ARTIST OF THE MOMENT: OWL
reading time: 6min
The times are urging us to raise our consciousness, to redefine the place we humans have here and now, and onward to a future yet to be dreamt up. For folks not quite sure how to approach this, OWL’s music is a perfect place to start dreaming. The Belgian producer Pierre Nesi is known for his subtle - often beatless - electronics, offering an oeuvre that spans from atmospheric drum’n’bass to lush, mossy ambient. His latest solo album ‘Infinite Horizon’ (Silent Season) is a beautifully crafted collection of tracks that to me embody a musical translation of the perfect interdependency of all things and elements, also called Wuxing in Chinese Philosophy.
Owl balances air, earth, metal, water, and fire on this long-player and that makes it an inspiring companion while sitting quietly, centering oneself in contemplation. The artist himself has acquired a tight following without much ado for his solo works but also the ones in partnership with the artist Clearlight, with whom he regularly collaborates. The conversation with Pierre was a pure pleasure, and just like his music he also comes across as humble, mindful, and extremely sincere. In whatever world we may live in the future, it sure shall be better with space for OWL and his music.
Your latest release on Silent Season “Infinite Horizon” was described by you as “a deep and introspective journey to unexplored lands”. It‘s a wonderful record, one Bandcamp comment even says “If played at temples or shopping centres - this world would become a better place”. Tell us more about this record, please.
This album is really special for me. It took me a long time. It’s the first time that I’ve been polishing a project for so long. The album is a story in which each track is a chapter that tells the journey to unexplored lands and infinite horizons. I wanted to make it a sensory experience, whether physical or mental. It's like an escape album.
I have been a big fan of Silent Season from the very beginning. I had the chance to work with Jamie McCue for SSX10 to celebrate the 10 years of the label alongside ASC, Antenes, Earthen Sea, BLNDR,… By composing this album, it was evident, I immediately thought of Silent Season. Besides, I thank him again for his work and his support over all these years!
I was very pleasantly surprised to see the return of the album upon release. We had decided to release only 100 copies, they sold in one day! So, we decided to bring out 100 more copies. I thank everyone again for all the messages and support I have received, it’s amazing!
Overall - how would you describe your works and signature sound?
It’s not easy to put a precise style on my production. I don't lock myself into a specific style. I compose according to my desires and inspirations of the moment. But my universe is between darkness and light with a predominance for depth, dark and melancholy. I also have a fondness for nature, deep space, what makes up our universe ...
Who or what are your main inspirations?
One artist particularly touches me and I've been a huge fan for a very long time, it's ASC. But I have a lot of different inspirations because I listen to a lot of styles and artists from different backgrounds.
Otherwise around me, some artists inspire me like Sam KDC, Isorinne, Birds ov Paradise, Polygonia, The Visions Reels, Inhmost, Barefoot, Isodrome, Sciama, Adhémar, Javier Marimon ...
And of course, the ancient guru Clearlight.
How did you get in touch with music for the first time?
I came into music at a very young age. My parents listened to a lot of music and my mother played guitar. My sister was doing music theory but I was not interested in it (which I regret now). For the little story, I started music when I was 10 years old. My mother's guitar was stored in a room of the house, I was drawn every time I walked by, it haunted me, like she was calling me. Subsequently, I learned by ear on my own and some private lessons. I had several groups until I was 15.
When I was 16, I met lucax (Clearlight) who was also a musician and he was starting to produce electronic music in his bedroom. We started out by going out to several dnb and dubstep parties. Our connection was really strong, we decided to produce music together and in 2009 we created Glÿph. We quickly signed on several labels and had a manager who allowed us to play in lots of parties and festivals.
Then, we decided to produce something other than drum & bass each on our own while continuing to collaborate on certain projects. Clearlight and Owl was created in 2013. From then on, I started releasing vinyl and mixing in different cities in Europe and the US.
I could still talk about it for a long time, I'll stop there, haha.
Time flies too quickly btw!
Owl’s works could be described as mysterious and deep, but also comforting as in the sense of finding peace or consolation. What are records or artists where you get that kind of feeling yourself?
I am very emotional and very sensitive to a lot of music and artists of various styles. I could cite many but if I had to cite a few (with my owl’s side) it would be :
We’d love to get a glimpse into your ways of producing - equipment, flow, and the use of field recordings.
For my workflow, everything is done by feeling. Whenever I have free time or a big inspiration, I try to arrange a session in the studio. I can also take my laptop and use headphones in the evening in the living room. When I have a deadline, I schedule sessions in the studio in advance.
I always start with a skeleton, the main idea of the track. After that, I build and develop around this idea. For Ambient, it's a bit different. Either I imagined a concept and I compose around this concept to get as close as possible to what I dream, imagine or feel. Either I improvise by turning on my entire setup and I let the magic of the moment speak.
About my equipment, I'm on logic X with two Adam A77X monitors and Focusrite Saffire pro.
For the composition, my basic setup is composed of a Moog Subsequent 37CV, Elektron Four MKII, Modal Argon 8, to name the main ones. I recently bought some effects pedals like an Eventide Space, Strymon Timeline, and the Analog Heat.
I also use a lot of vst, like the fabfilter suite, komplete 13 suite, Xfer Serum, ...
For recording, I have a little Tascam that I take when I walk in the forest, when I go to the mountains, or traveling. I record sources that I had imagined or when I feel a good atmosphere, I let it run and I take the opportunity to contemplate the horizon.
What do you have planned for the future?
For the next, I have some tracks on VA (Huinali, Lowless, and Kornarion), a remix on Diffuse Reality, and a remix of Adhémar & Javier Marimon.
Otherwise, I have several collaborations planned with The Vision Reels, Inhmost, Isodrome, Klara, and of course Clearlight.
I will also start planning a second album soon.
Still a lot of projects and surprises on the way ...