A Chat with Kaleidoscope Orchestra (06.10.25)
Kaleidoscope Orchestra invites listeners on a cinematic voyage with their new single ‘Through the Clouds’, a soaring fusion of orchestral grandeur, dream pop warmth, and electronic pulse. Inspired by themes of flight, wonder, and new beginnings, the track marks a defining step toward their debut album Moments Between. We chat with Kaleidoscope Orchestra to explore the creative journey behind the song, from in-flight inspiration to emotional transformation.
OSR: What was the inspiration behind your new single ‘Through the Clouds’?
Kaleidoscope Orchestra: I first started working on this track in 2019 on a flight from Aberdeen to London. I wanted to create a cinematic piece that captured the feeling of flying. Inspired by the piano riff in ‘Patience’ by Hollow Coves, I wanted to write a piece that had elements of classical, soft rock, Americana and drum & bass music.
OSR: Can you walk us through the journey of composing the track from 2019 to its final release?
Kaleidoscope Orchestra: After almost a year of working on the track, I hit a wall and decided that it needed a fresh perspective, so I sent a mix to my good friend and long-time collaborator Alex Dee to see if he might want to write some lyrics and sing on the track. Alex loved the track and began working on ideas. Hearing Alex’s vocal demo moved me deeply and gave me a fresh perspective. I was able to see a new path for the song and decided to completely re-orchestrate it. In August 2024, we recorded the new orchestral elements and the track was completed in early 2025.
OSR: How did Alex Dee’s experience of becoming a father influence the lyrics and emotional direction of the song?
Kaleidoscope Orchestra: Alex Dee: “at the time that Steve sent me the track, I had a very small child – it was our first child, so I was going through the first phases of that and being quite emotionally overwhelmed – delighted and overjoyed. And I wondered if there was a way that I could use that and essentially write a love song, that rather than being about a romantic partner, was a love song to our new baby. I remembered that the first couple of days that he was born, he was all scrunched up, and then there was a point at which he opened his eyes, and it’s quite a magical and profound moment, because you really see what their face looks like and I was unprepared for how overwhelming that would feel, and I thought that would make a good concept for a song; and keeping that notion of sunlight breaking through the clouds.”
OSR: The track combines orchestral music with electronic and dream pop elements. How do you approach blending these genres?
Kaleidoscope Orchestra: I often come up with a melodic or rhythmic idea while out walking or at the gym, and I record this as a voice note on my phone. When I’m back in my studio, I start playing around with different sounds on Logic Pro, playing those musical elements. This often starts with electronic, synthesised sounds, and then I start thinking about which orchestral instruments would blend well. I initially mock up the orchestral elements, and when I’m happy with the structure and general vibe, I move to Sibelius and start to write the orchestral parts, which will be performed by the musicians. While I’m in this process, I’m constantly going back into Logic and tweaking bits. I’ve always listened to a broad mix of genres, and I’ve always tried to not focus on what style a tune is while I’m working on it – sort of to allow it to grow organically and become what it becomes. So it’s a really messy process, but it all comes back to the goal of not thinking about genres and just creating.
OSR: Can you tell us more about the ‘4 over 6’ drum groove and how it shapes the rhythm of the song?
Kaleidoscope Orchestra: The original groove was a drum and bass beat in 6. I played it in via midi, then recorded the real drums. I loved the vibe but it was way too complicated and really clouded the orchestral and vocal parts. After a while not working on the tune, I opened the project – deleted the drums altogether and started playing around with a 4 to the floor bass drum groove. This 4 over 6 pattern gave so much more space for the orchestra and vocal to breathe, so I worked on how to bring back some of that drum & bass groove while keeping the 4 to the floor as the main focus.
OSR: What challenges did you face while re-orchestrating the track in 2024?
Kaleidoscope Orchestra: It was difficult coming back to a tune that I’d previously written off, so when it came to re-orchestrating, I tried to forget all the previous version and take the vocal and drums and orchestrate as I’ve done in the past with music by other artists. This process helped me to detach myself as a composer and just work as an orchestrator instead.
OSR: How does ‘Through the Clouds’ fit into the larger narrative of your upcoming album, Moments Between?
Kaleidoscope Orchestra: The starting point for ‘Through the Clouds’ came from a meditation strategy of reminding yourself that even on a cloudy day, the sun is still there through the clouds. In 2018, I moved to Aberdeen, so I started to travel on planes a lot more frequently. I continued to be fascinated by the fact that, even on dark, rainy days, once you get through the clouds, there’s always beautiful sunshine. So I always try to remember that on dark days, and it really helps to keep things in perspective.
The album’s message – and track names are a reminder to be in the present moment and just focus on Now, to remember to Just Breathe, appreciate and let the Beauty in. Life can be Frantic, but if you remember what’s ‘Through the Clouds’, you can always find peace.
OSR: Your orchestra has reinterpreted artists like Fred Again.. and Avicii. How did those experiences influence your approach to original music?
Kaleidoscope Orchestra: The process of orchestrating electronic music has given me an immense education into production techniques and some insights into those artists’ composition and arranging styles. While working on the original music, I was always listening back to those orchestra versions and studying those artists.
OSR: Mental health advocacy seems important to you; how does that perspective influence your creative process?
Kaleidoscope Orchestra: Making music came to me as a hobby long before it became a career, and I’m always trying to remind myself of this fact. I love to make music for people. I love to entertain people and to make people feel something through the music I create. But I often lose sight of these things and get bogged down with the “career” and which path to take. I think everyone struggles with getting caught up in the rat race of life, no matter what industry they’re in or where they live. People are always comparing their lives to others, and as a musician, this can be so detrimental to our mental health. The constant desire to do more, go bigger, be busier can often lead to burnout, and I think musicians and all who work in the music industry need more support. I’ve often struggled with feeling like I’m not where I want to be, or not where I “should” be, always focusing on the future instead of looking at where I’m at and appreciating it. Being a musician is awesome, but it’s not the glam and smooth sailing life that people often think it is. When I go back to the reasons why I started making music, it brings everything back into perspective.
OSR: What do you hope listeners feel or take away after experiencing ‘Through the Clouds’?
Kaleidoscope Orchestra: My hope is that listeners will feel uplifted by this track, and I hope it will help to introduce new audiences to orchestral music. To some, the lyrics may resonate and be deeply emotional, while to others, they might enjoy listening to it as a soundtrack for their travels. Ultimately, I hope people can take four minutes out of their day and feel uplifted and inspired by the music.
Many thanks to Kaleidoscope Orchestra for speaking with us. Find out more about Kaleidoscope Orchestra on their Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify.
