep my hand-eye coordination in check and keep the content flowing with my two favourites.
Has barbering changed the way you see style or self-expression in general?
Oh, 100%. Now being a barber, I can’t help but stare at everyone’s heads. It’s a blessing and a curse that I’m so observant of people’s hair. I’m also big into fashion, so I know a fresh c**t when I see one. Especially in the techno scene, there are people out there dripped out and rocking fire trims.
How much prep goes into your mixes, or do you like to keep them pretty instinctive?
So it really depends on the event I’m playing at, but usually I keep the sets pretty instinctive. To prep, I usually update my USB with new tracks I’ve been liking lately and throw them into their respective playlists. I organise them into different genres and moods. I do this every time before a gig to keep the music fresh. I usually just mix instinctively depending on the vibe, key, or energy of the previous track, as I prefer doing longer blends, but also I like switching things up and will just throw in some tunes that are pretty out there because I don’t like restricting myself to one box.
How has the Dublin techno scene shaped you as an artist, and what excites you most about it right now?
I feel like the Dublin scene has made me appreciate all the different sub-genres of techno and electronic music. As an artist, I feel like this is reflected in my sets with all the various tracks I attempt to blend in with each other. I’m most excited to see the scene hopefully grow and get the support it needs from the government.
Where does the humour in your barber shop content come from? Is it inspired by the people, the shop’s culture, or just your own personality?
Hahahaha, not the content coming up in question. But usually, I would get inspiration from videos on TikTok or reels, and I’d throw in my own twist to show off my own humour and personality. Sometimes, though, when I’m dialled in to bits, I come up with some video ideas myself. Like my reel with my tallest client, he walked in, and I just had to come up with something for content.
You’re a core part of Shed Residents. How did that crew first come together, and what was the original idea behind it?
So the lads and I have been mates for ages now. We’ve been part of an extended friend group since secondary school, and we all basically live near each other. We kinda solidified as a group at Melt Festival in 2019, and after that, we would frequently go to gigs in Index and District 8 together. We kinda came together through a group chat where we would plan our nights out and go back to our friends’ shed for an afters, where we then later got our name from. We first came up with our name when Ste designed our first “The Shed” tees. We wanted a uniform for ourselves for when we went out. There was no original idea behind it, just a group of mates who enjoyed going out to the club and dancing to good music.
During COVID, when the clubs were closed, we got sick of doing nothing and just hosted our own parties. I guess since there were no club gigs, we decided to host the gigs ourselves. It started with private raves for our close friends, but it eventually grew to bigger open invite raves with lineups of ourselves and other DJ friends. When the clubs opened up again, we continued our streak and decided to host our first official club night, and we just haven’t looked back since.
What’s it been like for you as a DJ, with all the changes in Dublin’s venues lately, the places closing down and others switching things up?
Being brutally honest, as a DJ, it doesn’t really affect me because I don’t play at many venues anyway. But as a punter, I do miss going out and having the option to go to different venues. With places like Cellar and The Complex gone, I feel like theres less spaces to dance in, which also means fewer places to play in too.
Looking ahead, what feels most exciting for you right now, musically, creatively, or just in general?
Looking ahead, I’m excited to see where this all takes me. I’m super content with what I’m doing right now, and I feel blessed to be able to do what I love most for a living. I also feel like I could do so much more to push myself forward creatively in terms of cutting hair, music production, and creating content. But I know I’ll get there one day. For now, I’m just happy to enjoy the process.
