Within the electronic bass scene, there is a constant ebb and flow of artists gaining their chance to step into the musical spotlight. Each new release is an opportunity to excel into the forefront of the EDM world and putting their project on the map. This is exactly what bass wizard and producer extraordinaire, IORA, has come to do with his latest stomper of a track, “Helix”, that we have the pleasure of premiering for you all today. With its driving 140 beat, electric synths, and high energy melody, this track is one for the books, captivating anyone who gets the chance to hear it. It’s almost hypnotic sound is one that is not to be missed and is sure to get entire dance floors up and moving. We will definitely have this one on repeat for the foreseeable future. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling this rager, “Helix”, a certified bop.
“This song is incredibly important to me for two main reasons. The first is that it represents the fusion of an emotionally evocative atmosphere with an energetic, driving beat. The second is that it provided the opportunity to share the stage with Sully at Electric Zoo and ultimately led to our forthcoming collaboration, which we teased together at Evolutions Festival last fall.”
Diving Deep w/ IORA
1. How did you decide to get into making music? Was there a certain event in your childhood/life that made you stop and realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music?
I didn’t fit in very well at my high school early on, and one of my outlets was listening to electronic music. A childhood buddy of mine showed me “Satisfaction”by Benny Benassi & The Biz back in like 2007 (I was late to that one), and that led to a deep exploration of different genres and styles. In 2010, at the height of my UKF Dubstep era (their YouTube channel was my main source of tunes back then), I stumbled upon the Doctor P remix of “Last Ones Standing” by Example. For some reason, this track above all others piqued my curiosity around how these tracks are made. So I went home from school one day and stole my mom’s Macbook (temporarily) to mess around in GarageBand. The 80s disco loops were great, but I wanted more creative freedom so I did a little research and bought Ableton Live 8 shortly after. I’ve taken a couple years at a time off music here and there since then, but getting laid off during COVID allowed me to rediscover that sense of wonder I had when I first downloaded Ableton. The mentors I connected with during that time rekindled that feeling I had when watching a Mr. Bill tutorial in my bedroom at home, having no idea what the dude was talking about (he’s a genius), but having so much fun just learning something new and dope from an amazing artist. More recently I’ve been feeling trapped in the corporate rat race, and after some soul-searching I realized that I don’t want to one day die knowing I didn’t at least try to realize the dream that I promised myself I’d chase at 14.
2. What has been a personal career struggle that you have battled with the most and how has it helped mold your character for the better good presently?
I think it would be the classic trifecta of perfectionism, fear of failure, and impostor syndrome (I list three because it’s all tied together). I think a major reason I’d take time off making music was due to this. Holding tracks for years because I never thought they were finished, turning down gigs or release opportunities because I didn’t want to make mistakes or be judged, and feeling like everyone in the scene is somehow better or cooler than me — these were massive roadblocks to my enjoyment of taking my music out of the bedroom studio or connecting to other artists and fans. I think these will always be a work in progress, but I’m proud to say that I’ve forced myself out of my comfort zone in all three of these areas with amazing results. I’ve released some music that’s been incredibly well-received and have an upcoming release on my dream label (take that, perfectionism!), I have some really amazing shows and festival bookings coming up this summer (I’d still rather not make mistakes, but I’m doing it!), and I’ve met some of my best friends through networking with other artists, even those who were mentors to begin with (shoutout Sully!). I guess this journey has allowed me to see my own courage and confidence that wasn’t there for a very long time, and I’ll always be grateful for that.
3. What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned since you started making music? Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring producers hoping to follow in your footsteps?
Shoot your shot! Reach out to that artist and hit up that promoter! But do it politely, and remember that they are also just a person. The opportunities starting to unfold for me because I learned this lesson are invaluable. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help and find a mentor.
4. What’s next for your project? What plans do you have in the near future that you hope to accomplish as “IORA“?
Write and release a whole bunch of music. That’s the goal. I’m kicking my 2023 release calendar off with Helix, and have a major release next month. Going to keep writing and keep releases consistent going forward. I also want to put out my debut EP this year, so I’m workshopping concepts for that. It’s going to be a fun year!
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