Longing for Orpheus
2,367 plays (569 listeners)
Longing for Orpheus is a downtempo electronica project created by Derek Smootz in 2003. Drawing on influences such as Vangelis, Enigma, and Enya, the project’s sound is rooted in synthesis, but also includes instruments, voices, and musical ideas from diverse cultures. The music’s tone is generally subdued and relaxing, but its mood ranges from meloncholic to euphoric.
Longing for Orpheus began publishing early version of songs in 2004, to MP3Unsigned and the now-defunct Music section of CNET’s Download.com. In February 2006 the debut album, Skye, was released to positive reviews, including selection for RJ Lannan’s “Top 10 Recordings of 2006” at the New Age Reporter. A new release has been announced for 2009, but no details have been provided. Two remixes of prominent artists’ tracks have been released under the Longing for Orpheus moniker - Conjure One’s “Face the Music,” and State of Grace’s “Christe Redemptor.”
Derek Smootz is a classically trained pianist and vocalist, but a self-taught synthesist and audio engineer. Over the past decade, he has sung in a number of choirs, musicals and light operas in the Austin area. In the early 2000’s, he performed as a keyboardist with the formerly Texas-based Industrial band Guild. In addition to active work on Longing for Orpheus, he is involved in side projects Artificial Emotion (dance-oriented) and Ice Queen Alias (synthpop).
Longing for Orpheus began publishing early version of songs in 2004, to MP3Unsigned and the now-defunct Music section of CNET’s Download.com. In February 2006 the debut album, Skye, was released to positive reviews, including selection for RJ Lannan’s “Top 10 Recordings of 2006” at the New Age Reporter. A new release has been announced for 2009, but no details have been provided. Two remixes of prominent artists’ tracks have been released under the Longing for Orpheus moniker - Conjure One’s “Face the Music,” and State of Grace’s “Christe Redemptor.”
Derek Smootz is a classically trained pianist and vocalist, but a self-taught synthesist and audio engineer. Over the past decade, he has sung in a number of choirs, musicals and light operas in the Austin area. In the early 2000’s, he performed as a keyboardist with the formerly Texas-based Industrial band Guild. In addition to active work on Longing for Orpheus, he is involved in side projects Artificial Emotion (dance-oriented) and Ice Queen Alias (synthpop).
Top Albums
-
Skye
Longing for Orpheus
Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $8.99
- 7digital Search
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $10.49
- eBay Search
Top Tracks
| 1 |
|
||||
| 2 |
|
UmbraStory
full track
|
|||
| 2 |
|
Drift
full track
|
|||
| 2 |
|
ForestWake
full track
|
|||
| 5 |
|
EverSoul
full track
|
|||
| 5 |
|
Rise (for Cristina)
full track
|
|||
| 5 |
|
Reflect
full track
|
|||
| 5 |
|
Departure
full track
|
|||
| 5 |
|
A Moment of Clarity
full track
|
|||
| 5 |
|
SteamGarden
full track
|
Featured Tracks
|
|
Free MP3 NeverTale | 4:26 |
|
|
AetherSpark full track | 3:50 |
|
|
Release full track | 4:41 |
News
Pandora radio
18 Nov 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/longingfororpheus
OtherSong was accepted by Pandora radio. This is great, not only in that it spreads the music to new ears, but also in that I can see how someone else (specifically, the listening staff at the Music . …
-
Interview and Review of OtherSong
3 Nov 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/longingfororpheus -
Ultima Thule
29 Aug 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/longingfororpheus -
Radio and Podcast sightings
28 Aug 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/longingfororpheus
Listeners
-
Carlo_Mure
Top Listener
-
ForestFae
Top Listener
-
escapings
Top Listener
-
gartlab
Top Listener
-
LoboUivante
Top Listener
-
shunsmuse
Top Listener
Recent Activity
- Longing for Orpheus posted a news item ‘Pandora radio’. yesterday evening
-
T3hLibrarian, ForestFae and ReallyDragun added Longing for Orpheus to their libraries. December 2009
-
escapings shared Longing for Orpheus with Mythosidhe. November 2009
- Longing for Orpheus posted a news item ‘Interview and Review of OtherSong’. November 2009
-
added Longing for Orpheus to their libraries. October 2009
-
dsmootz tagged Longing for Orpheus with ethnic fusion, mellow, ethereal and 2 other tags. September 2009
- Longing for Orpheus posted a news item ‘Ultima Thule’. August 2009
- Longing for Orpheus posted a news item ‘Radio and Podcast sightings’. August 2009
- Longing for Orpheus posted a news item ‘OtherSong at Amazon’. August 2009
-
lugarsinlimites and cmorris445 added Longing for Orpheus to their libraries. July 2009
More Information
- Labels
