_ophelioo
In this interview, _ophelioo discusses the creative world behind project_0, exploring House, Brazilian Funk, horror, mythology, visual storytelling, and the experimental spirit shaping their emerging artistic identity.
1. Your debut double single, “project_0,” brings together House and Brazilian Funk. What inspired you to combine these styles, and what did you want to explore through this fusion?
House and Brazilian Funk are two of my all-time favorite genres and genres that I’ve had the most fun playing around with for years. Nothing in particular inspired me; I just knew that if I had to choose genres to showcase first, the two I personally adore would be the best fit. This release would show many things about me as a producer and artist, and what I want to share with the world.
2. Both “Intero” and “Mona Lisa” have strong grooves and catchy hooks, while also carrying a darker, cinematic atmosphere. How did you approach creating the sonic identity of the project?
A lot of my thought process in creating the project, especially its identity, was that I had thought about doing something dark and specifically horror-themed since I started making music. I knew what I wanted to do, and I had so many ideas, but I didn’t know which one to start with. It wasn’t until this year, when I wanted to officially release my first project, that it all came to me in a flash. The best way I can describe it is that it was almost as if my subconscious mind already knew what I wanted to do before I could consciously decide. It was strangely natural: as I released the project, I shaped the identity and finally delivered the full product without hesitating or doubting its potential.
3. You began producing music in 2018 with GarageBand before moving to Logic Pro and experimenting with different genres. How has that journey shaped you as a producer and artist?
My producing style and how I developed it came from creating remixes. Especially remixes of my favorite artists, which have changed over the last 8 years. When I started posting remixes online in 2024 to start my career somehow, by that point I knew the type of artistry I was going for, which was no specific sound at all. I was also very productive, focused, and dedicated to figuring myself out musically, and I realized I had a very experimental style; my craft is fluid, ever-changing, and out of the ordinary.
4. Your project is accompanied by a mysterious Tumblr storyline, black-and-white visuals, Saturnalia-inspired imagery, and cryptic aesthetics. What is the story behind this artistic universe, and how important is visual storytelling to _ophelioo?
The only thing I can really say is that, as I mentioned, a lot of the creative ideas just popped into my brain, and I was like, “I am totally up for this, no doubt.” Visual storytelling like this is extremely important because it is what makes my craft unique to me. I don’t think I would be enjoying my career nearly as much if it wasn’t for creating things like this, and I’m just shocked and even frightened by the amount of creative flow I had throughout all this.
5. You’ve mentioned that you draw inspiration more from genres, atmospheres, and philosophical concepts than from individual artists. What ideas or themes are currently influencing your creativity?
If we’re speaking in terms of music, I think experimentalism is a good way to describe it and one of the biggest things that has shaped my creativity, music-wise. In terms of my creativity, especially the visuals, horror is something I knew I wanted to make my craft out of because it’s so versatile. Another major influence on my creativity is mythology, specifically Hinduism. Since I was little Hinduism when speaking in terms of its art, the stories of the deities and the philosophy presented within the religion has probably been one of the most important things in my life that I knew I had to incorporate into my career somehow, while of course keeping it respectful considering most of the Hindu concepts presented in the storyline on Tumblr are scenes from devotional films used only metaphorically or give a picture of what some posts of the story might look like visually.
6. “project_0” is your first official solo project. Looking ahead, what can listeners expect from _ophelioo, and how do you see this first release shaping the next chapter of your artistic journey?
As for now, my main focus is to expose myself to the world and share my craft and what I have to offer with project_0, which leads into the fact that the next chapter of my artistic journey is something I know but is a mystery for now to the readers, so they might have to keep expectations steady and stick around!