Up and coming DJ and producer, othrwrld is elated to announce the release of her next EP, "Diving Summoning" via LA's Delusional Recordings. This expressive collection of tracks emerges from her ongoing quest to harness sound as a transformative tool, guiding listeners through a journey through the power of spirituality. With previous releases on Obskur and PPRZ, othrwrld describes her work as aural alchemy bridging the realms of spiritual and futuristic.
Having spent the past six years in Portland, Oregon, othrwrld has cultivated a strong presence in the local nightlife and queer dance music community. Her connection to the queer underground is evident through her passion project, "Club Liminal"—a mix series and party dedicated to ethereal techno for LGBTQIA+ ravers and those seeking to explore the fringes of reality.
"Diving Summoning" represents a bold movement towards aspirational horizons. The EP reflects an uplifting mindset and faith in the power of intention as a guiding force. Featuring four tracks, othrwrld blend warm pads, shimmering synths, and euphoric breakbeats.The release offers an expansive journey suited for both energetic rave settings and serene summer afternoons.
Ahead of the drop and release party on Friday, December 13th, we caught up with othrwrld to get a more personal take on her inspirations behind the EP.
As you seek to use music as a transformative tool, can you share some way that sound has helped you to catalyze change personally?
Absolutely, I think the first thing that comes to mind is the obvious companionship between music and dancing. I actually minored in dance in college, but with no prior training or anything I don't think I was ever much good at it honestly, but then when I finally moved to Portland I was able to start training in vogue and ballroom. Voguing taught me how to move like a woman, or more accurately to let my feminine self speak for like, the first time ever really. I very much credit my ability to realize and come out as trans to that, and of course to the Black and brown trans people who originated ballroom in all its forms. But it was really through the raves where I was able to find an authentic expression of that through movement to music that actually took me into this altered headspace. I think my favorite music, and perhaps the most transformative is always stuff that brings me back to that trance like state where I'm deep in my thoughts, embodied in my experience, stuff that I think Mackenzie Wark speaks really well about in "Raving" (required reading for anyone but I would say especially relatable for trans girls) To put it shortly, I think music helps me commune most deeply and personally with my inner self, and to feel that flow state between my body and mind, which I think as a trans person who experiences dysphoria on a daily basis is a super spiritual and transcendent experience.
Are there any particular production techniques you've employed to help achieve your intentions with this EP?
Ok so around the time I was writing these tracks I was collecting a lot of samples, and there were a few key samples that played a pretty major role in the writing process for a few of these songs. With "offshore" for example, the genesis of that one actually came from a summer afternoon sitting on the bank of a river, watching this massive cargo ship slowly lope by. Its engine or whatever made this crazy harmonic droning sound that was drifting in and out of pitch with itself, I whipped out my phone and recorded a good few minutes of the sound, and that became the basis for the track. You can definitely hear it layered in there, especially towards the beginning and end sections. Samples don't just come from the physical world though, sometimes I dig stuff, digitally too, and there's actually another important vocal sample in that same track which fans of a certain popular video game series may recognize (I won't spoil it)
I feel like I'm in a very different place now with my process, focusing more solely on sound generation from tangible synthesizers and trying to move towards live hardware performance, but hearing the music of the world around me will always be a part of my inspiration and technique, and I can't wait to continue incorporating found sound samples into my work once I've distilled my process even further.
Other than that idk I was just trying to make tunes that moved my body and tickled my brain!
What does the sigil serving as the art for Divine Summoning represent to you?
A few years ago when I chose my artist alias I had this sigil in my mind that would represent the name, othrwrld. I knew exactly the key shapes and movements that I wanted to be a part of it, and that it would always in all its iterations be reminiscent of a gateway, a shape through which something could be channelled, even transmuted. I've had the privilege of multiple artists re-interpreting the sigil throughout various musical works I've released, always retaining the essence but bringing some unique evolutions. The artist who made this album cover is Ash Ferrand, who has done other work with Delusional Records before. I absolutely adore what they were able to achieve, it feels super celestial to me, and feels like a summoning circle of sorts, very appropriate for this EP.
If you were to cast a summoning spell, what entity or being would you intend to heed your call?
Ugh that's such a hard question, I mean a large part of me wants to call in some deities like Kali as the world is going through such a huge reconning and rebirth right now (please google Pluto moving into Aquarius if you're not with it) but also I'd wanna summon something else cunty and cool (Kali is still totally cunty and cool too) like that hot angel lady from Digimon or this one merfolk goddesses from Magic the Gathering who I have a tattoo of. Her name is "Svyelun of Sea and Sky" and she plays this harp thing made out of moon, she's so sick. Or also maybe some of the angels from "His Dark Materials", angels in general were definitely highly inspirational for this one.
As mentioned above, othrwrld hosts her EP release party Friday December 13th, the same day the EP drops in full, featuring support from locals Lite Drama and Cay Horiuchi, as well as Delusional Records label operator Maude Vôs at acclaimed Portland club Process. Tickets available here.
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