Orsay releases on Abracadabra, ‘1886’ with Kotier out on 10th April, plus a remix on Ninja Tune on 1st May.
Releasing on Abracadabra, Orsay and Kotier come together for a collaboration rooted in pure club energy. Fusing their styles, they build the track on catchy synth hooks and driving rhythms, creating a groove-led record that reflects their shared studio chemistry.
On 1st May, Orsay then remixes Poolside, thunder Jackson, MiiRACLES ‘Otherside’ out on Ninja Tunes. With this remix of Otherside on Ninja Tune, Orsay taps into the indie and 80s influences that have quietly shaped his sound for years. A long-time listener of Poolside, he channels their warmth and groove into a hypnotic, forward-driving club version that feels both nostalgic and built for the dancefloor.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Your upcoming track “1886” with Kotier lands on Abracadabra Records. How did this collaboration first come about, and what was the starting point for the track in the studio?
Kotier and I met last summer in Ibiza, where both had shows around the same time. We were staying at a common friend’s house and spent some time in studio showing each other projects we were working on. I already had a brief draft of the track that he loved when I showed him, we then naturally started working on it and develop the idea.
“1886” blends catchy synth hooks with a driving groove. When you and Kotier were working together, how did you approach merging your individual styles into something cohesive?
When we started working on the project, the main idea was already focused on that special club groove spirit. Both Kotier and I are very melodic oriented producers so we blended the catchiness of the vocal with those elements. The purpose was to dance on it but still keeping that melody in head.
Abracadabra has built a strong reputation for forward-thinking club music. What made the label the right home for this particular record?
Generally, I’ve always followed closely Abracadabra’s releases and shows (I did spend a few Wednesdays last summer at BLONDISH’s Pacha Residency). The label sits in that precise blend of sounds where you never know exactly what will the next release sound like. For us, 1886 was in that space and overall made a good fit for the label and for them also. It’s the situations when you send a track and everything comes along smoothly because you know it’s the right fit.
You follow that release with a remix of “Otherside” by Poolside, Thunder Jackson and MiiRACLES on Ninja Tune. What was your first reaction when the remix opportunity landed?
That remix was unexpected for me to do but was such a pleasant surprise. I’ve been listening to Poolside for many years and recently went to their concert in London where I could really feel like bringing my electronic music touch to their sound. When they reached out for me to do it, I think I just went straight back to the studio and made the song all night.
You’ve mentioned that indie and 80s influences have quietly shaped your sound over the years. How did those inspirations feed into your approach to reworking “Otherside”?
I think the original version of Otherside already has that retro touch in the sonics so it was more about how can I give to this sonics an electronic music approach. I was really looking to find that sweet spot between my sound adding synths and chords and their version.
As a long-time listener of Poolside, did you feel a sense of responsibility to preserve elements of the original track while still pushing it into your own club-focused direction?
Yes 100%. I kept a lot of small elements from the original track as well as that beautiful piano in the main break of my remix. I think it’s always interesting when remixing a song to be able to give another life to original elements in the new production.
Last year you collaborated with WhoMadeWho and Carlita on “Mind Off” via Ninja Tune. How did that experience influence your ongoing relationship with the label?
Ninja Tune is a label I’ve always looked up to, musically they have amazing taste. After that first release, we’re definitely looking at building more opportunities with them as long as my musical identity can find a fit.
Your records have been supported by artists like Adriatique, Solomun, RÜFÜS DU SOL, CamelPhat and others. How important has that kind of early DJ backing been in helping your music reach wider audiences?
For me, that early support gave me the most important key in my creative process: stop doubting what you create. Being able to be played by those amazing artists in front of big crowds allowed me to see how my music performed and touched a wider audience that I couldn’t reach by myself at the start.
With upcoming shows at places like Cairo Jazz Club and YOYO Palais de Tokyo, how much do your experiences playing clubs and festivals influence the way you produce records?
The amazing part about playing all those shows is that you can try out your records all year long, see what works or not, what detail should be changed etc. It’s a learning curve between the studio and the dance floor. Also, it influences me a lot in what I’m going to create in the studio. Some shows give me some energy where I wanna create a proper club tool, some others a more uplifting melodic record.
With releases on Abracadabra and Ninja Tune, plus international shows and Ibiza dates on the horizon, what are your main goals for the rest of the year as your profile continues to grow?
I’m really looking forward to releasing more music and show an extended view of my musical creativity. For me, everything starts in the studio and there is so much I still wanna do with my music. Also, the most important is to consolidate on that music to play more shows around the world. We’re for example looking to start touring in the USA and consolidate South America where I grew a lot in the last months. It’s the part I love the most, being able to make people dance with my (and other) music.
ends…
Orsay’s impressive DJ supporters include Adriatique, Carlita, WhoMadeWho, Solomun, Rufus Du Sol, and Camelphat. Orsay has also played on dancefloors around the world – forthcoming dates include Cairo Jazz Club, Paris YOYO, Entre Rio Argentina for Unreleased x Arcana, Jesolo Lido Italy for RITUAL Music For Soul, plus various TBA Ibiza dates and festivals this summer
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