Orlando B twists the disco

1. How and when did you first get into producing electronic music in general – and what motivated this commencement?
When I was about 15, my mum had an Atari ST1040 and also the Notator SL sequencer software. As I was listening to a lot of dance music on the radio I hijacked the computer and started to make my own tracks using Notator and a GM keyboard. Even before this I always wanted to make my own music but this is how I got started.

2. What production aliases do you currently work under, and how would you define their separate styles?
I currently only produce under my name – ‘Orlando B’. My sound encompasses everything from house beats to tech-house and harder edged techno but 90% of my tracks have similar kinds of melodies and string harmonies, which is the running theme throughout my tracks. I occasionally produce harder more percussive techno but I still use my name as I don’t really feel like using a pseudonym.

3. What is your current studio setup?
Most of my sounds come out of an Akai S5000 sampler, which I have hooked up to my PC via USB to save the samples and I also recently added an emu E64 sampler. I use a hardware mixer (Spirit M12) and use compressors – Focusrite Compounder, DBX266 and a TL Audio 5021. I use Cubase SX3 to sequence and have lots of plug-ins but I still tend to use the sampler as I prefer the sound. NI Pro 53 is my most used soft synth’ though!

4. How did you get involved with Elektrax Music and the Sydney label Hypnotic Room, run by DJ Hi-Shock?
We made friends on Myspace, checked out each others music and then was approached by Simon for doing a remix for the label. This turned out to be the ‘Silent Hill’ remix for Seri which was out in august last year.

5. What about your own label Eastbound Recordings, are you still running it?
Definitely. There was a long break whilst I had to recover from certain distribution issues, which put me off making records for a while although it didn’t put me off making music! I’ve recently sorted out new distribution through Rubadub and have released a new record ‘Mood Swings EP’ featuring a MR G remix. The record has had great feedback from Dave Angel, Colin Dale, Dave Mothersole etc…

6. What are your thoughts on the digital download phenomenon (positives and negatives)?
Positives: I can buy music from artists all over the world and listen to lots of new producers without having to leave my bedroom.
Negatives: There is a saturation in the market of dance labels, which makes it harder to find good music (trawling through pages and pages) and also to promote my own music.

7. How does digital download suit your own needs and directions?
I actually like making records i.e. a physical product with artwork and proper mastering etc. So for my own label I will be trying to sell vinyl for the time being. I might set up digital for the next release and see how it goes but it’s not currently at the top of my list.

8. Do you think digital download and digital files will eventually replace vinyl for DJs?
For mainstream DJ’s who play more commercial music/clubs/weddings/funerals etc then yes I do think it will replace vinyl (it pretty much already has) and it makes sense as you can carry a lot more music and the people listening are not necessary purists so won’t care if the DJ is using vinyl or MP3’s.

I think with techno, dubstep, DNB, deep house etc. there will always be a small core of people who want to buy this music on vinyl as they have a passion for mixing records and holding a record.

9. Some people hate the idea of digital download, and say it’s not “real” music. We only release vinyl. What would you say to them?
Real music is real however it comes!! Although were possible I think labels should make the effort to produce a physical product so record shops will have something to sell. As personally, I don’t want record shops to disappear as they have done in my home town. You can only buy music in the supermarket now were as when I grew up I had a choice of music stores with the latest Dutch Gabber records on the wall bigger than the chart section!!! (Those were the days).

10. Which other artists/DJs do you currently enjoy working with or remix, and what’s the attraction of these particular people?
MR G. He says it how it is and seriously knows his shit, so it’s good for us to feedback off each other when working on tracks.

11. Where would you like to take your music from here?
I want to get regular vinyl releases going on my own label and develop my sound.

12. Tell us something about TWISTED DISCO EP, what vibes can we expect to hear?
Expect 4 tracks of slamming funky techno each with a different twist. Twisted Disco is a disco influenced funky track, Exlusion Zone has a dark hypnotic groove and heavy percussion, Shifting Gears has a really funky bass line and driving percussion with a bit of Detroit Deepness over the top and Secrets of the Soul is a deep and moody techno workout!

13. You are also releasing on Android Muziq, how different is your music on this label as opposed to Elektrax Recordings?
Disclosure is a stripped down atmospheric track in which I wanted to create a really dark vibe. It was all about the fx, delays and reverb and for once no melody!!

14. A lot of techno producers refer to music released back in the 90’s. What do you think about those days and what labels did you like back then?
Yes, for me this is when techno was at its best! Late 90’s to early 2000’s is my favorite period of techno. As the techno sounds developed it was very exciting and fresh and you could go to a record shop and it would be hard not to spend £150. Now I find it hard to spend £50 as a lot of new records I think, well I’ve already got 10 records that go like that and I don’t need a new one (credit crunch ‘n all)!

The music was more raw sounding, funky, experimental and had a lot more edge. My favorite labels were Drumcode, Conform, Purpose Maker, Primevil, Zenit and all that kinda stuff!

15. Techno artists like to say that they produce for the love of music, not for money and that these days digital releases are really more of a tool to promote their own name in order to score live gigs and tours because that’s where the real cash is…so here comes the final question…Why do you make techno music?
I love techno music and feel the need to make it, in the same way people feel the need to drink or smoke. If I don’t make music for a few days I start to feel restless and I can’t relax until I’ve made some beats. Maybe I should speak to someone!

Twisted Disco EP, out on Beatport