Echio Academy 02
Listen to the compilation
During the summer of 2024 we asked 9 Echio artists/mentors (Jen Cardini, Ivory, François X, Efdemin, Audrey Danza, Setaoc Mass, Catnapp, François X and Yuksek) to select the best demo they received over a month period.
Hundreds of demos were submitted and 9 demos were picked by those mentors who helped finalize the demos through their feedback(s).
We're very proud to present their selection, the Echio Academy 02 compilation, together with short interviews of each Echio Academy winner.
<iframe style="margin-top:2.5rem;" width="315" height="560" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/58qgGgUmhb0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Nominee : Horo
Track : Recovery
Selected by : Jen Cardini
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 42px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2633217300/size=small/bgcol=333333/linkcol=ffffff/artwork=none/track=762645792/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://echio.bandcamp.com/album/echio-academy-02">Echio Academy 02 by Horo</a></iframe>
Instagram : @horo.grutto
Biography: Producer and DJ, Horo signed their first EP 'Infinity' on the french label Inclusif in 2020, with a first track playlisted on Laurent Garnier's 'What's Next' show. Since then, Horo has continued their sonic explorations, seeking to fuse aerial textures and electronica, as evidenced by releases on 73'recordings, Enlace Records, Sound Earth Legacy and more recently DXFXWXU Collective.
DAW : Ableton
Gear : Ableton Push, MiniBrute2
Plugins : Massive X, Middle East, SRX Orchestra, Operator, Manipulator, ValhallaDelay
<iframe style="margin-top:96px;" width="315" height="560" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fX-2dtfz4dI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Nominee : Luca Cristante
Track : My Dimension
Selected by : Ivory
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 42px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2633217300/size=small/bgcol=333333/linkcol=ffffff/artwork=none/track=281166955/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://echio.bandcamp.com/album/echio-academy-02">Echio Academy 02 by Luca Cristante</a></iframe>
Instagram : @cristante_luca
Biography: Luca Cristante, 23 years old, lives in Italy and is a fan of melodic techno. Three years ago he started producing music, dedicating himself with commitment to study and experimentation. Over time, Luca is working to create a unique sound that fully reflects his artistic identity.
DAW : Ableton
Gear : Sequential Prophet Rev 2, Behringer Model D
Plugins : Universal Audio, Fab Filter
<iframe style="margin-top:96px;" width="315" height="560" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kNbCDQUgwSg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Nominee : Acqua
Track : 20-20-20
Selected by : Audrey Danza
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 42px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2633217300/size=small/bgcol=333333/linkcol=ffffff/artwork=none/track=2006043696/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://echio.bandcamp.com/album/echio-academy-02">Echio Academy 02 by Acqua</a></iframe>
Instagram : @micsadowski
Biography: Acqua, born and raised in Białystok, Poland, developed a deep passion for diverse music genres from an early age, attending jazz festivals and clubbing on weekends. After moving to Berlin in 2007, his love for dance music deepened, influenced by iconic venues like Cocktail d’Amore, Berghain or intimate parties at Sameheads, and fueled by a growing record collection. Since relocating to Zürich in 2016, he began creating his own music, driven by a fascination with synthesizers and electronic instruments. Acqua’s sound reflects his eclectic taste, blending elements from downtempo, cosmic disco, house, and techno.
DAW : Bitwig Studio
Plugins : Bitwig Stock Plugins, DS Audio Tantra 2, Soundtoys FilterFreak, Valhalla Delay, Valhalla Vintage Verb, Eventide Blackhole, Eventide Instant Phaser Mk II, Omega Transformer Model TWK, Nicky Romero Kickstart 2, ACME Opticom XLA-3, BK Townhouse Bus Compressor, Oeksound Soothe 2, Tone Empire TM700, Sonible true:balance, Sonible true:level
Gear : Korg MS-20 Mini, Elektron Digitakt, Elektron Syntakt
<iframe style="margin-top:96px;" width="315" height="560" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zR7tbgeZPIw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Nominee : Cabinet Meeting
Track : Alice Coltrane
Selected by : Jex Opolis
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 42px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2633217300/size=small/bgcol=333333/linkcol=ffffff/artwork=none/track=4218176717/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://echio.bandcamp.com/album/echio-academy-02">Echio Academy 02 by Cabinet Meeting</a></iframe>
Instagram : @cabinet.meeting
Biography : Hailing from the East Coast of NSW, Australia, Cabinet Meeting is the new DJ & production project by Yanni Papadopoulos & Jack Meyn. Largely inspired by 90's progressive house & trance. Cabinet Meeting brings pulsating rhythms, percussive drum grooves & saturated pads to create vibrant dancefloor ready tracks
DAW : Logic Pro X
Gear : Juno 106, a couple of moogs & a TD-3.
Plugins : Waves plugin catalogue, particularly J37 Tape Emultaor, CLA-2A Comp & Meta Flange, the Soundtoys Plugins - Microshift, Devilloc, Crystalizer & Echo boy. However, largely utilising the built in plug ins & effects on logic. The Rave Generator VST & Dexed VST (DX7 emulator) were both used throughout the track.
