8 Records That Shaped The Sound Of Oshana’s New ‘Disciples Of Dystopia’ LP
We ask the Psionic label head and underground dancefloor champion for her major sound inspiration for her upcoming full length album
We are quite sure you are familiar with Oshana’s work if you have been following the underground electronic music scene from any angle in the past few years - the Berlin-based producer has carved out a unique niche for herself through drawing inspiration from her Midwest roots while producing dancefloor house and techno beats with a cutting-edge approach that makes any of her releases particularly interesting. Recent times saw her own label Psionic taking over the post-corona underground scene with a fresh and futuristic sound - we covered their last release by Reade Truth in this interview.
The end of this year will see Oshana releasing a very special body of work on Psionic. ‘Disciples of Dystopia’ will not only be the first full LP by Oshana as well as by the Psionic imprint, but also a multi-faceted expression of the emotions, influences, and sounds that have guided her on her musical journey.
This record in fact opens the door to so many influences and doesn’t shy away from changing its tempos in each of the atmospheres shaped with every track. Futuristic downtempo soundscapes, blissfully robotic electro, punchy and crisp techy house grooves - ‘Disciples Of Dystopia’ is a great and complete work; intimately referential and at the same time looking at the future of electronic music and the sound of the underground right now. We are huge fans of Oshana’s work and when we heard this record and its concept we thought the best way to present it would be to ask Oshana about the main influences that we can hear on this album. Here, she selects 8 records that majorly shaped the sound of this LP, and presents them to the Guerrilla Bizarre readers. Enjoy the trip!
Pre-order the album here
Boards of Canada - Tomorrow's Harvest
The title, alone, says it all. But, there’s something about Boards of Canada that locks me into their music for hours and hours. Between retro synths, heady soundscapes, and a futuristic touch, they’re a huge source of inspiration for me.
Black Moon- Who Got Da Props
Black Moon encompasses everything I love about 90s hip hop. Laid back grooves, raw percussion, and lyrics for days. Did I mention they’re from NYC?! What’s not to love about that?
Detroit Grand Pubahs- Dr. Bootygrabber
This one’s a classic and a huge part of my education, coming from the Midwest. Between the beats and the heady vibes, I’m sure you can tell which track was inspired by this one.
Sade- Cherish the Day
I’ve always had a soft spot for Sade. Her music is beautiful and from the soul-the same place I try to create from.
Metamatics- Play Off
Metamatics was so ahead of his time with this one. His fearless commitment to unhinged creativity has been a huge inspiration for me and my album.
Dark Matrix- Theories of the Ghetto Vol. 1 - Black Light
For those that know, these guys are the créme de la créme amongst american techno producers. Their raw, no holds barred approach, is undoubtedly what I’ve tried to emulate towards the latter part of my album. The fact that very little has been published about them keeps them a mystery and only adds to their mystique. It also tells me something about their character-choosing music over their ego. I respect that.
VA- 3AM Spares: Compiled by Andras and Instant Peterson
It’s very rare that I come across such an eclectic compilation that ticks all the boxes for me, but this one does, and it does so seamlessly. I tried to accomplish the same with my album- to present a variety of different sounds while maintaining a constant, overall ethos.
Central Line- Walking Into Sunshine
I’ve always loved this one. The mood is uplifting and brings back so many fond memories. It’s the kind of energy I wanted to emulate in Embrace the Wave-hopeful, optimistic, and uplifting.
