A Chat with Otto Orany (30.06.26)
Composer, keyboardist, and musician with a zealousness for musical expression, Czech-based Otto Orany reaches audiences with genre-diverse, timeless and innovative melodies. We speak with him about his new album, 10 Blue-Penciled Stories, what music means to him, collaboration and more.
OSR: Cliché as they come, but what drew you to music? Why did you choose to pursue a career as a musician?
Orany: The passion in people, which it unfolds — definitely.
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Orany: Family.
OSR: You recently released your album, 10 Blue-Penciled Stories, and mentioned that each of the songs has its own “language.” What do you mean by that? Is it a long conversation or separate stories, as seen in the title?
Orany: These are ten short dialogues between two people, which together form a human conversation in its wholeness.
OSR: 10 Blue-Penciled Stories covers several genres, but I’m interested in the plethora of instruments — a real orchestra in a way. What is your creative process when composing music? I mean, how do you create a melody knowing where to place the harpsichord, then layer the drums? How do you hear the song before it’s created?
Orany: I feel a special feeling springing up from the depth of my heart first, then it transforms into a simple melody, innerly connected with the latent harmony, then the “smoked” color, which clarifies into specific instruments. The rhythm is crystallized color.
OSR: The album is a collaborative project with numerous musicians, each contributing a particular instrument. What was the mass collaboration like, and do you feel it improves the composition and you as an artist?
Orany: Definitely. It’s the only way I grow. I always learn from people — fortunately, my friends are all participants on this album.
OSR: What do you hope people take from the album, and what do you take from it?
Orany: I take love, and I hope it will resonate in the same way.
OSR: Do you have any advice for emerging musicians?
Orany: Always learn, go ahead, never give up!
OSR: Instead of sticking to a single genre, you move across styles from classical and jazz to pop-rock. Is there a particular style you prefer?
Orany: My home style is jazz, but only for one reason — it holds a big potential for music: freedom.
OSR: What can we expect from Otto Orany in the future? Any performances or new releases?
Otto Orany: I’m so glad that my family is slowly growing, and I’ll do my best to support it.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Otto Orany: Listen, learn, love.
Many thanks to Otto Orany for speaking with us! Find out more about Otto Orany on his Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
