INTERVIEW: Debut EP from _ophelioo

Nigel Naveed, better known by his artistic banner _ophelioo, is an enigmatic artist and producer building his own sphere of electronic music through a combination of genre experimentation, atmosphere and visual storytelling. His sound draws from the energy of house and the current global phenomenon of Brazilian funk, while his wider creative world leans towards something darker, more cinematic and deliberately cryptic.

The journey towards this world began in 2018 with Garage Band, an introduction to music production which led to years of experimentation across different genres, gradually developing into a more focused creative identity. Moving to Logic Pro allowed him to develop his technical skillset, while remixes and continued experimentation helped shape the vision behind his first official solo project, the debut EP titled project_0.

While eschewing the influence of particular artists, _ophelioo takes his cues from genres, atmosphere and philosophical concepts. That distinction is important, resulting in music that feels like an exercise in creating an environment where energetic electronic production can overlap with darker imagery and a sense of mystery.

The first window to that environment arrives through the two-track EP which brings house together with Baile funk in a combination that maps out the project’s interest in movement, rhythm and contrast, placing the physical energy of dance music alongside a carefully constructed aesthetic. The music doesn’t exist in isolation, either; _ophelioo has been building a supernatural Tumblr storyline around the project, accompanied by eye-catching black-and-white visuals, Saturnalia imagery and edgy visualisers.

Together, these elements suggest that project_0 is intended as the beginning of an artistic world whose mythology and imagery are just as important as the sounds themselves. Within the music itself, however, the approach remains direct, with the tracks “Intero” and “Mona Lisa” providing rigid grooves and catchy hooks, offering engaging points of entry into a project that otherwise revels in ambiguity. Their rhythmic focus gives the listener something solid to hold onto while the wider artistic concept continues to play out around them.

Opening track “Intero” lands with the stutter of buzzy synth tones while the flicker of subtly dissonant instrumental textures adds to the intricate sonic atmosphere. Building with the pulse of kick and flash of warbling, processed vocal elements, the percussion builds up the energy to form a dark slice of alternative dance music that rolls with punching groove and infectious melodic lines while fluttering synth tones adds to the constant sense of motion throughout.

“Mona Lisa” starts off with the 8-bit style tone of bass synth as the rattle of percussive shots as bouncy vocals glide above, leaning into a rhythm-focused soundscape. With minimal instrumental elements, the focus lands squarely on _ophelioo’s beat work, resulting in a moody outing that’s hypnotic, highly original and thoroughly engrossing from start to finish. Harsh vocal stabs mirror the pulse of the synth line while the stomping rhythmic framework keeps a steady momentum, offering a superb showcase of _ophelioo’s creativity and production flair.

Beginning with Garage Band in 2018, Naveed spent years testing different sounds before arriving at the more focused world of _ophelioo and project_0 represents the point where that experimentation becomes an official statement. As he takes his first official steps as _ophelioo, this thrilling new project is sure to make an impact in the global dance music scene with a sound that’s unique and truly compelling.

We caught up with _ophelioo to find out more about their musical journey so far, their debut EP project_0 and what they’ve got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with _ophelioo below.

Hey _ophelioo, how’s things?

Things been good! Thanks for having me!

Is there a story behind the name?

I honestly couldn’t tell you how the name came up. It was about 2 years ago that, when I wanted to start posting content online, I thought about many names I could use to differentiate myself from my legal name as a fresh start. I think it was me looking at the painting of Ophelia by John Everett Millais and, all of a sudden, going, “_ophelioo, that’s it!” My memories are foggy, though, but I think that’s how it originated, or it could have manifested in my brain out of the blue somehow.

What’s your earliest memory of making music?

I usually tell people I started making music in 2018, but my earliest memory is a year earlier, in 2017, when I first had ideas about making my own things. It was merely ideas, though, but it wasn’t until 2018 that I actually got my hands into producing, or at least learning how to make music, all on GarageBand, then upgrading to Logic Pro a few years later.

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from?

I think it’s a hard concept to grasp, so I’ll try my best to explain it. I like to take inspiration not just from artists, but from everything I consume around me, and I often distill it into genres, philosophical concepts, and my own personal experiences into a song, project, and/or idea. There has not been a single artist or a small group of artists who have inspired or motivated me to pursue music, because I listen to and adore all kinds of musical styles, and it could inspire me to create any idea. I love music to that extent.

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

I think genres, as a whole, are at the top of the pyramid. If I want to make a beat, I’ll sometimes look up a playlist for the specific genre I want to base the beat on and listen to a bunch of the songs on it. It can come from multiple artists, and it can even be subgenres that don’t fit the present orthodox genre, but there will be multiple inspirations in the beat I make from the songs I’ll draw from.

