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Violin isn’t something often associated with electronic music, but the work of Melbourne-based violinist Matt Sheers, who goes by ORCHA, will certainly challenge that assumption. Using violin as his primary instrument, ORCHA crafts experimental, immersive, intricate soundscapes that oscillate between acoustic sounds and electronica. His new album, while anchored in experimentation, will be his most melodic work to date; fuelled by lush vocals and textured melodies, which unfurl into a universe entirely of his own making.

Matt has been playing violin for more than two decades - he picked up the instrument for the first time when he was eight, learning classical violin before studying jazz for university at the Box Hill Institute. ORCHA emerged out of a desire to go beyond the parameters of tradition, and push the instrument into exciting, innovative territory.

This predisposition towards experimentation and innovation is evident in ORCHA’s work in performance and events as well. In the last few years, he has released his debut EP and produced and performed at progressive visual-music events SUBMERSIVE, A Nice Warm Bath and SOURCE: Music + Projections + Dance. He also created the live soundtrack for circus show KILTER by One Fell Swoop Circus as a part of Melbourne Fringe Festival.

Awarded a Creative Victoria grant to finance an LP, ORCHA has immersed himself fully in the process, even building his own recording studio - called Natural Habitat - to record the album. Working with multiple producers such as James Cecil (Architecture in Helsinki), Robert P. Downie (Hemm) and Luis Kennett (Luboku) he says the record is a refinement on his previous work. “I feel like this new bunch of songs are truer to what I find inspiring, I’m continually trying to refine those sounds”.

Matt Sheers
Washed Out, Toro y Moi, Little Dragon, Grizzly Bear, Gorillaz, Tame Impala, Nicholas Godin
Electronic Synthpop Dream Pop Psychedelic Pop
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