The Czech music scene is mourning the loss of one of its true pioneers. Petr Votava, known to generations of ravers as DJ Tráva, has died at the age of 60. The news was confirmed by multiple sources close to the scene. One of the founding figures of Czech electronic music, Tráva helped define the country’s early techno and house movement, remaining an influential force for more than three decades.
Born in Domažlice in 1965, Tráva began his musical journey in the 1980s as part of the local punk scene, carrying his rebellious spirit into the emerging underground dance movement after the fall of communism. When freedom returned in 1989, he was among the first to bring the sound of Western electronic music to Prague’s basements and clubs — most famously U Zoufalců, where he spun imported vinyls and introduced audiences to techno and house for the very first time.
By the mid-1990s, Tráva had become a symbol of post-revolutionary club culture. He earned his first residency at Club Bunkr in 1995, later moving to Roxy, where he helped launch legendary party series like SHAKE and MIX. These nights became cornerstones of the local electronic scene, placing him alongside peers such as DJ Loutka and DJ Bidlo as icons of a new musical generation.
Known for his signature mohawk, fearless opinions, and raw authenticity, Tráva never bowed to commercial trends. Though his career took him around the world — performing with acts like The Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim, Massive Attack, and The Prodigy – he always remained rooted in Prague’s underground.
Beyond DJing, he made his mark as a producer and label founder, creating projects such as Significant Other, whose debut Mongo.Love arrived in 1997, and later launching Lex Record (Lex Rec). His DJ mixes, including the legendary “Green Mix” for Xmag, remain touchstones for fans of Czech dance culture.
Even after 30 years behind the decks, DJ Tráva stayed active, respected, and deeply loved within the community. Colleagues remember him as “a pure, wounded soul” — an artist who never stopped believing in the power of music to connect people.
