Dancing Astronaut’s Label of the 12 months: Ophelia Data – Dancing Astronaut
by: Dancing Astronaut Workers
Dec 29, 2021
Phrases by Rachel Narozniak and Zach Salafia
“My imaginative and prescient for Ophelia was only a place for me to place out my music, however all the pieces modifications. Inside the final two or three months, our launch schedule has gotten so busy that I’m battling when to place my very own music.
I by no means actually thought it was going to be the best way that it’s proper now, however I’m tremendous stoked. I had no visions of doing a stage at EZoo or something like that once I first based the label, so now that it’s taking place, I really feel that I’m watching it occur, and I’m going to dig additional into it. I wish to have extra showcases and do extra stuff like stage takeovers the place I can get extra [artists] in entrance of a crowd, to allow them to throw down and present what they will do.”
-Seven Lions (2019)
At roughly 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 1, 2019, from a seat positioned behind Electrical Zoo‘s Riverside Stage, Seven Lions shared the above sentiments on Ophelia Data in an interview with Dancing Astronaut.
Seven Lions had final performed the Randall’s Island pageant in 2017, and two years later, he’d returned to the Labor Day Weekend occasion as each an artist and a curator. Branding EZoo’s Riverside Stage as “Seven Lions Presents Ophelia,” Jeff Montalvo—the person behind the Seven Lions moniker—assembled a melodically pushed lineup to soundtrack Ophelia Data’ first pageant stage takeover. Dimibo, Crystal Skies, Wooli, Blastoyz, MitiS, Dabin, Jason Ross, Mentioned The Sky, Kill The Noise, and Seven Lions made the journey to New York accordingly.
Very like February 14, 2018 and February 16, 2018, the date that Montalvo formally introduced Ophelia Data and the date of its debut launch (“Calling You Residence“), respectively, September 1, 2019 was a watershed in Ophelia’s early historical past. It was the label’s first stage takeover, a psytrance, dubstep, electronica, melodic bass, and drum ‘n’ bass-embracing microcosm of what the fledgling label might accomplish on the stay occasions finish because it additional matured.
On that temperate September afternoon in 2019, the phrases “all the pieces modifications” underscored the distinction between Montalvo’s preliminary intentions for Ophelia (to develop a “residence base” for his music) and what the label had develop into within the 19 months following its basis: a “residence base” not just for the Seven Lions challenge, but additionally for the ascendant expertise within the melodic area that warranted publicity, however had but to obtain it. By January of 2020, Montalvo had already begun to make good on his objective to get Ophelia’s artists in entrance of the “bigger audiences” of which he’d spoken in our 2019 interview, lining up three separate label showcases:
- January 22, 2020: Ophelia announces a label showcase that may carry Seven Lions, Trivecta, Dimibo, and Gem & Tauri to Atlanta’s Consider Music Corridor in April 2020.
- January 27, 2020: Ophelia announces a Miami Music Week label showcase for March that includes Seven Lions, Kill The Noise, Jason Ross, Wooli, Trivecta, Crystal Skies, Final Heroes, and Gem & Tauri
- January 29, 2020: Ophelia announces a label showcase for Anjuna Elevations in France together with Seven Lions, Blastoyz, Crystal Skies, and Gem & Tauri
A mere six months later in March of 2020, nonetheless, the phrases “all the pieces modifications” would tackle a distinct that means as COVID-19-related cancellations upended Ophelia’s burgeoning calendar of label showcases. However Montalvo’s resolve to place Ophelia expertise earlier than crowds endured, and as in-person label showcases and stage takeovers quickly conceded to the COVID-19 well being disaster, the label founder tailored his strategy. Thus, Ophelia Data’ Visions livestream was born.
The livestream sequence, touted by Montalvo as a “musical and visible journey” into Ophelia Data, was hosted on Seven Lions’ Twitch channel on alternating Thursday evenings from Could 28, 2020 by way of December 18, 2020. A surrogate for the in-person label showcases then out of attain, the Visions livestream sequence was developed to familiarize viewers with Ophelia artists and collaborators. That includes a brand new Seven Lions set with two visitor DJs and extra surprises each different week, the Visions saga commenced in late Could with appearances from the label head, Trivecta, Dimibo, and Gem & Tauri. By the point of Visions’ finale close to December 2020’s finish, a number of acquainted and contemporary faces alike had joined the livestream’s lineup, with Gem & Tauri, Xavi, Amidy, Trivecta, Jason Ross, and naturally, Seven Lions himself, bringing the sequence to a detailed.