<iframe style="margin-top:96px;" width="315" height="560" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RYQ9lZBaLmY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Nominee : alyrik
Track : Unnamer
Selected by : François X
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 42px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2633217300/size=small/bgcol=333333/linkcol=ffffff/artwork=none/track=2068335029/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://echio.bandcamp.com/album/echio-academy-02">Echio Academy 02 by alyrik</a></iframe>
Instagram : @alyrik.musick
Biography : Alyrik has been producing about 1 year, and this is my second attempt at making music after a long pause. Now He is focused on electronic music: techno, electronica, ambient.
DAW : Ableton Live
Plugins : Ableton stock plugins, Valhalla Supermassive
<iframe style="margin-top:96px;" width="315" height="560" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ek-t1tVt5AQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Nominee : Mustermann@SpakkenKnorke
Track : Iraq Order 81
Selected by : Catnapp
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 42px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2633217300/size=small/bgcol=333333/linkcol=ffffff/artwork=none/track=2458206229/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://echio.bandcamp.com/album/echio-academy-02">Echio Academy 02 by Mustermann@SpakkenKnorke</a></iframe>
Instagram : @mustermannart
Biography : Once upon a time there was the band Spakken Knorke and we presented our music as an experimental art performance. But it was never the intention to make money from it, just for fun. Later on each of us focused on his solo career. I love to make industrial sounds over electronic beats, but only for myself. If you ask me about my music setup, I would answer, that you need a good Reason (V12) to make music. :-D
But as creator I also write and paint. My current project is a digital graphic novel. There is also my blog about my base Berlin. There are many open projects, but also always a timing problem. As often I can I rescue food from companies. Once I also collected bottle tops until it became too much. I studied mathematics and theoretical computer science and I love elf hat puzzles. I like music from hyperpop to thrash metal. In concerts you find me in the moshpit, I am a party animal, although I don't consume alcohol, cigarettes or drugs or even coffee. But I love chocolate.
DAW : Reason 12
<iframe style="margin-top:96px;" width="315" height="560" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XvsAmAu9UCc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Nominee : Righz
Track : Emergy Response
Selected by : Setaoc Mass
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 42px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2633217300/size=small/bgcol=333333/linkcol=ffffff/artwork=none/track=2368692254/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://echio.bandcamp.com/album/echio-academy-02">Echio Academy 02 by Righz</a></iframe>
Instagram : @maxime_righini
Biography : Righz is a Paris-based techno artist focused on raw rhythms with hypnotic melodies and spacey textures. His music blends meticulous detail with a strong sense of storytelling, taking listeners on a journey through deep, immersive soundscapes.
DAW : Ableton Live
Plugins : Ableton Stock Plugins, Black Box Analog Design HG-2, Valhalla Supermassive, Valhalla Space Modulator, Fresh Air, Ozone Imager, ADPTR MetricAB
Gear : Arturia DrumBrute Impact
<iframe style="margin-top:96px;" width="315" height="560" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hghAT69RxBo" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Nominee : Jai Juu
Track : Tension Suspsension
Selected by : Efdemin
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 42px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2633217300/size=small/bgcol=333333/linkcol=ffffff/artwork=none/track=1344957697/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://echio.bandcamp.com/album/echio-academy-02">Echio Academy 02 by Jai Ju</a></iframe>
Instagram : @jai_juu
Biography : Jai Juu (Jai Khanna) is a Berlin based artist originally from India. As a producer, he's inspired by deep, groovy and cinematic tunes. And as a DJ, by immersive and dynamic storytelling combined with an expressive style of mixing.
His musical experience goes beyond dance music, with years of being active as a guitarist and bassist in various bands. Much of his creative inspiration also comes from being a dancer, connecting with various communities and dancefloors across Berlin. During the week, he works as a Software Engineer for Native Instruments.
DAW : Ableton
Gear : AKAI APC Keys 25
Plugins : Ableton Stock Plugins, Native Instruments Kontakt 7
<iframe style="margin-top:96px;" width="315" height="560" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UjoWBKi7a-k/" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Nominee : Tomkin
Track : Giants Walk
Selected by : Yuksek
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 42px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2633217300/size=small/bgcol=333333/linkcol=ffffff/artwork=none/track=3978099183/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://echio.bandcamp.com/album/echio-academy-02">Echio Academy 02 by Tomkin</a></iframe>
Instagram : @tomkin_music
Biography : Composer and bio-engineer of the pop duet Labotanique, Thomas Cochini, starts its solo musical researches, under the moniker Tomkin. By focusing on audio-naturalism and electronic synthesis, this french botanist explores new horizons inspired by mentors such as Yosi Horikawa, Mort Garson and Rone.
Gear : Dry leaves, branches and a microphone. Prophet 6, Nord Electro, DX7 and the Hologram Microcosm.
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