INTERVIEW: 9OASES drops debut single

9OASES is an exciting new musical project born from the dynamic collaboration of Mourad Kehailia and Sebastian Fischer, who emerge from the vibrant city of Cologne with a mesmerising debut single titled “Lovely.” These two creative powerhouses bring together their extensive backgrounds in the music industry to forge an innovative sonic landscape that defies genre boundaries and captivates audiences.

Mourad Kehailia’s musical roots run deep within the ever evolving realm of hip hop. His journey through this genre allowed him to master the art of infectious beats and rhythmic flows, lending his unique touch to the stunning soundscapes of 9OASES. Sebastian Fischer embarked on an electrifying adventure through electronic hardcore and rave scenes, immersing himself in the raw energy and pulsating melodies that define these genres. The fusion of their distinct influences gives rise to the cohesive sound of 9OASES, where hip hop seamlessly collides with electronic music, all infused with the allure of UK garage.

“Lovely,” their first single, introduces listeners to the enchanting electronic realm that 9OASES has carefully constructed. The track is a superb display of shimmering dance music, propelled by a breakbeat rhythm that strikes with precision throughout. The song’s core is enveloped in the delicate embrace of soft piano tones, which intertwine with swirling sonic textures and ethereal female vocal samples. These elements dance above the arrangement, carrying the melodic leads that define the track’s essence. As the song progresses, it builds to an emphatic climax adorned with vibrant buzzing synths, enveloping the listener in a wave of euphoria and leaving a lasting mark.

“Lovely” isn’t just a composition; it’s an experience designed for ardent music enthusiasts and aficionados of the British house scene. The duo intentionally crafted the song with the dance floor in mind, envisioning bodies moving in harmony to its infectious rhythms. With a heartfelt dedication to the fervent music lovers who live and breathe the essence of this genre, 9OASES has succeeded in encapsulating the pure joy and liberation experienced during vibrant raves and lively dance floors.

The track is an invitation to embrace the sheer ecstasy of music, a showcase of the unifying power of beats and melodies. With “Lovely,” 9OASES succeeds in creating an aura of uninhibited jubilation, seamlessly translating the vibrant energy of a bustling rave onto the sonic canvas. The song’s harmonious blend of melancholic undertones and uplifting peaks exemplifies their mastery of emotional intricacies, capturing the essence of the dance music experience.

“Lovely” is a triumphant foray into the world of genre-defying electronic music. The duo’s ability to seamlessly merge influences from hip hop, electronic hardcore and UK garage results in a sound that’s at once familiar and refreshingly innovative. As their captivating debut single spreads its wings and takes flight, it heralds the arrival of a visionary musical force that’s destined to reshape the sonic landscape. The future holds exciting promise for 9OASES, and “Lovely” is a sensational glimpse into the dazzling odyssey that awaits.

We caught up with Mourad and Sebastian to find out more about their influences, their debut single “Lovely” and what they’ve got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with 9OASES below.

Hey guys, how’s things?

All good so far, we’re happy with having our first single out now and can’t wait to present you all the music we’ve been working on.

What’s your earliest memory of making music?

Mourad: I was interested in making music as a 14 year old, so my brother cracked me a cheap drum sequencer on our computer which only had 8 tracks! It was fun!
Sebastian: I tried to record my own songs with a cassette recorder at an early age. Later I produced music with the computer and found my way to electronic music in a roundabout way. That was around the time when I discovered raves and clubs. But it took a long time until the tracks sounded like what you would call a track.

Which artist first made a lasting impression on you?

A lot to Name here but we’d go with Michael Jackson and on the side of the more electronic music The Chemical Brothers.

Which artists do you draw the most inspiration from today?

Four Tet is musically on another level as well as Mura Masa or Moderat.

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

We listen to a lot of different genres and a lot of world music. We go to different concerts and club events. But often it’s also exactly the time when we’re not dealing with music that gives us other impressions, which we then implement in sessions in the studio. Basically, we try to incorporate exactly these phases of music-free time and then always go back to the studio with a fresh head.

What do you love about the Cologne music scene?

We love that it’s so diverse and that most people are open minded. You see the same people on an open mic R&B-Soul jam and the day after you’ll meet the same people in a techno club. There are a lot of talented upcoming producers, DJ’s and musicians here in cologne and we have the feeling that currently a lot is moving in colognes music scene.

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

We believe that the song would be most beautiful during a day festival while we perform it live. We definitely enjoy such moments the most. But just as well, our current track “lovely” can take place in any context where positive vibes are needed. We definitely got a lot of feedback that our first release is perfect for summer, so people are listening to it in many different moments.

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

We both have different musical backgrounds and so we incorporate both hip hop and rave elements into our productions, coupled with impressions we get at concerts or other music listening. These influences assert themselves sometimes more and sometimes less strongly. On Lovely we think there are strong 90′ rave influences to hear, but in the coming releases there will be other focuses. In the core, however, we already have a common idea of sound that we celebrate and that will also be reflected in our releases. So it remains exciting.

How did you find making your new single “Lovely”?

If we remember correctly, Mourad chopped some breaks and got the basic idea rolling during a session together in the studio. For some time we were looking for the right chords and at that time we listened to a lot of old trance anthems of the 90s. So we got inspired by the sound design and the vibes of that time and incorporated a lot of it. When we finished the first arrangement, we had the impression that there was still a little bit missing and we chopped a vocal that rounded off the song for us. We think those were the first thoughts during the production.

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

We love the emotions and also everything else that can be experienced at raves. It has always been for us a place where you can let go and escape from everyday life. For us it feels like we transport a small part of this memory of such moments with our song Lovely. But of course every person connects his own stories with sound and therefore also with every single song.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

Stevie Wonder, Four Tet, Tyler the Creator, Jayda G, Banks, Fred Again, The Weeknd, Boys Noize, Moderat, Travis Scott, Mahalia.

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

We want the listeners to know that time has not just changed the way music is being released, but also how music is made and produced nowadays by the same individuals again and again with always finding a new form of expression defined by genre to speak through it.

What’s been your favourite live performance so far?

Its a share between Daft punk, Moderat and Kendrick Lamar…

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

Daft Punk, Moderat and Kendrick Lamar….

Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2023?

Besides working in the studio with many talented musicians, singers and songwriters it’s our plan to release some music each month. Parallely we’re shooting some videos for some of our songs that we’ve finished with some talented singers and we are also constantly working on our liveset.

Listen to Lovely below