Albeit a brand new 12 months, to call Ophelia Data Dancing Astronaut‘s 2021 Label of the 12 months is to recall Ophelia’s exercise on the stay efficiency finish in 2020, exactly as a result of this exercise was a important precursor to the label’s showcase and stage takeover-related enlargement this 12 months. In 2020, Montalvo and his label made essentially the most out of the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, leveraging digital media to offer publicity to Ophelia artists whereas additional increasing Ophelia’s basic following. By means of focus, consistency, and adaptableness, particularly as regards to label-hosted livestreams, Montalvo and Ophelia put their acts in entrance of digital audiences, cultivating bigger devoted fan bases for every of Ophelia’s artists.
It’s price noting that the taking part in discipline for brand new artist publicity was maybe by no means as degree because it was in 2020, when everybody from the informal digital listener to the dance music devotee was residence in the course of the lockdowns with an interminable quantity of free time and a comparatively restricted variety of recurring dance music livestreams at their disposal. Montalvo and Ophelia capitalized on this degree taking part in discipline to extend viewer familiarity with all the acts related to the label, each these of established and up-and-coming natures. This strategy paid dividends for Ophelia and its artists alike—particularly the extra ascendant of the label’s acts—when stay music programming was permitted to renew a number of months into 2021. Whereas some viewers of Ophelia-sponsored livestreams have been already acquainted with the label’s roster and certain would have been amongst these planning to attend one among its cancelled 2020 showcases, others gained an introduction to Ophelia and/or its artists in the course of the quarantines, translating to new, expanded listener curiosity within the label showcases and stage takeovers that Montalvo recognized as priorities in 2019.
Cumulatively, the aforementioned components laid the groundwork for Ophelia Data’ triumphant return to in-person occasion planning and facilitation, which noticed Montalvo broaden Ophelia’s stay occasions presence to an unprecedented diploma in 2021. The truth is, in lower than half a 12 months, Ophelia hosted 4 large-scale in-person occasions, all of which contributed to Ophelia’s rise in 2021 not merely as a powerhouse for authentic releases, but additionally as a significant occasions orchestrator:
- Seven Lions Presents: Chronicles Chapter III at Washington’s Gorge Amphitheatre, the third installment within the mini-festival sequence that solicited performances from Seven Lions, NGHTMRE, Abraxis, Jason Ross, Alpha 9, Trivecta, Final Heroes, HALIENE, and Gem & Tauri.
- Its second-ever stage takeover, this one at Insomniac’s Nocturnal Wonderland, with units from Crystal Skies, Gem & Tauri, Jason Ross, Kill The Noise, Final Heroes, Sub Focus, Wooli, and Xavi
- Larger Love at Colorado’s Pink Rocks Amphitheatre, that includes Seven Lions, MitiS, and Gem & Tauri with particular visitor Andrew Bayer
- The Pantheon Tour, Ophelia’s first official label tour, with appearances from Seven Lions, Blanke, Gem & Tauri, Jason Ross, Kill The Noise, Final Heroes, Trivecta, Wooli, and Xavi.
“From the Pantheon tour to the long-awaited launch of the Ophelia mega collaboration [“Pantheon“] to celebrating Chronicles III on the Gorge, we’ve been lucky to create so many new reminiscences with everybody this 12 months. On the finish of the day, Ophelia can be nothing with out our superb neighborhood of followers and artists. Thanks for rocking with us and supporting all the brand new music we’ve been blessed to share with you. I’m excited to say our journey is simply starting.”
Benjamin Yi, Ophelia Data Label Supervisor, in an unique remark to Dancing Astronaut
As spectacular as Ophelia’s enlargement on the stay music programming finish was this 12 months, it’s solely a part of its 2021 Label of the 12 months story. Ophelia’s heightened presence within the digital occasions circuit dovetailed with what was arguably the label’s most outstanding 12 months of authentic releases but. In 2021 alone, Ophelia shepherded 34 singles, 11 EPs, and 4 LPs to digital streaming platforms, delivering amount with out compromising high quality. The uncooked numbers are staggering, particularly for an impartial label in its third 12 months, and the tally started on January 8 with MitiS’ “Attempt.”