What do you love about the Philadelphia music scene?

As much as I want to say I know everything about the Philadelphia music scene, it’s unfortunate that I haven’t immersed myself in it as much as I want to. I think the biggest reason is that the one thing about Philly, and this probably goes for any other city, is that you’re going to find different types of people, and it’s not just going to be one specific scene for music per se; it’s going to be a whole bunch of cultures and different types of vibes mixed to create a very unique environment.

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

I think the perfect setting is whatever you want it to be. My recent release is very dance-forward, so I can picture it in a club setting, with everyone literally breaking their necks to the beat, swaying their heads so much that they can’t stop. I hope people don’t actually get hurt while doing those things; have fun, but be careful.

How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?

Trying to find my sound was in my early producing phase, which meant making beats, writing song lyrics, and just experimenting with what I wanted to do in the future. I did actually release a song in 2020, but because of my vulgarity and immaturity in the song, due to me being inauthentic and insecure with myself, I took it down. I immediately began practicing productivity and discipline to figure out who I was and what I wanted to do, to the point where, for a time, I was making beats almost every day and somehow wasn’t burned out. It was definitely 2024 when I found the sound I wanted, which isn’t any specific sound. Still, I think describing it would be extremely experimental, especially in terms of my future projects, and it’s not just the songs; it’s the whole story attached to the release.

Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?

As of right now, I don’t have a particular artist I wish to collaborate with simply because I wish to focus on globally exposing my craft to the world in small or even big ways; however, I have made my favourite artists known to the public by being vocal and making content surrounding their music, so I would be happy to collaborate with them sooner or later if they mutually agree to do so.

How did you find making your debut EP ‘project_0’?

project_0 was made during a point when I finally felt ready to start releasing my own music again. Before this, I was making remixes of various artists, specifically in the K-pop genre, and it even got to the point where I started remixing Western artists as well, though far more rarely. Once I had a decent follower count, I knew I had to start making music, and I felt this was the year to do so. It’s actually absurd because all the ideas- the songs, the Tumblr storyline, the concepts, and even all the content that I’ve been releasing for it- were all brainstormed in a matter of two weeks, which to many is genuinely insane, and I agree. I don’t even know how I accomplished it.

What message did you want to get across with this release?

I think the message, in terms of me, is that I think I’m someone who wishes to show more authenticity within the music industry, which is a very refrained statement, considering almost every single artist has probably said something like this, but I think to say it differently. My craft is to show a genuine story, and I wish to show the world topics that people consider taboo or way too serious. Still, I think some of these topics are very important to discuss. If we don’t talk about them at all, then I don’t think we’re getting anywhere in this society, especially since I think we’re regressing a lot during this time period.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

J-Pop- specifically my two favourite artists I’ve been in awe of remixing right now- Sasane, a Japanese solo artist, and F5ve, a Japanese girl group. I think it’s because these two artists have such a unique sound, and I’ve just been enjoying remixing a lot of their tracks in general because of this uniqueness. Centred around them have been my remixes and content, and it’s been genuinely great! They’ve even noticed my work, which is dope, and I’m honoured.

What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?

There are actually a few things I want people to get out of listening to my music, but if I could pick just one, it’s that I hope that when they have become immersed in the story and when it’s all over, the one question to ask themselves is, “What will he do next?”

What’s been your favourite live performance so far?

I don’t think I actually find myself watching live performances by artists that much. I think in general, the recent live performances of the artists that I personally like have been phenomenal, and I can’t wait to see more from them!

Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?

I can’t even think of any of my favorite artists, simply because any of them could headline, no matter who it is. I would genuinely be happy to see them perform. In terms of the place, the only way I can really describe it is as a nighttime setting, with the energy so high that I would genuinely lose control. Of course, this is very exaggerated, as I want to be careful. Also, I’m pretty introverted, except when I’m with familiar people, so you would not catch me at a festival unless I’m with familiar people and/or performing on stage myself.

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

The biggest piece of advice I could give to an artist wishing to follow in my footsteps is to please take the process slow. These days, a lot of people like to do things very, very quickly, and, honestly, that leads to more mental fog and fewer results from your work. It took me almost 6 years to get to where I am right now, where I genuinely feel like I’m actually making a presence in the industry, and it’s just about taking time and first perfecting yourself before you try something that could be a very big risk.

Finally, what do you have lined up next?

Honestly, the only way to find out is to stay updated on my social media for more of my moves. I have so much planned that it will be a mystery for now.

Listen to project_0 below