Release Radar: Orma - Echoes Into The Void [CADENZA139]

Shaped by Rome's underground scene and inspired by the sounds of Ricardo Villalobos, Luciano and the wider Chilean movement, Orma has spent years refining a sound rooted in emotion and exploration. Now making his debut on Cadenza with Echoes Into The Void, we caught up with the Zurich-based producer to discuss the experiences and influences behind the release.

What were your earliest connections to electronic music and what first inspired you to start producing your own tracks?

My discovery of electronic music came through older friends who traveled to international festivals like Time Warp or spent long summers in Ibiza. Back then, USB sticks and iPods didn't exist yet, so when they returned, they would burn CDs with all the tracks they managed to discover. I was instantly hooked from the very first listen; being only 14 at the time, those sounds felt like they came from another world. That’s how I started "digging" too, beginning to build my own electronic music archive. After years of crate-digging and frequenting parties and clubs, moving to Berlin made me realise that just collecting and discovering new music was no longer enough. Having built many connections with DJs and producers over time, I seized the opportunity to take my first steps into the world of production and began shaping my own sound.

Growing up in Italy, were there any artists, scenes or experiences that played a particularly important role in shaping your musical identity?

Rome is where it all started, and Goa Club played a crucial role. It was a historic club that hosted internationally renowned artists in an intimate setting of 600 to 700 people, creating a special bond with the performers. That’s where I heard Ricardo Villalobos for the first time, and something changed inside me that night; the minimal genre, which I had almost brushed off until then, completely blew me away. With his Latin influences, hypnotic loops, and charisma, Ricardo was decisive in defining what I listen to and produce today. This led me to discover the "Chilean movement" and all its artists, such as Luciano, Dandy Jack, Argenis Brito and Franco Cinelli, just to name a few. Consequently, I started traveling outside of Rome with my friends, always searching for parties focused on minimal music.

You’re now based in Zurich. How has life there been treating you and has the city influenced your creativity or approach to music in any way?

The transition from Berlin to Zurich was a drastic change. It took me a while to understand the city's dynamics and what I needed to find my balance. It wasn't easy to adjust to a smaller, less hectic reality, but through this initial challenge, I learned to develop a sharper focus. I learned to leave the superfluous behind and dedicate myself more directly to my goals, both in everyday life and from an artistic standpoint. The harmony with nature and the surrounding landscapes enriches and influences my artistic inspiration every day in different ways; I find the way planet Earth communicates with us fascinating, and I believe we should treat it with greater care and respect.

Echoes Into The Void marks your debut on Cadenza. When were you first introduced to the label and what does it mean to you to be releasing here?

For me, a true milestone - and the first Cadenza record that introduced me to the label - was Luciano's "Tribute To The Sun". I am particularly attached to the track "Los Niños De Fuera." It’s a complete album that surprises me every time I listen to it, both for its timeless relevance and for the way Luciano channeled his emotions. For me, it redefined the Tech-House/Minimal genre by bringing a "spiritual" touch to his productions. Today, finding myself on the Cadenza catalog alongside artists who have been, and still are, a major inspiration to me is a dream come true. It’s a significant starting point; the trust and recognition given to me by Luciano and his crew represent the true value of this achievement. 

Did you have a specific direction in mind when putting together this release? Were there any personal experiences, emotions or stories that found their way into the music?

Yes, this release is deeply personal. It was written right after my move from Berlin. Starting all over again left me with a profound sense of isolation; at times, it literally felt like screaming into a void, and I was highly uncertain about which direction to take. This state of mind inspired the album title and some of the track names, such as "Weiter Rennen," which literally means "keep running, never stop." I channeled that feeling of emptiness and uncertainty directly into the studio, using music as an outlet. It’s a process I still carry out today: music exerts an enormous force over me, managing to keep me grounded; being able to create it from scratch generates an unbreakable bond with it.

What does your studio setup look like these days? Are there any particular pieces of equipment or techniques that play a key role in your workflow?

First of all, I never set boundaries for myself, not even when it comes to workflow: I am always willing to tweak my approach to have as many creative options as possible. I used to work with a hybrid setup: I record all the material coming from hardware gear into Ableton, and then move on to the editing, arranging, and mixing phases. Due to studio space constraints, I heavily rely on rackmount synthesizers (the equivalents of classic synths but without a keyboard), such as the Waldorf Micro Q, the Oberheim Matrix 1000, and the Yamaha TX81Z, which I am very fond of as it was the first synth I ever bought. Finally, for the genre of music I produce, granular synthesis is an absolute must: it is a technique I love using precisely for its infinite combinations and sonic possibilities.

You recently presented your Setblock 01 project as part of your residency at GDS FM. What inspired the project, and what role do ambient and experimental sounds play in your wider musical journey? 

One day, while listening to a Tech-House track on vinyl, just as it ended and I was about to get up from the couch to flip the record, a 2-minute ambient skit suddenly started. It caught me completely by surprise because I had never noticed it before. In that moment, a lightbulb went off in my head, and I started searching through my vinyl archive for ambient/experimental music or electronic jazz produced by artists we typically know for their dance music, such as CAD119 produced by Luciano, Moritz Von Oswald's "Silencio," or Vilod and Re:ECM (Ricardo Villalobos & Max Loderbauer). I thought a radio show would be the perfect space to bring this project to life, so I decided to pitch it to GDS.FM. It’s an independent radio station in Zurich that I highly appreciate for its variety and content (and I thank them again for their availability). It gives me the opportunity to share the music I listen to with the audience, while also showing a side of these artists that not everyone might know…lesser-known productions, collaborations, or aliases that deserve to be discovered.

Outside of music, where do you find inspiration and how do you like to recharge creatively?

I enjoy being close to nature, walking in the mountains, or swimming in the lake, but what truly recharges me is traveling: experiencing new cultures, tasting new food and talking to people who live in very different contexts from ours, sometimes less fortunate than us. This gives me new energy, makes me grateful for what I have and helps me realise that it takes very little to be happy. When I return from a trip, it feels as though I have a deeper awareness of who I am, which also helps me be more grounded; it is like a mental reset, and consequently, my creativity feels less cluttered.

Looking back on your journey so far, what achievement or moment are you most proud of?

This is definitely one of the moments I am most proud of, even just being able to express these feelings in this interview for the release is deeply meaningful. As I said, it’s a very important starting point for me. I have made many sacrifices to get here and invested heavily in the "Orma" project, and now things are coming full circle, which means the direction is the right one. 

What’s next for Orma over the coming months? Any upcoming releases, collaborations or projects you can share with us?

Honestly, for the time being, I just want to enjoy this release. I have material I would like to put out in the future, but I am in no rush. I would like to collaborate, as I always find it inspiring to share ideas with other people and feed off each other's creativity; everyone has their own approach and method, and experimenting is always interesting. I will certainly continue to curate and share music for GDS.FM, so stay tuned to catch some hidden gems.

Check out Echoes Into The Void on Beatport and Bandcamp.