The RØRY-backed single, from the label veteran’s then-forthcoming sophomore LP, Misplaced, supplied the opening to what would show to be a momentous 12 months of music for Ophelia. MitiS first made waves on Ophelia in 2019 with the discharge of his collaboration alongside Seven Lions, “Break The Silence” that includes RBBTS. “Break The Silence” preceded MitiS Shattered EP, which arrived through Ophelia in October of 2019.
MitiS’ historical past with Montalvo’s platform thought-about, it was solely pure for a full-length LP to observe. That was Misplaced, an album that not solely advised a cohesive story by way of a 10-song tracklist, but additionally maintained super replay worth on a song-by-song foundation—a feat for an LP in any style. Upon Misplaced‘s April arrival, it was instantly clear to Dancing Astronaut that it was worthy of Album of the 12 months consideration, which—fairly early into the 12 months—reaffirmed our suspicions that Ophelia was primed for a large 2021. On the onset of the 12 months, we forecasted Ophelia Data as an business participant that, by 2021’s conclusion, would warrant point out in Label of the 12 months conversations. Misplaced gave additional credence to this conjecture, however regardless of how high-performing, one album from one artist isn’t sufficient to warrant that distinction.
All through the course of 2021, nonetheless, Ophelia gave us one musical motive after one other to justify its recognition as Label of the 12 months. Though MitiS is a primary instance of the seasoned expertise that Ophelia boasts, 12 months in and 12 months out, the label’s capacity to establish up-and-coming expertise helps to additional set it aside.
Montalvo and Ophelia have historically underscored ascendant acts within the future-bass, trance, melodic-bass, drum ‘n’ bass, and dubstep areas by way of their bi-annual Introduction EP sequence. After debuting in Could of 2020, the compilation sequence added two ensuing volumes to its 2021 archive, that includes productions from Dancing Astronaut Artists to Watch in 2022, STAR SEED and Xavi, in addition to a bunch of different artists equivalent to Kepik, Nick Ledesma, Caster, and Meggie York.
In 2021, Xavi was maybe one of the best instance of Ophelia’s capacity to establish artists with early promise. No Ophelia label mate launched extra music on the platform this 12 months than the beforehand undiscovered expertise from St. Louis, who had had Ophelia’s help since he first appeared on Introduction Quantity 2.
This 12 months alone, Xavi remixed Seven Lions, Final Heroes, and HALIENE’s “Don’t Wanna Fall,” following it with the discharge of his debut studio album, To The Limitless Searing Skies, a five-track EP, Residence No Longer, and a remix of Seven Lions, Wooli, and Amidy’s “Shadows.” From first showing on an Introduction compilation to later writing a debut album to be distributed by the label, Xavi embodies all the pieces that Ophelia strives to supply its artists, ascendant and established alike: steady help, alternatives, and growth.
Importantly, Ophelia’s embrace of Xavi additionally reveals that the label isn’t preoccupied with sticking to 1 style or one sound—all it cares about is sweet music. Xavi’s sound is distinctly completely different from Seven Lions’ or that of different Ophelia staples whom you’ll be able to consider. It’s an exquisite mix of synth-pop, electro-pop, indie, future-bass, mid-tempo, and melodic-dubstep, topped off by Xavi’s personal vocals. Expertise like this deserves a bigger platform, and all through its three years of operation, Ophelia has constantly been forward of the curve relating to discovering it. Trivecta, Final Heroes, and Far Out are earlier examples of Ophelia’s success in figuring out such expertise.
MitiS and Misplaced and Xavi and his 2021 launch log have been simply the tip of Ophelia’s 2021 iceberg. Jason Ross notably launched his Convergence EP through Ophelia, which featured Dancing Astronaut‘s 2021 Observe of the 12 months, “One Extra Day” with Blanke and Chandler Leighton. And like Xavi, STAR SEED launched their first EP, Innerspace, after beforehand debuting on Introduction Quantity 2.
The listing goes on.
