Of Spanish and Trinidadian heritage, The Barcelona born (but Cambridge based) Oriol expand ed his horizons and learnt his craft at London’s broken beat related CDR (also home of Floating Points). With lush synths and a truly fresh sound evoking the summertime grooves of 80s boogie, 70s soul and mid 80s electro. Two weeks after it was released, Planet Mu issued Oriol’s first full-length, Night and Day.

Facts

1: I’m a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago.

2: BMAJ, D7, GMAJ, Bb7, EbMAJ – I spent untold hours with those changes.

3: Kids love Wayne Shorter.

Questions

What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
The vibe that I get from Coltrane, Stevie Wonder and people like that.

How and when did you get into making music?
I started playing the saxophone when I was in school and started making beats when I left school. I always felt the two were closely related.

What are your 5 favourite albums of all time?
I don’t know but here’s some good ones…
1. John Coltrane – Transition
2. Quincy Jones – The Dude
3. Joe Henderson – Inner Urge
4. Stevie Wonder – Innervisions
5. Mile Davis – Sorcerer

What do you associate with Berlin?
Really need to get to Berlin, it’s long overdue but the first thing that comes to mind is Techno.

What’s your favourite place in your town?
Plastic People in London is a special place.

If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
That would be rough. I’d be wand ering the streets aimlessly.

What was the last record you bought?
Georgia Anne Muldrow/Jyoti – Ocotea.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Leon Ware

What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
I saw Pharoah Sand ers play when I was a kid – I never forgot that show.

How important is technology to your creative process?
My computer has been really helpful but at the end of the day I don’t think it really matters what you use. In Trinidad they play Steel Pans made from oil drums.

Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career?
I’ve got two sisters – I reckon they’re happy for me.

Our Favourites:

Night & Day