Forged in the late hours of intimate afterparties, Ouniū is the collaborative project of long-time friends and DJs Fac3less and hobta.
Photo credit: Sandra Schaede
Rooted in Athens and Berlin’s underground scenes, the duo brings together over 15 years of shared experience in club culture, blending hypnotic techno, dub, acid house, and downtempo with a fluid, instinctive approach to DJing.
For Ouniū, music is an unspoken language — a tool for creating raw human connection beyond the constraints of genres or trends. Their marathon sets are designed spaces where neatly constructed basslines meet spontaneous energy, often thriving in the early morning hours where boundaries fade and escapism takes over.
As they prepare to share their first official releases and fresh from their contribution to the EG Podcast Series, their first official mix as Ouniū, the duo continues to build their identity through marathon sets and upcoming releases designed to resonate deeply with listeners.
In this conversation, Ouniū opens up about their creative process, their vision for the project, and why bringing intentionality back to the dancefloor has never felt more important.
EG: Hi, guys! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
Ouniū: Hi! Thanks for having us — it’s great to be here. We’re doing well, right now in Berlin, where we live and work. We actually just finished a Reiki session and enjoy writing a few lines down for your magazine that we’ve been following for years.
EG: Thanks for your kind words and congrats for your contribution to our EG Podcast Series! Can you share with our readers and fans of the series what they can expect to find on this mix? Is there a concept behind this one? How did you go about crafting this mix?
Ouniū: In this mix, we created something specifically suited to the podcast format — ideal for listening while working, commuting, or enjoying dinner. It mirrors a natural progression from a calm, grounded state toward more energetic territory, much like a Sunday afternoon gradually unfolding.
We open with an atmospheric intro track produced by a talented friend, a tradition we always enjoy. From there, we move through recent dub-inspired gems, blending them with timeless favorites such as a Mihai Popoviciu remix we’ve cherished for years. Inspired by the snow-covered park outside our window, we incorporated moments of introspection before gradually diving deeper into dancefloor energy. Many of the selected tracks were originally uptempo — spanning techno, house, and everything in between — but we’ve pitched them down to enhance their hypnotic depth. The set closes gently with a special track by Rej, centered around the theme of magic.
EG: By the way, this is actually your first official mix as Ouniū, right? So, how did Ouniū come about? For how long has this project been in the works?
Ouniū: Exactly — this is our first official mix as Ouniū, and we’re thrilled to finally share it. The project came together very naturally. We’ve known each other for quite some time, but it was only when we started playing back-to-back at friends’ parties that we realized how seamlessly our styles blended. From that synergy, Ouniū emerged — combining energies, tempos, and moods into something spontaneous and organic.
The name ‘Ouniū’ actually originated as a playful joke from a friend who kept saying “Who knew?” while we were spontaneously playing together. We liked how it sounded and felt it captured the essence of our beginnings perfectly. Over time, we’ve refined our approach, especially around curating music; each track we put in our USB stick must be mutually approved, making the selection process playful and sometimes humorous. We’ve also developed some routines — Spyros typically opens the sets, while Adrien often closes them, alongside many quirky details like this. Yet, the project continues to feel fresh and open-ended.
EG: What is the reason for Ouniū? What are hoping to find in this project that you are not able to “find” as Fac3less and hobta, individually?
Ouniū: Individually, we each sought something distinct: one of us wanted to explore slower, deeper sounds reminiscent of hypnotic early-morning festival atmospheres, while the other felt inspired by faster tempos and experimental, energetic techno elements. Ouniū is the space that allows us to fulfill both creative impulses simultaneously. Together, we discovered a shared aesthetic inspired by intense experiences at places like Fusion and Berghain, where the atmosphere compels you to filter out distractions and focus purely on the essence. This intense clarity and minimalism have significantly influenced our musical direction.
Additionally, in an era where there’s an overwhelming abundance of new music releases and DJ sets, Ouniū aims to restore a sense of preciousness and intentionality to DJing. We spend considerable time curating tracks, frequently exchanging thoughts on style, and continually learning from each other. The balance between meticulous preparation and spontaneous play is precisely what motivates and defines our approach.
“Ouniū aims to restore a sense of preciousness and intentionality to DJing”
EG: What do each of you bring to the table as Ouniū? What are your perceived strengths?
Ouniū: One of the strengths of Ouniū is how naturally our individual skills complement each other. Adrien brings an intuitive sense of groove, focusing on deep, downtempo rhythms and refined house vibes ideal for intimate or after-hour moments. Spyros balances this by pushing energy levels higher, injecting raw intensity and psychedelic techno influences. Together, our diverse approaches to track selection and storytelling keep every set dynamic and highly unpredictable.
For instance, with this particular mix, friends initially described it as “quite chill and dubby,” which it is at first — but then we intentionally shift it toward a completely unexpected musical space. This flexibility is something we truly enjoy, especially in the podcast format, as it gives us freedom to stretch genres and surprise listeners, just as we’ve done here for EG.
EG: And what sort of things inspire Ouniū as a project? What other things can be associated with the project beyond sounds?
Ouniū: Our inspirations extend beyond music alone, deeply rooted in the distinctive energy of Berlin’s rave scene — the wild diversity of its people, its (usually) positive values, and the raw beauty of the city’s brutalist architecture. The imposing scale of spaces like Mahalla, where we recently had our photoshoot, significantly shapes our aesthetic and creative vision.
Equally essential to Ouniū is the element of joy. Dancing together, discovering music that surprises us — tracks that are deep, intense, yet unexpectedly humorous or playful — keeps our creativity fresh and spontaneous.
EG: What would you like to achieve as Ouniū? Is there a dream goal for this union? Where do you see this project 5 or 10 years from now?
Ouniū: Our main goal is to create high-quality sets and productions that deeply resonate with us first. If we can then establish meaningful connections with listeners through our music, that would be wonderful. Of course, there are a few special dancefloors around Berlin where we’d love to perform, as we feel our sound naturally aligns with those spaces. Above all, though, we aim to preserve the essence of Ouniū as an authentic reflection of our passion and musical curiosity.
EG: Now, on to the state of the scene…What do you see as the biggest challenge for the music industry in the next few years, and how do you think artists can adapt?
Ouniū: The primary challenge we see is saturation, where immense quantities of content make it harder for artists who produce meaningful or lasting music to gain visibility. Another major issue is the current structure of streaming platforms, which, despite democratizing music access, do not fairly compensate artists, making it challenging for independent creators to sustain themselves financially. Authenticity, quality, and perseverance eventually stand out. Advocating for equality and fairness in the music industry is also essential, creating an environment where artistic integrity can flourish.
“We aim to preserve the essence of Ouniū as an authentic reflection of our passion and musical curiosity”
EG: Looking forward, what can we expect from Ouniū in the coming months? Are there any incoming releases we should be looking out for? Where can your fans catch you next?
Ouniū: We’re currently working on new music, with several original releases planned that embody the spirit and energy of our live performances. Our priority remains creating timeless, deeply resonant tracks. We also look forward to performing at beloved venues or festivals.
One of our favorite experiences has been witnessing friends from different backgrounds dancing together — united through Ouniū’s music. Keep an eye on our social media for upcoming announcements about gigs and releases!
EG: Thank you so much for your time, guys! We wish you all the best for the future. Take care!
Ouniū: Thank you so much for having us! It was a pleasure to share our story with you and your readers.
EG.1016 Ouniū is now available on EG platforms. Listen here.
Follow Ouniū: SoundCloud | Instagram