A contemporary crop of up-and-coming acts made their presence heard on Introduction Quantity 3. Final Heroes adopted up one among 2020’s most spectacular EPs, Discovering Gentle, with their junior EP, Threads. Wooli delivered a thunderous four-track EP, Resurrection, that featured his collaboration with Trivecta, “Gentle Up The Sky” that includes Scott Stapp of Creed. Far Out—one other Dancing Astronaut Artist to Watch in 2022—made a welcome return to Ophelia Data, succeeding 2020’s Past The Horizon EP together with his four-track Someplace In Between EP.
In fact, there have been releases from Seven Lions himself, which—regardless of the 12 months—will proceed to function the inspiration of Ophelia Data. He opened issues up with Seven Lions: 1999, an ode to an older model of trance that furnished nostalgic takes on classics like “Rush Over Me” with HALIENE and “Larger Love” with Jason Ross and Paul Meany.
Then got here “Shadows.” Seven Lions and Wooli are not any strangers to collaborating, and with Dancing Astronaut Supernova Amidy on board to finish the sonic trifecta, followers knew they have been in for one thing particular from the second that the joint challenge debuted at Ubbi Dubbi early within the 12 months. “Shadows” wasn’t the only real monitor to see the label boss staff up with different Ophelia favorites. Notably, “Wild And Damaged” with Blanke, Trivecta, and RBBTS, was one other synergistic union of Ophelia creatives and their complementary sounds.
Seven Lions additionally aligned with Andrew Bayer and Alison Could for “Returning To You,” a climactic mixture of melodic-bass and trance. Amid all of it, the label boss made time to reunite with Dimibo underneath their shared psytrance alias, Abraxis, for “Black Rainbow.”
However Seven Lions wasn’t performed. In a shock December announcement, he unveiled the proper sonic stocking stuffer, Opus, an eight-track LP that includes orchestral variations of a few of his all-time classics like “Dreamin,’” “Ocean,” and “First Time.” Followers roared their approval when string quartet Atlys joined Seven Lions on stage throughout his Larger Love set at Colorado’s Pink Rocks Amphitheatre. The response was so sturdy that Seven Lions and Atlys determined to get within the studio to prime a string-led challenge for official launch. It’s the cherry atop of an exceptional 12 months not just for Seven Lions, but additionally for Ophelia Data—and vice versa.
“It’s been a tremendous 12 months watching everybody on the label develop. This all nonetheless feels very early on and it’s thrilling seeing the Ophelia staple artists rising so quickly and creating such nice music. I’m actually completely happy to be a part of this journey and excited to see the place it’s going to guide. 2022 is already trying like one other main step ahead for the Ophelia household.”
Seven Lions, in an unique remark to Dancing Astronaut
Nevertheless, it’s essential to notice that the releases from the label boss don’t carry the Ophelia model, however somewhat additional improve it. A part of what makes Ophelia so particular is that the label isn’t reliant on releases from Seven Lions to remain related; its roster of artists is so deep and so dexterous in nature that their productions can capably entice their very own consideration. However as we’ve heard on Ophelia’s inter-label collaborations, equivalent to “Shadows,” the artists’ energy is maybe at its strongest after they work in live performance. Cue Ophelia’s “mega collaboration,” “Pantheon,” a supersized, seven-person crossover that our listing of the most-anticipated IDs of 2021 after it appeared in Seven Lions’ EDC Digital Rave-A-Thon set in Could of 2020.
“Pantheon,” that includes Seven Lions, Jason Ross, Trivecta, Wooli, Kill The Noise, Blastoyz, and Dimibo, was ultimately granted a grand launch in October, uncoincidentally serving as Ophelia’s landmark one hundredth launch.
No different manufacturing launched through the label so comprehensively encompasses what Ophelia is at its core. An amalgamation of kinds together with psytrance, dubstep, and melodic-dubstep, “Pantheon” emblematizes not solely Ophelia’s genre-roving nature, but additionally the sense of neighborhood that Seven Lions has instilled inside Ophelia. This very sense of neighborhood was on stay show on the Pantheon Tour, throughout which all the artists concerned within the music’s manufacturing gathered on stage to play out the tour’s title monitor. Ophelia at its coronary heart is—in Seven Lions’ personal phrases—a “household,” and because of this household’s collective efforts all through 2021, the Label of the 12 months dialog involves a decisive and melodically pushed shut.
Featured picture: Tania Hauyon
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