You know when a blonde mum and dark-haired dad have a ginger baby, and you know something’s not right? Orquesta has all the tell-tale signs of a bastard child. A delicate, tropical paean to the cosmos, this year’s Our Final Expedition EP and its follow-up, a Balearic-balmy cover of the Beach Boys’ Kokomo doesn’t sit comfortably beside any Irish release in living memory. Maybe it was sent from space – our DNA Test explores the genetics of this most alien project.
Talking Heads – Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
Talking Heads have been my favorite band since I was a child, listening to them in the back of my parents’ car. My favorite Talking Heads track changes every couple of weeks, but at the moment I love Born Under Punches. I guess I’m more influenced by David Byrne’s never-quite-serious approach to writing and arranging music. David Byrne doesn’t just influence the way I write music though, he influences the way I think and the way I live my life. He’s my most important artistic influence.
A Man on the Moon by Andrew Chalkin
I can’t really put into words how proud and happy it makes me feel when I think about humankind’s foray into Space travel. To the extent that it caused me to immerse myself in the subject of Space, inspiring me to write a whole EP about it. The Apollo space mission has never been better told than through this incredible book. Even though you know what happened it will put you on the edge of your seat throughout.
Bersa Discos
This San Francisco-based record label and the artists whose music they’ve put out are a pretty clear indication of the music that I was obsessed with around the time I started making music under the name ‘Orquesta’. Some of the artists like Uproot Andy and Chancha Via Circuito are responsible for me exploring different latin genres and allowing them to influence the music I was making.
Sir David Rodigan
Rodigan is my DJ hero. I’ve seen him play twice only, but both times have been the best DJ sets I’ve ever seen. He has such a clear and uniquely infectious passion for the music he plays. There is no DJ I know who could compare. It’s hard not to talk about him as if he were a god.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-frQkjaQNYE
Jurassic Park (1993)
This film’s always been in my life and I’ve seen it close to a hundred times. Although it doesn’t influence my music directly, it surrounds a lot of memories that are incredibly important to me. It reminds me of how I grew up, and where I grew up and who I grew up with. It’s a reflection of the childhood that formed me and the way I do everything. Plus the film is just awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOXi-TJanq0
The Infamous by Mobb Deep
I love most hip-hop, and I owe it my DJ style, some production techniques and a large amount of my music taste (even a lot of the stuff that isn’t actually hip-hop). Similar to Talking Heads songs, my favorite rap albums change every couple of weeks, but The Infamous is a pretty good example of the style of hip-hop that I like the most.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP0wsET8__Y
Philip Glass – Glassworks (Opening)
A large amount of the music i make is intentionally visual and almost directed towards the cinema because I love films and the music in them. I first heard about Philip Glass through his soundtrack for the incredible, Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters (which is a close second for a place on this list). But, the first time I heard the opening to Glassworks was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had with music. It just sums up the complex and contrasting emotions that any person could have at one time. It’s one of the most incredible pieces of music I’ve ever heard and I aspire to produce something of the same standard and importance.
Visit www.soundcloud.com/orquesta for free stuff.
