OLING is back on Vivrant with new music. He celebrates his oven-fresh release ’Sizo’ with an exclusive mix for Electronic Groove. The young Swede first entered the stage in 2021 with his debut ‘Aves’ EP and has gone from clarity to clarity since then. ’Sizo’ is an emotional piece of art. Its frugal yet powerful chords and ever-evolving rhythms have left the crowds with chills since OLING first tried it out last year.
Photo Credit: OLING – Official
EG caught up with OLING to learn more about the release of ‘Sizo’, his new EG mix, the Stockholm scene, his ‘Roots’ concept nights, and more.
EG: Hi OLING! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been?
OLING: Hi guys, it’s a pleasure. I’m feeling great, I just released ‘Sizo’ on Vivrant. It’s great to put out new music again.
EG: First of all, thank you for your contribution to our EG Mix Series! Tell us, what can fans of the series expect to find on this one?
OLING: A bit of everything. My new track is in there, together with new and old music from myself and some great tracks from Jeremy Olander, and Alex Tomb.
It’s a showcase mix that hopefully will bring joy to the listeners. An hour-long journey through my sound from start to finish. I’m really happy with the final result.
EG: And now, congratulations on the release of your new track, ‘Sizo’! What has the initial reception been like?
OLING: Overwhelming to be honest. I’ve received so many nice words and beautiful stories from people. Words can’t describe the feeling of getting those texts sent to me and hearing people’s thoughts on my music.
EG: There’s quite a unique story behind ‘Sizo’, right? How did this one come together?
OLING: My life was a mess at the time I wrote this track back in 2021. I found it very difficult to find any inspiration in the studio, and whatever I still managed to make felt weak.
On this particular day, my studio lost power all of a sudden. It turned out we had forgotten to pay our electricity bill. I wasn’t in the mood to call the provider, so I reached out to Jeremy (Olander) and asked him if I could borrow his studio until the power came back on. He said yes, and offered me the keys to his studio if I still wanted to work. I ran to his apartment to pick them up and strolled through Stockholm on my way to his spot. A small change of scenery made the difference.
“Everything that I create is a part of my musical puzzle that I’m constantly working on. It sounds super easy but It’s way more difficult in practice”
EG: Did you feel under pressure that day? Or were you in a relaxed mindset?
OLING: (Laughter) It was a messy day. I can’t really compare it to any other day, to be honest. But usually, I try to keep the studio as some sort of safe space. It doesn’t work all the time, but when I manage to leave all my negative thoughts at the doorstep it usually works out. That’s when I feel like I’ve fooled the system and found the ideal setup.
I think that every idea, no matter how good or bad it turns out in the end, brings something to the table. Everything that I create is a part of my musical puzzle that I’m constantly working on. It sounds super easy but It’s way more difficult in practice.
EG: How does Stockholm permeate your music?
OLING: Probably a lot more than I’m aware of. Stockholm is such a beautiful city, with its classic old Scandinavian architecture and vibrant parks. I like to stroll around every now and then and just soak up inspiration and energy. Especially this time of the year when it’s getting bright again, I just love it.
EG: What’s your personal take on the state of the scene in general? Where are we now? Have any new acts caught your attention?
OLING: We’re obviously going through something very very exciting right now, seeing artists like Eric Prydz, Four Tet, and Afterlife pushing their production to unreal levels and selling more tickets than ever before. This scene is something that people feel very connected to. And as the biggest acts keep pushing the boundaries, more people will explore it. And all of a sudden one sold-out show becomes two and three.
Acts-wise, I’ve watched my friend Alex Tomb from Cyprus closely for a while. His ‘Paludose Canter’ EP on Maeve blew my mind. This guy’s minimal, yet powerful analog sound is just phenomenal. I even brought him over to play at my concept ‘Roots’ earlier this year after months of texting back and forth. He turned out to be a great DJ too.
EG: How do you keep entertained when not in the studio? Have you checked out any good movies, series, books, or albums you’d recommend?
OLING: Hmm, that’s a good question. I saw Ruben Östlund’s ‘Triangle of Sadness’ not too long ago. That one was really good.
“We’re obviously going through something very very exciting right now, seeing artists like Eric Prydz, Four Tet, and Afterlife pushing their production to unreal levels and selling more tickets than ever before”
EG: What’s next for OLING? What particular milestones are you looking forwards to this 2023? Where can your fans catch you next?
OLING: I got two more tracks coming out on Vivrant pretty soon to start off with. Then it’s time to bring my club concept ‘Roots’ outdoors for the first time. We’re hosting the first ‘Roots Open’ in Falun this summer. It’ll be a 7-hour day party at a very special location with myself behind the decks from start to finish, so if you’re in the area for the Swedish midsummer, you know where to go.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, OLING! We wish you all the best for the future.
OLING: Thanks guys, enjoy your week!
OLING’s ‘Sizo’ is out via Vivrant. Purchase your copy here.
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