OpenDaw launches its record label offshoot with a stunning slice of deep, vocal pop-house from Nova Orianne and DZYR.
Nova Orianne is a talented singer, songwriter, producer, and multi instrumentalist born and raised in New York’s Lower East Side. She grew up in the music industry and her passion for music began at a very early age. Nova honed her skills as a singer and songwriter through the influence of artists such as Adele, Paramore, SZA, Frank Ocean and more. She has used her talent and performed multiple venues/events throughout New York City with a mix of original songs and covers of popular songs ranging from Don Toliver to Jorja Smith.
DZYR is an alias for London Based producer Adriano Desiré. Branching out into the dance music scene, he uses lush synths and melody driven baselines to drive his tunes forward. Accompanied by talented vocalists from around the world, DZYR’s goal is to create a unique sound that stands above the noise and makes you feel.
Here, Nova Orianne and DZYR fuse their talents to deliver a captivating slice of deep, vocal pop-house on Peace Of Mind. The track emerged from an online songwriting session, marking the first virtual meeting between the duo. Despite being strangers, their musical synergy was unmistakable, leading to an immediate connection, and within the span of roughly 90 minutes, the foundational ideas and essence of the track were sketched out.
Here we caught up with both artists for a deep dive into their debut collaboration.
DZYR: You’ve emphasized the importance of melody and lush synths in your productions. Can you describe your process for layering and choosing the right sounds to achieve that depth?
DZYR: Nova suggested a reference for the type of thing she wanted to achieve in the sound, and I immediately dove into my plugins for something that gave the right feeling. I typically don’t like to overcrowd my productions, so maximizing the utility of a synth sound by using wide voicings is key for me.
Nova: Growing up in New York’s vibrant music scene, how do you think your upbringing influenced your approach to music and songwriting?
Nova Orianne: I was born and raised in the Lower East Side/Chinatown. My neighborhood always had so much to offer me while growing up. The stories I could tell just from walking down the street! I have been surrounded by creatives and exposed to many cultures and practices throughout my life. My family has been part of the music world forever, and growing up, it was common to have jam sessions where everyone would bring instruments or recording sessions. These would occur either at friends’ houses or in more formal studios.
Nova: You’ve performed both original songs and covers extensively. How do you decide which songs to cover, and what’s your process for making them your own?
Nova: I think for me, it really starts with a song that I’m either obsessed with or that I wish I wrote myself. My favorite song that I cover live would be “No Idea” by Don Toliver. His vocals and production are so melodic, and I’m always curious to hear how it would sound stripped down with just me and the guitar.
‘Peace Of Mind’ was created during your first virtual meeting. Can you talk us through the challenges and surprises of collaborating online for the first time?
DZYR: You never know what to expect with online sessions, and considering we’d never talked before, it was a great matchup. The main challenge is maintaining that creative vulnerability that you need to create at your very best, but once you get momentum, it’s smooth sailing.
Nova: I didn’t know what to expect with the first online session because we had never met before; however, I’m grateful that we ended up being an awesome match. I wrote and recorded the whole song in my room, on my bed, with just a mic and laptop. That experience in itself was challenging and forced me to learn how to engineer my own vocals.
DZYR: As a London-based producer, how do you see the electronic dance music scene evolving in the UK, and what trends are you excited about?
DZYR: The biggest change currently is the insurgence of new talented producers who have access to social media to share the music they’re making from the comfort of their own rooms. Having a decked-out studio is becoming more and more obsolete, and I’m constantly blown away by the new things I’m hearing people make online from a laptop.
Nova: You’ve cited a diverse range of artists like Adele, SZA, and Frank Ocean as influences. Can you share how these artists have shaped your musical identity?
Nova: All of these artists have lyrically and melodically molded me into the artist I am today. I remember being 12 years old when Adele dropped her album “21,” and my mom had it on repeat every day. Obviously, I couldn’t relate to it as much, but I could hear pain in her voice, and she didn’t sound like any of her peers at that time. SZA and Frank Ocean came more into my teenage years when I was going through a lot of challenges. I sought peace and solace in their lyrics and production. I’ve always felt different and like my voice was different from my peers. Hearing black artists sing not only RnB but alternative music changed the way I approached songwriting and not feeling as if I had to stay in one lane.
The track blends vocal pop-house with deep house elements. How did you balance these genres to create a cohesive sound?
DZYR: For me, this wasn’t a very conscious decision. I love working with intuition, and I guess the categorization of the track is more descriptive as opposed to prescriptive.
Nova: I’m very happy that DZYR and I have similar tastes in sound, and our vibes really connected. I wanted to create something that was versatile and could be played in either a chill environment or in the club.
DZYR: Collaborating with vocalists from around the world must bring a lot of diversity to your work. How do you adapt your production style to complement different vocal talents?
DZYR: A big part of what I do is listening to what the artist requires of me. I’ve been producing for 5 years and studied music for 5 years prior to that, so I’m lucky in that my music knowledge is broad. I use that knowledge and openness to new vibes as my main creative catalyst.
What can fans expect from the future of your partnership? Are there plans for more collaborative tracks?
DZYR: I thoroughly enjoyed working with Nova, and I hope we can work again in the future. I hope to soon make the trip over the pond and meet Nova for an in-person session in the not too distant future!
Nova: It was a treasure working with DZYR, and I learned so much from the experience. My goal is to make it out to London sometime soon to meet in person and continue making more tunes.
With OpenDAW providing significant support for independent artists, how has this platform impacted your music career and creative opportunities?
Nova: This was my debut single, and I am so grateful for OpenDAW’s platform. It has allowed me to connect with new people and finally be seen and heard in a major way.
DZYR: OpenDAW has opened many ‘doors’ for me. Meeting new people is one of the key indicators of growth in my career, and to be given an opportunity to work with OpenDAW is definitely moving my career forward in the way I want it to go.
Peace of Mind is the debut release on OpenDAW’s label. Originally conceived as an online service, OpenDAW launched its first in-person workshops in 2021, partnering with leading electronic music conference, Brighton Music Conference. A podcast series, OpenDAW Talks, launched last year with founder Alex Kenning hosting conversations under his artist alias Lex Luca, with renowned musicians from Felix Buxton (Basement Jaxx), Steve Bug, Xylo Aria, Louisahhh, Roger Sanchez and more. For more info, head to: https://www.opendaw.co
Peace Of Mind is out now on OpewDAW