Interview with Eryk Orpheus

Tell us a bit of your history? How did you got involved in electronic music and later on hard-dance? Do you have any musical background?

I started getting interested in electronic music creation when I was about 17/18 and bought a second-hand yamaha QX21 sequencer and a Roland D5. Originally I started to use them to get down ideas for an indie band I was in but I eventually got hooked on dance music and started to build up a collection of electronic kit to create dance tracks. I started writing Hard-dance back in 1998 when I met some guys on a college course I was on and we quickly formed a techno/trance outfit called ‘Aural resonance’ who I stayed with for a couple of years.

What kind of gear do you use in your studio?

I seem to switch between favouring software and hardware and it really depends what sort of mood I’m in. The whole set-up is centred around Emagic’s Logic for sequencing and I absolutely swear by it’s own effects plug-ins and very rarely use any third party plug-ins. However I’ll often bus the kick or bass to an external tube equaliser to add some punch and warmth. I’ve also got a few hardware synths such as the Access Virus, the Waldorf Q and a Nord micro modular, which I use from time to time.

What do you reckon, who do you think has had the biggest influence in your sound? Do you have any particular music styles or artists that you really like?

I was a big fan of Lab 4, Signum and Weirdo when I first started writing but too be honest I don’t really like using dance music as an influence as you just end up sounding the same as everybody else. I’ve been lucky to have had quite a varied musical background so I try and draw influence from things other than hard-dance.

In your own words, how would you describe your sound?

That’s always the hardest question to answer as I do try to write differently each time but I suppose I’d describe it as Uplifting acid Freeform (Tee Hee, that’ll confuse them in the record shops)

How’s the scene in your own country? What have been the recent big things in your scene?

The Freeform is getting bigger and bigger at the moment as there are a lot of Hardcore fans who are after something a bit harder and a bit less cheesy, but I’ve got to say at the moment that the whole dance scene in general is struggling as the younger music buyers are more into indie and rock at the moment.

What has been the biggest / most hilarious moment in your career so far?

One of the biggest moments so far is probably getting my tracks on a couple of the Hardcore Heaven Cds and winning the battle of the Pas against K90 and the NEC. There are plenty of hilarious moments when working with the Nu-energy boys, especially those two scamps Mark Ashley and K-Complex, but I’m not going to embarrass myself or them by spilling the beans!

From all the tracks you’ve produced, what is your favourite one?

PVC is definitely my favourite at the minute and I’m still getting emails from people telling me it made them cry the first time they heard it. I don’t generally enjoy making people cry but it feels good when something you’ve written evokes that type of emotion although I can’t take credit for the sample, it was just a lucky find and I hoped it would have that kind of effect.

From all the people you’ve worked with in the studio, who have you learned the most? Who do you respect the most?

I learnt a hell of a lot from Pete (K-complex) the first time I went in the studio with him and he writes amazing tracks as well as being a top bloke so I’ve got a lot of respect for him. I also have a huge amount of respect for Jon (Sharkey) as he is also an amazing producer, a top geezer and I’ve still to meet someone who has been in the business for as long as he has who is as passionate about music as he is.

Any new releases coming soon and/or what are you working on at the moment?

I’ve got a couple of remixes coming out but I took the summer off from the studio to spend some valuable holiday time with my fiancé, so it’s back in the studio over the next couple of months to get back on it again. I’ve got a few new bits and pieces so I’m just waiting to see if they’re going be released.

What do you know about Finland and it’s crowds? How do you think it differs from your native crowds?

All I know is that the Nu Energy boys have had an amazing time when they’ve played out there so I’m really looking forward to it. I really don’t know how the Finnish crowds will differ but I’m hoping they’re as loud and as up for it as the British ones, if not more so!

Do you have any particular to say to the Finnish crowds? What will be expected from your massive set?

All I have to say to the Finnish crowds is “be afraid, be very afraid”, I’m going to be bringing over a box of the most upfront and banging UK Freeform and Hardcore so be ready to sweat!

3 favourite tracks of all time?

Signum – Coming on Strong
Weirdo – Photic Zone
Rabbit in the moon – Out of Body Experience

3 current favourites?

Eryk Orpheus – PVC (Fetish Mix)
Kevin Energy and AMS – Go Insane
Eryk Orpheus – You Like Dancing


Main ambitions for year 2007?

Really would love to do a couple of festivals this year as I went to Glade and had forgotten how good a festival atmosphere could be so I’m going to have to get Allan on the promoters case with that one.

Any last words? Links etc you would like to share with the public?

Yep, see you in November and remember to check out www.erykorpheus.co.uk