The European outdoor festival season is slowly winding down, the light starts to get a little more golden, the air a little crispier and the idea of turning a little more inward doesn’t feel too strange anymore. With summer almost over, still two events “jewels” remain for ambient and spiral electronic aficionados. Some will make the trek to Labyrinth Festival far away in Japan, a festival that became an inspiration for so many others. Japan, though, will also be represented at Les Chaos Ambiants. It’s an intimate event with a purposeful curation, nestled in a nature reserve in France. The Japanese artist Occa will play for the first time in France and bring his unique transcendental way of DJing to Burgundy. Occa has been organizing the ARCHIV events for over 10 years at Precious Hall in Sapporo, located in the far north. Having played for Nobu’s Future Terror and the aforementioned Labyrinth Festival, he is a fixture in the Japanese scene and now gains international attention. For Delayed with.. Occa shares a mix recorded at the atmospheric Moment Festival, and it's warping and rumbling, twisting, and circulating there as if forest and mountain spirits congregate to show you the way. Where to? You’ll see.

Occa aims to transform time, space and spirit into unknown realms through a variety of influences: The spiritualism of Psychedelic Music, the storytelling nature of House Music, the sci-fi dystopian feel of Detroit Techno and the trance of Minimal Music. The result: a multidimensional whole arranged through his deft mixing. So, not one to miss on a dancefloor, but also not on any other floor: Occa’s ambient performances are equally enthralling. Whoever is ready to take off into other spheres should listen to this beautiful mix he released at our friends of UNRUSG. We are delighted to welcome such an inspiring artist to our interview series and learn more about Occa’s influences.

Hi Yuichi, very nice to get the chance to connect with you over a few questions.  Where are you at the moment and in what “vibe” are you answering these questions?
Hello, my name is Occa. I’m honored to be a part of the Delayed Podcast as well.  I’m on my way to the airport to play the closing set at the After Party for the "Sawagi Festival," which will be held tonight at Club Womb in Shibuya, Tokyo, and I’m using this travel time to answer the interview questions.

You are originally from Sapporo, a city surrounded by mountains and snow in the very north of Japan. How did this vast and rich natural environment influence you growing up and later also as a DJ?
Sapporo is a city located at the northernmost end of Japan with a population of about 2 million people. It is said to have the highest snowfall per capita in the world, so enduring each winter every year naturally develops a strong mentality. Due to the harshness of winter, we have fewer opportunities to go outside. Many artists use this time to focus on their creative work.

How would you describe your musical upbringing and path to electronic and ambient music?
Since childhood, I have listened to various types of music without discrimination. Sapporo has a deep connection to house music, and I was surrounded by it. When I first started to DJ, I was also listening to hip-hop. As I explored various types of Black music, I encountered Detroit techno, which marked the beginning of my journey into techno. Krautrock and New-age music are the beginnings of my journey into ambient music.

I experience your sound and DJing as quite multidimensional, with several influences and leaning towards a psychedelic, tribal but still futuristic sound. What are your main inspirations these days?
As the origins of techno tell us, it is a genre of music that has grown alongside technological innovation, and I believe that it holds the potential to embody the energy to open up new futures for those who seek it. 
I’ve learned the essence of psychedelia from Japan’s famous festival The Labyrinth and I’ve learned the sanctity of music from Sapporo’s home club Precious Hall. 
Recently, the network of artists worldwide who have gone through the psychedelic experience has become a significant source of inspiration for me.

You also prepared a mix for us at Delayed, which we are very grateful for. What was your process for approaching this mix?
The mix I provided for Delayed uses a recording from the Japanese outdoor Festival Moment 2024. Moment Festival is held in a sacred zone in Nara Prefecture, which has significant origins in Japanese history. Since my set was on the festival's first day, I structured the two-hour set as a ceremony to mark the beginning of the three-day program, aiming to guide listeners into a sacred zone.

How would you describe the current state of Japan’s electronic music scene, particularly its renowned focus on sound quality and attention to detail? As someone who organizes parties, what aspects of the scene stand out to you today?
I’m not sure how much of Japan’s electronic music scene I can truly overlook, but aside from long-established parties like The Labyrinth and Rural, newer parties like Moment and Transcendence are also gaining momentum at an accelerated pace, and I have high hopes for those who are plotting interesting things.
When it comes to sound quality and attention to detail, many clubs and festivals in Japan aim for a high standard, drawing from the characteristics and experiences unique to Japanese culture.  However, achieving this often requires a broad perspective, so I believe it’s essential for DJs and those involved in sound, including myself, to experience various environments. From an organizer's standpoint, I find that Japanese audiences often show a high level of immersion and focus on the music, and I believe it would be beneficial if this distinctive quality continues to expand.

Festivals like Moment, Rural, and Labyrinth have gained significant attention not only for their exceptional programming but also for their distinctive focus on carefully crafted and accentuated lighting, which contrasts with much of what we see in Europe today - where it feels at times less nuanced and more extrovert. How crucial are light and the overall atmosphere for you as a DJ?
Just as human emotions and actions are closely related to light in everyday life, the role of lighting is extremely important at parties. I’m not a fan of overly bright lighting, but what’s important is that the lighting, like the DJ, is designed with consideration of the environment and space. The emotions on the dance floor change subtly, and there are many situations that automated lighting cannot capture.  Crafting the lighting and space can elevate the experience to something special, and I believe it is an essential element that requires creativity and innovation, on par with the music.

Your next gig is at Les Chaos Ambiants, a small not-for-profit event in France. It will be your first time playing in France as far as I know.  The festival takes place at the Morvan National Park, which is currently competing to become a designated Dark Sky Place — a site committed to reducing light pollution and promoting mindful outdoor lighting. Given this unique setting, how will it influence your set?
In recent years, my favorite artists and labels have been concentrated in France, and I had long wished to visit France, so I was very pleased when I received an offer from "Les Chaos Ambiants." Additionally, I feel a unified aesthetic and belief from the line-up, artwork, and event announcements with "Les Chaos Ambiants," and I’m really looking forward to playing there. I learned the term "Dark Sky Places" through this offer. It’s sad not to be able to see the beautiful starry skies, and I think it’s a wonderful initiative from the perspective of reducing energy waste as well.
I’ve heard that my set will be during the darker hours, so I plan to do an experience that allows immersion in the music while considering the brightness of the space.