As iorie prepares to release his Violet EP on March 14th, the Berlin-based producer discusses artistic evolution, cross-continental collaboration, and his quest for authentic expression.
Since beginning his musical journey at age 15, iorie has carved a niche in electronic music that defies easy categorization. From his breakout track "Golden Spree" to genre-defining releases like "What is Downtempo?" and "Kiss," the producer has consistently pushed boundaries while maintaining a distinctively soulful touch.
His Violet EP, a collaboration with California-based artist Sydka on iorie's own Serafin imprint, represents the latest evolution in a career marked by thoughtful exploration. Just ahead of the March 14th release, EARMILK sat down with iorie to discuss transatlantic creativity, the delicate balance of artistic evolution, and finding unique voices within electronic music.
The Violet EP's origin story is a testament to the borderless nature of today's music scene. What began as an online connection between iorie and Sydka eventually led to in-person sessions in Berlin, before culminating in California where the EP was ultimately created.
"We initially connected through the internet and first met in person in Berlin," iorie explains. "We'd already worked on music together there, so it just made sense to continue collaborating when I visited them in California."
This cross-continental partnership has yielded something special in Violet, which iorie describes as a continuation of his exploration of downtempo music, but with a club-oriented twist. "The slower tempo leaves more room for unconventional sounds, which works perfectly with Sydka's production style that incorporates many layers of interesting elements," he says. "I've made quite a few chill tracks in the past, but 'Violet' explores downtempo's potential as amazing club music as well."
The EP will be released on Serafin, iorie's own imprint which he founded to fill a gap he perceived in the electronic music landscape. "When I started Serafin, there simply weren't many outlets for downtempo music, and I wanted a platform to connect with others," he reflects. Today, the label stands as "a place for beautiful but danceable music, and a community for producers creating this kind of sound."
Throughout his discography, listeners often note what they describe as a "soulful bounce" – a signature quality that iorie attributes to his production preferences and vocal approach. "I can only imagine that comes from my love of shakers and basslines, which together easily create a kind of bouncy flow," he muses. "The soulfulness likely comes from my vocals, which my tracks often feature."
Collaboration has been a cornerstone of iorie's creative process, having worked with artists ranging from Madmotormiquel to Arutani and Luca Musto. These partnerships aren't merely strategic; they're fundamental to his artistic growth. "I really love collaborating because it brings so much new inspiration," he says with evident enthusiasm. "I love when music emerges that neither artist would have created alone, but together it can come into existence. It's a possibility for truly unique music!"
Despite his music resonating with audiences across continents, iorie strives to maintain an authentic creative approach that isn't unduly influenced by reception or trends. "I try to be influenced as little as possible by general reception to stay true to what resonates with me," he explains. "I think music can only truly be good if the artist loves it themselves." Nevertheless, he acknowledges that his global touring has had some impact: "I've definitely been inspired by dancefloors around the world to become a little more dancefloor-oriented."
In discussing his approach to production, iorie reveals an interesting workflow where instrumental elements typically precede vocal components. "Usually, the production comes first as the initial expression of emotion. The vocals then carry this feeling forward and put it into words." This method creates the captivating tension between production and vocals that has become one of his hallmarks.
The producer's restless creativity leads him to constantly explore new sonic territories. "I'm afraid I just get bored easily when producing music," he admits with a laugh. "I don't necessarily want to recreate sounds I've already made." Yet this exploration hasn't resulted in a scattered identity. "Even though I try to innovate constantly, I have a strong taste that shines through all my productions. People say there's still a distinct sound to my music although it explores different territories."
When taking on remix projects, iorie maintains a deliberate approach focused on melodic elements. "For key melodies, I try to maintain them, but I reinterpret other sounds to form a new groove that steers the track in a fresh direction," he explains, a philosophy that has served him well on remixes for artists like Guy Laliberté, Hannes Bieger, and Madmotormiquel.
The conversation shifts to his performances, which have spanned intimate venues and major festivals across multiple continents, including prestigious events like Fusion, Melt, and Envision. Interestingly, iorie's approach is less about the venue itself and more about context. "Being part of the club music world, I remember I'm not just a solo artist but part of a lineup," he reflects. "Within my framework, I always try to go as slow as possible and as energetic as necessary. I think that creates a vibe that fits any event while still conveying the special iorie atmosphere."
His experience traveling between European and American electronic music scenes has given him a unique perspective on their differences. "The American scene is more commercial in some aspects, but I mostly hope to bring European electronic music culture to the US," he notes. "I feel the European scene focuses more on the music itself, which makes sense as electronic music has been established there longer. But I sense that US events are becoming more diverse and music-focused as well."
In 2023, iorie launched an alter ego, Anna Almani, to explore faster tempos and different energies. "Anna Almani was a good way to express another part of myself and explore faster genres that would completely break from what listeners expect from iorie," he explains, underscoring his comfort with creative duality.
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Despite releasing on numerous labels including Watergate Records, WAYU, Hoomidaas, and Sol Selectas, iorie has maintained a consistent artistic thread. His secret? "The most important thing is always to make music you love the most yourself and not bend too much to others' expectations. It's actually quite easy to form a consistent thread across different labels this way."
When asked about unexpected influences, iorie points to a technological shift rather than musical inspiration. "The biggest transformation for my music was switching from Logic to Ableton after a few years of production. Ableton is so much more freeing for creativity, and its Operator synth became a core part of my sound." He also cites found sounds as "a good source for unexpected results" in his productions.
Looking ahead beyond the Violet EP's release, iorie sees a future of careful balance between evolution and core identity. "I'm trying to broaden the horizon of what iorie represents with some faster and more dancefloor-oriented tracks, while still staying true to the soulful core of the project," he shares. "It's an act of balance, but I'm excited to take it on!"
As our conversation concludes, what emerges is a portrait of an artist whose success stems from authentic exploration rather than calculation. In an electronic music landscape often driven by trends, iorie continues to chart his own course—creating music that feels both fresh and familiar, innovative and grounded. With the Violet EP, he invites listeners to join him in the delicate balance between contemplation and movement, between downtempo introspection and dancefloor energy, between the familiar and the unexplored.
iorie's Violet EP will be released on March 14th via Serafin Audio Imprint. Find him on Instagram, Soundcloud, Beatport, and Spotify.
Connect with iorie: Instagram | Soundcloud | Beatport | Spotify
