Experimental electronica soundscape artist ORCHA launches new single ‘Depths’ with an evening of lights and sensory wonder at Tamale Studios

“Aliens are real and this is playing in their nightclubs. ★★★★” – Declan Byrne, triple j

“Billowing electronica that’s got some legs on it! Watch as it races out in front and makes you chase its serpentine tail.” – Dave Ruby Howe, triple j

Few associate classical instruments like the violin with electronic music however, Melbourne based violinist Matt Sheers, who goes by the moniker ORCHA, is certainly challenging this assumption. Favouring the violin as his primary instrument, ORCHA crafts experimental, immersive, intricate soundscapes that oscillate between acoustic sounds and electronica. Following the culmination of being locked away in his purpose-built studio Natural Habitat for the past two years, ORCHA has now fully emerged like a butterfly from a cocoon to share the next instalment, ‘Depths’ lifted from his forthcoming album, set for release early 2020.

Immersing himself fully in the recording process ORCHA teamed up with producer James Cecil (Architecture in Helsinki), to reveal some of his most melodic work to date. ‘Depths’ is the follow up to the albums first single ‘Reverie’ released back in May, and is fuelled with lush vocals and textured melodies that unfurl into a universe entirely of its own making. Exploring the concept of feeling uncomfortable in his own skin and overcoming the fear of foreign emotions in a deeply personal way, ORCHA uses the medium of music to express the way he sees the world, through his unique lens. ORCHA invites you to explore the different states of mind such as isolation, joy and grief via ‘Depths’.

“Depths is a song I wrote about sinking into a feeling or emotion that might at first seem uncomfortable or foreign, but then learning to use that feeling to grow stronger or more focused. I found myself shutting away uncomfortable feelings, and started to explore why that might be… Once I learnt to start accepting that those emotions or irrational thoughts were just something I could control and understand, I started to ask myself why I was having such a negative reaction to those emotions. This has been a process that I have been thinking about a lot and wanted to try to write a song about the experience of letting those uncomfortable emotions wash over you until they disappear into your consciousness.” – ORCHA

ORCHA’s love affair with the violin has spanned over two decades – he picked up the instrument at eight years of age, learning classical violin before transitioning into jazz and electronic while studying at Box Hill Institute. From here ORCHA emerged out of a desire to go beyond the parameters of tradition and push the instrument into the exciting, innovative territory. ORCHA has produced and performed at progressive visual-music events SUBMERSIVE and A Nice Warm Bath. And, has created the live soundtrack for circus show KILTER by One Fell Swoop Circus as a part of Melbourne Fringe Festival.

This spring, join ORCHA for a night of shimmering sounds, lights and sensory wonders as he launches his new single ‘Depths’ at Tamale Studios in Northcote with support from Leafy Suburbs (Lyndon Blue), Lander and D.R.E.Z. on visuals/projections.

‘DEPTHS’ SINGLE LAUNCH
Saturday 19 October
Tamale Studios Northcote
Supports: Leafy Suburbs (Lyndon Blue), Lander and D.R.E.Z. (visuals/projections)
Doors: 8pm
Tickets via Eventbrite

Other Upcoming Shows
Friday 22 November
Melbourne Music Week presents SOURCE: Music + Projections + Dance
MPavillion, Queen Victoria Gardens
with Fierce Mild, ORCHA, Polito
6-9pm
Free Entry

 ‘Depths’ is out now via
iTunes / Apple Music / Bandcamp / Spotify