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Selections: Or:la

In our new regular feature, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share recent additions to their Bandcamp collections. This week, Berlin-based Irish DJ Or:la steps up with ten gems that represent her club-focussed sound, fusing classic electro, techno, breaks and bass with futuristic flourishes

Record stores and clubs around the world are shut, and opportunities to find new music out in the wild have been ripped from under our feet as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. While hearing new music played out by your favourite DJs will have to be put on hold due to these unprecedented circumstances, it’s never been easier, or more important, to support the artists and labels putting out EPs, albums and compilations in the midst of all the madness.

With tour cancellations and festival postponements leaving many members of the international electronic music community out of pocket, Bandcamp has become an even more vital platform for supporting the music you love, with 80% of all sales from the online music store going directly to artists and labels. Last month, the platform announced it would be waiving its revenue share for all sales for one day, and on 20th March, took no cut from purchases made. In total, $4.3 million was spent on music over the course of 24 hours, all going straight to the creators. On 1st of May, and the first Friday of every month until July,  it will waive its revenue share again for 24 hours. Time to start adding releases to your Wishlist then, and purchase on the day to ensure all of your spending goes directly to the artists and labels you love. 

In our new regular series. Selections, we’re inviting DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share recent additions to their Bandcamp collections. In lieu of opportunities to discover new records on the dancefloor, Selections – along with radio shows and mixes – will give you the chance to nab new sounds from the crates of tastemakers, and support the artists behind them while you’re at it. Win-win, right? 

This week, Berlin-based Irish DJ, producer and Céad label founder Or:la steps up with ten gems that represent her club-focussed sound, fusing classic electro, techno, breaks and bass with futuristic flourishes. It’s a sound that Or:la has been honing in clubs and festivals around the world for about seven years now, from the decade’s first half in Liverpool, to her regular slots in hallowed spaces such as Berghain’s Panorama Bar and De School in more recent years. Her productions, such as 2016’s ‘UK Lonely’ on Hotflush and 2017’s ‘Farewell 24’ on her own Deep Sea Frequency, strike with buoyant, aquatic, rhythms and atmosphere, drifting from broken and bassy techno into colourful club cuts with hints of UKG and post-dubstep. Céad, one of our labels to watch for 2020, has found Or:la in full curatorial mode since its launch, championing futuristic electro and rave sounds from the likes of Blu Terra and Kincaid

Check out Or:la’s Selections below.

Splash Pattern
‘Sentinel’

 “Nicely produced bass and breaks influenced techno coming out of Copenhagen. I had been receiving a lot of ID requests after rinsing the Misantrop remix of ‘Savved’ during my club sets.” 

French II
‘Hytune’ [Intercept]

“Intertwined tribal and bass music from the Netherlands.”

Alyn
‘Thieves’ [Nous Disques]

“Nous Disques has become one of my favourite recently discovered labels. This one by Ayln sounds great on a big system."

Kincaid
‘All My Things Are Broken Because I Am Broke’ [Céad]

“From the latest release on my own label, by Kincaid.”

Vladimir Dubyshkin
‘2 Grasshopper's Opinion’ [Trip]

“Funky techy thing released on Trip.”

AQXDM
‘Leisure Techno’ [Houndstooth]

"A cool take on classic breakbeat by Aquarian and Deapmash, under their AQXDM alias."  

EYE
‘Sanatorium’ [Knekelhuis]

“Such a lovely synth track by Laurène Exposito, released on Knekelhuis.” 

Adam Pits
'Pixelate' [Haŵs]

"Fun party banger by Adam Pits." 

Vina Konda
‘Liquid Square’ [Nous Disques]

“Another one released on Nous Disques, by Vina Konda. This reminds me of Luke Vibert's stuff under his Plug alias.” 

Kelly Lee Owens
'8' [Smalltown Supersound]

“Beautiful slow burner from KLO.” 

Want more? Check out our Selections feature with Danny Daze