Known for his cinematic approach to old-school trance, electro, and early rave sounds, OST Fox has steadily gained recognition through a series of self-released projects, including his debut album ‘Seulement à Marseille’.
Photo credit: Prudance – Official
Originally from the US, he transitioned from Austin’s psych rock and punk scene to Berlin’s techno underground, bringing a fresh perspective and dynamic energy to his productions.
OST Fox recently released his second album, ‘Soul Techno’, as a self-released 2×12″ vinyl. The twelve-track LP sees OST Fox merging his American roots with Berlin’s techno influences, creating a record that serves as both personal reflection and club-focused journey.
In this conversation, OST Fox discusses the creative spark behind ‘Soul Techno’, the importance of self-releasing on vinyl, and why AI has no place in his musical process.
EG: Hi! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
OST Fox: Thank you so much for speaking with me. It is really cool to be speaking with you all, especially given the history of EG! 20+ years of interviewing artists, speaking about electronic music, and building a community is a serious achievement. Right now, I am here in Berlin, taking a bit of time off, gearing up for the album launch.
EG: Thanks for your kind words, they are really appreciated. Congratulations on the upcoming drop of your new studio LP, ‘Soul Techno’! You must be stoked to finally have this one out. What are some of your initial thoughts?
OST Fox: Thank you! Oh yes, and I am absolutely buzzing to pick up the vinyl shipment here in 2ish weeks. It was a massive album in terms of production and quite a big step up for me “musically”. It also took a lot out of me (partly my fault as I put a very harsh deadline on it). I produced the entire album in less than 2 months… so seeing this come to life is an incredibly rewarding experience.
EG: So, what can your fans expect to find on this new record? Is there a concept or thread running across the LP?
OST Fox: Yes, definitely a concept album… this LP wasn’t actually supposed to be made (laughter). I was going through a really rough time this past November and struggling quite a lot with things. On a whim, I decided just to go into the studio to mess around with synthesizers and sounds and play around. There was no agenda. As soon as I heard the first sound you hear on track 2, ‘Stinkfaul/Hypnosis’, this entire concept of an album hit me. It is a reflection on my musical journey and my time here in Berlin.
EG: ‘Soul Techno’ follows up on the release of your last album, ‘Seulement à Marseille’. In which ways have you grown as a person and as an artist since the release of ‘Seulement à Marseille’? How is ‘Soul Techno’ different from ‘Seulement à Marseille’?
OST Fox: Definitely this album feels more mature. There was a lot I had learned in terms of music production and music theory between the albums. This album also has a bit more pace to it than ‘Seulement à Marseille’. The past album was also a complete reflection on the city and people of Marseille (which I love) and had nothing to do with Berlin. I think this new album has a bit more of a “Berlin feel” to it, but with soul.
“I guess you could say I am anti-AI in terms of usage in the music industry”
EG: One of the most interesting points of this release is the fact that it is available as a self-released 2×12’’, which is no longer the standard practice it once was. How much work goes into self-releasing on vinyl?
OST Fox: Great question. I don’t come from an electronic music background actually. I was always in the psych rock, punk, and rock scene in Austin, Texas, and New York.
Music in this world is usually album-based, and that definitely carried over for me. A lot of electronic producers are doing singles and finding remixes, etc (which is fine), but that doesn’t resonate too much with me, to be honest. I really wanted this on vinyl as a double LP, which was quite pricey, so I ended up staying at my engineering job last year a bit longer to save up for/afford it. It definitely was the right decision to press this on vinyl. Also, my two mates, Risto Avramovski and Tugay Basaran, did such an incredible job on the album cover and back cover… it had to be on Vinyl.
EG: Apart from a club setting, what would be the ideal situation or place to listen to ‘Soul Techno’? What would you like listeners to take away from this experience?
OST Fox: You definitely could listen to it at home or driving or wherever…but a lot of the songs I had in mind for performing live, so I do think coming to see them live or in a club would be the best setting.
EG: Discussing a broader picture…what do you see as the biggest challenge for artists in the near future?
OST Fox: hmmm… I would have to say AI.
EG: How do you feel about the massive integration of AI in electronic dance music? What does that future look like to you? Has any form of AI been implemented on ‘Soul Techno’?
OST Fox: Everyone has their own way/style of doing things, but for me, I don’t like using AI in my music, and I have zero desire to do so, but I might be going backwards as the herd goes forward (laughter). I think there is something to be said for the countless hours searching for the right sample, or finding the perfect chord progression, or a gorgeous synth patch. It is part of the process and should be enjoyed. I think this is how you add “soul” to your music. I guess you could say I am anti-AI in terms of usage in the music industry.
“This album wasn’t actually supposed to be made”
EG: Looking forward, what can we expect from OST Fox? Where can your fans catch you next? What are your next scheduled shows?
OST Fox: The second half of the year, hopefully, has a focus on live shows. I just got back from playing in Amsterdam, which was incredible. I have so many ideas on performing the tracks live that I am really excited to get more shows to perform these live. Hopefully, some announcements on gigs soon!
EG: Thank you so much for your time! We wish you all the best in the future. Take care!
OST Fox: You as well. Special thanks to the EG team for speaking with me and helping out on ‘Soul Techno.’ It really means a lot.
OST Fox’s ‘Soul Techno’ is out now. Stream and download here.
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