Meet the artist: Orion
by 10 March 2026
SAY HELLO TO ORION
If you’re a fan of ’90s techno, you’ve probably heard many of Orion’s tracks. At least you should have heard him come by one in of our sets or gigs, as we’ve been playing his music for a quite a while now. Maybe it’s because we’re from the same era; we immediately recognized that this is proper techno. We simply love that looping groove with just the right things happening — not too much, not too little, with all the proper elements. Imagine how we felt when he started playing our promo’s and now is releasing on MEUK Records. To be honest, we still find it a bit overwhelming. Fortunately, we’ve gotten to know him better lately as someone who not only knows what he’s doing, but also does it with unparalleled kindness and passion for the scene.
In Finland, Orion is an integral part of the scene. Known for his over 18 year long work on Finnish National Radio YleX, Orion hosts channel’s three hour Friday night every week. Next to his work as a DJ and radio host, Orion also runs his own Absence of Facts imprint and regularly releases music on top tier labels like MORD, Mindtrip, H-Productions, Soma etc. From performing live at sold-out festivals or intimate warehouse parties, after over 25 years in the business he still considers it all a labour of love.
We could talk about him endlessly, but for this interview we let him speak for himself to find out how he does it all, where it all comes from, what he’s currently working on and of course about his upcoming EP release on MEUK Records.
CAN YOU PINPOINT YOUR INITIAL ATTRACTION TO TECHNO AND HOW YOU REFLECT THAT IN YOUR MUSIC?
I was captivated by the mid-90s Scandinavian sound, particularly Swedish techno. I avidly collected early Drumcode records and never missed ‘MIR,’ a monthly night in Tampere dedicated to that style. As soon as the flyers dropped, the date was locked in my calendar. I fell in love with the aesthetic of techno: doing so much with so little. In Finland, we called these tracks ‘monotrax’. It perfectly described the vibe we were after: monotonous, relentless tracks for those never-ending nights.
I still love making that mid-90s influenced techno, but with today’s production standards.
THERE’S A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THE TECHNO GENRE, BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?
From a producer’s perspective, it’s a genre of endless possibilities that allows you to break the basic rules of arrangement, music theory, and harmony. It’s about making the ‘wrong’ sound right.
From a dancer’s perspective, it’s the perfect soundtrack for losing yourself — a vehicle for escapism and unforgettable collective experiences.
FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION: WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE SCENE OVER THE YEARS, AND WHAT REMAINS UNCHANGED?
I do not really know if the young people entering the techno culture today experience a similar feeling of escapism on the dance floor like we did back in the day. However, in the 90s, during the gloomy recession era, it was a life-changing thing for me.
It was like exchanging all the daily routines, to-do lists, and everyday sorrows for a couple of hours of repetitive music. That was — and still is — the best therapy there is. I am fully aware that the music scene has become a bit more shallow, but I truly hope the new generation gets to experience this escapism today as well.
DJING VS. PRODUCING: AFTER 25 YEARS IN THE GAME, WHICH ONE DO YOU ENJOY MOST?
While making a living producing brilliant music in a home studio might be every introvert’s dream, playing music to crowds and connecting with them might be every extrovert’s.
I really enjoy both. Receiving promo tracks and instantly knowing exactly where they would work perfectly — and then having them work — is a feeling nothing can replace.
Similarly, seeing a track you finished in your home studio being played all over the world by Ben Sims and Dave Clarke is a high of its own.
Both are contributions to the culture; neither is lesser than the other.
LET’S DIVE INTO YOUR MUSIC PRODUCTION. CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH YOUR CREATIVE WORKFLOW IN THE STUDIO?
At home, I tend to record lots of jam tracks — resample, resample, and resample — then select parts and work with those. Some hardware, such as Moog’s Mother-32, has been an eternal go-to for me.
However, I needed to downsize my home studio after moving to Berlin, so currently, I’ve been experimenting with VSTs and Max4Live devices that give the same feel. One particularly good one has been Opal.
I usually start with the riff or hook completely drum-less, building the drum patterns only when the riff works on its own. Curiously, I love working in the morning rather than late at night. Morning coffee & a DAW is the best combo.
BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING MUSIC PRODUCERS?
I feel the number of YouTube tutorials and masterclasses is amazing for anyone willing to learn the skills, but there’s a catch. They might take away the fun of discovery and make someone taking their first steps feel that there is a specific way techno should sound. The best tracks sound unlike anything else. They aren’t made using pre-downloaded templates but through a combination of discovery, open-mindedness, mistakes and fun.
YOU’VE BEEN A CONSTANT IN THE SCENE FOR YEARS, WHAT IS OCCUPYING YOUR ATTENTION THESE DAYS?
I’m really happy to be back in Berlin after a couple of years. I’m writing my PhD at Freie Universität Berlin about podcast communities — a topic that (perhaps unsurprisingly) shares a lot of similarities with electronic music communities. After all, audio seems to bring people together. I’m thrilled to experience both sides of this connection right now: in academia and in the nightlife.
Curious? Here you can read more about his PhD research (Akademie, September 24, 2025)
LETS FOCUS ON YOUR UPCOMING RELEASE. EVEN THOUGH YOU RUN YOUR OWN LABEL, WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO RELEASE ON MEUK RECORDS?
A couple of years ago, I made a promise to myself to do good things with good people. I think working with Eva Bohnen and Denn Punk at MEUK ticks both boxes.
WHAT IS THE MAIN TAKEAWAY YOU WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE FROM YOUR UPCOMING RELEASE?
The Arcana EP consists of four tracks that are distinct from one another, yet thematically cohesive. If you browse my back catalogue you’ll notice I often return to these mystical themes. I’m really happy to see this release coming out on MEUK Records.
Arcana EP
TRACKLIST
1. Wands
2. Cups
3. Coins
4. Swords
Release date: 24 March 2026
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