Alongside his remarkable contribution to the series, we sat down with the legend Orlando Voorn who shared his thoughts about his career, his projects, inspirations & aspirations!
- Hi Orlando, thanks for answering our paradoxical questions! You’re one electronic music producers that we respect the most. You’ve been in the scene since 1994 as a producer and before as a DJ. What has changed in electronics in this period of time?
Hi, Thanks for having me.
Actually my first record release was in 1989. It was Fix-o-matic – hurt em Bad which was a hip hop record where I produced and rapped. Then that same year X-IT with Keep the party going.
This was a house record made with tape loops.
- Do you have any connection with the techno scene in France? What do you think about it?
As far as French Artists & do’s there is a lot of good stuff coming from there.
Of course the very supportive Laurent Garnier, I cube, I worked with Gary Gritness & Florian Muller Project.
Trecci as well as I just released a track on his Naeba label.
- The world of electronic music is based on debates nowadays, is it better on vinyl or mp3 in terms of mixing, can a dj be only someone that creates a set based on other’s productions or does he have to produce too… Does this mean that electronic music has become something to gossip about? Do we care too much about what’s around and not only about the music?
A lot has changed since the 90’s .
Technology has moved fast & today a lot is possible for less money. This is a good thing for Artists who can express themselves . But also in the same sentence some aspects are made to easy like presets etc. Of course this attracts individuals who do not have any ability to make a good production but think they do.
However I think in the 90’s this problem was also there with a lot of wasted vinyl pressing. Social Media nowadays has made it where you get judged by the amount of followers . And obviously some Artists pay to get more following on these platforms. While others just that popular In shorter terms the industry has been taken over and commercialized by corporations more then ever.
- We can read in your bio that you won the Dutch DMC DJ Championships in 1986, by that time what were your references ?
There was a radio show named avro’s 3 maal doordraaien. Which means mix 3 records I was picked by the guy who was the creator of the show Robin Albers. I did one mix and got into the finals and won. This is how I got to go to the DMC World champion ship. I became 3th in 86 . I then became another time Dutch Champion and got sent again to the DMC . This time I became 5th.
- Do you have a precise moment in your career that you’ll never forget, or that was a key moment for you ?
Yes there are several key moments but I think the main one was my link to Detroit . I got introduced to Juan Atkins very early on by lower east side records Jerome Flaman and we clicked right away there was a mutual respect to the sounds and from that point on every connect in Detroit was made easy . So when this was realized I went to Detroit & there I made the deals for all the records on SUBMERGE ,UR ,KMS, Metroplex, Fragile.
That was also the time my home country started to realize these facts and got lot of publicity about it. I was excepted as a Detroit Brother early on.
- With this incomparable knowledge that you have of this techno scene, what are your thoughts concerning the current scene ?
You have to understand in this scene what is it that you want to do and accomplish. That is for every individual different .
There are people that wanna be famous and be seen there are people that rather stay in the background.
To each his own and stand for what you believe in no matter what someone else opinion is. Cause in the end you gotta make yourself happy first with what you do.
As for my thoughts ..there is a lot of crazy talent in this world as there is a lot of wack stuff . It is up to you to dig a little deeper to find the real pearls.
- You played all around the globe, from China to Canada, in Croatia or in Belgium. Do you adapt your sets regarding to the culture you’re going to face and its taste in electronic music ? Do you have a precise moment in your career that you’ll never forget, or that was a key moment for you ?
I used to play a lot but I only adapt a music set when the styles are different.
Let’s say a House set is totally different from a techno set . But I think in time everybody upgrades their style(s) & so do I. Because I am mainly producing I have a very high output. As I keep perfecting my craft.
- Which artists or labels drew your attention in 2025?
I honestly am not following to much as I am doing a lot of production but I always listen to what my ear likes and not what artist or label it is anymore as we get flooded.
- As a DJ, you must come across loads of promos. What do you think about the current production in the techno circuits? Is there enough sense of creativity or innovation according to you?
I think that in 35 plus years there has been a lot of innovative stuff happened. However again this is a personal thing. Some consider techno to be just a loop that goes on and is very repetitive with no soul just hard beat. For me this is cool for like 2 3 records and then I gotta switch it up to something with soul something that touched you. For me that is not just a hard beat and some sounds. A lot of girls and guys are kinda stuck in the same thing because it is pretty easy to put together. Therefore a lot of tracks sound the same . Take Jeff Mills … he has been copied and still is to this day with the same style he got so popular with in the 90’s. It is tuff to get your sound into something but that is the idea in the end. We also will be inspired by the ones we like. Just put yourself into it and create your signature sound.
- How did you record the podcast for Paradox ? Can you pick a record from the mix and tell us why you like it or how you found it ?
This podcast I did on Ableton as there are some unreleased bits in there.
Favs are Deniro , Blak Tony.
I get promo’s and unreleased stuff.
The rest are my tracks and some are remixed by others.
- What would be your advice to a young artist that is emerging on this scene ? Be focused on what is being released and go with the flow or always keep in mind what was done before ?
Key things you should know as a producer/artist : Keep your publishing , Keep the rights to your music invest in yourself, create a team around you that take over the things you should not have to worry about, have a good Lawyer.
- Can you give us a glimpse about your future projects?
There is quite a few things coming out and are out. My labels Soulstage and DBA Have both 2 vinyls out. Peace & Justice EP & DBA vol 4 . The next 2 ep’s for those labels are in production soon.
Those are house projects.
A vinyl release on Local Talk 4 TRACKER
Nighttripper Tone Explotation remixes on Clone
A release on Nightsoul Recordings
Remixes and material on Triangle Records that I run with Paul Donton
I have a release on KMS feat Kevin Saunderson : It’s called ‘ I like the darkness” will be out soon.
& much much more.
Thanks a lot Orlando, we hope to see you very soon somewhere, keep the good vibe on!
Love and respect