Ôneyra
DJ | Producer
‘@oneyra: ID on this pls?’
‘@oneyra id plz’
‘track id?’
‘anyone track id ?’
‘That's brutal. Track ID, please?’
‘The absolute fucking filth <3’
‘🔨’
There is a sense of community on Ôneyra’s Soundcloud. Her sets draw in those who like metallic percussion layered between relentless drums, and outside of Soundcloud, her HÖR mix is equally heavy with everything from 4/4 to experimental techno, trance and her own releases weaved into 60 minutes. Or maybe you’ve seen Ôneyra play actual parties in the pre-Covid life, at Dublin's Index, LIFE Festival, London's Corisca Studios or Berlin-based clubs AVA and Mensch Meier.
The Irish producer and DJ has been making noise since 2016. Immersing herself in Dublin’s club and afterparty circuit before playing her first gig at Workmans four years ago, Ôneyra creative path has been as hectic as the parties she once played. Having studied General Nursing at university, she decided to defer her final year to enrol in BIFE’s Music Production and DJ Techniques course, and it was here that her skills and sound became amplified to the loudest degree.
Moving to Berlin in 2018 allowed her to explore the German techno circuit and discover the overwhelming offer of events and collectives in the city — both a blessing and a curse. Launching her own imprint Sciatic the same year, Ôneyra released her debut EP ‘Vacillation’; a blistering 4 track production, followed by releases on Ceili Collective, Sticky Ground and Unconfined Records alongside mixes for The Brvtalist and Research to name a few.
It is fair to say that there is a lot of hard techno out there but you cannot mistake Ôneyra’s sound, be it through her DJ sets or signature productions. With a taste that spans IDM to jazz, Ôneyra is creating a trademark aesthetic that refuses to slip through the cracks and leaves an impression on the listener, whether they like it or not.
Now based in Dublin, Ôneyra reflects on a moment from the summer of 2019 when things were a little different. She also opens about personal growth, mental health and the practices she is currently undertaking to keep her mind balanced…
Somehere in Tallaght 🖤 Photo: Unknown
Where was this photo taken and why did you choose it? What was the music vibe at the time?
This photo was taken at an afterparty in Dublin in the summer of 2019. It was a gig-filled, full steam techno-fuelled weekend. This was my first time at this afterparty and I just so happened to be playing at it which is always an added bonus.
The night began for me with an hour-long walk into the city centre to a meeting point where a bus would collect those ready to dance into the early hours in a secret location. This being something rare for Ireland in general due to our early club and pub closures at 3AM.
I really miss these nights where you don’t even have to text any of your mates to see if they’re coming to the party because you already know they’re going to be there and it’s a certainty you’ll see some familiar faces. The secret location was in a warehouse just outside the city, you entered through the door of a small hallway with a staircase leading up to a cloakroom where your heart begins to race as you hear the distant sound and vibration of a kickdrum. I don’t think there’s quite any feeling like it — the pure euphoria of it all!
The music vibe at the time was hard and fast techno but as with the grace of afterparties, there’s a little more free reign when it comes to track selection. Looking back makes me think about how much has changed and also what the future holds for the Dublin underground scene in general. We can only hope that the clubs that were left before the pandemic will once again open their doors.
How have you found the last couple of months?
It’s been a rollercoaster — to say the least! 2020 began with multiple moves between Berlin, London, Dublin and Wexford. The upheaval of moving is never easy but coupled with a pandemic and the ending of a toxic relationship life began to become very challenging. If last year has taught me anything it really is so important to keep check of your environment and who you surround yourself with! The life that I had been living needed to come to a close and an abrupt one that was — my mental health plummeted and I found myself hitting the bottom of the barrel, scraping and crawling my way back out.
I struggled with intrusive thoughts of suicide, self-harm and often felt like there was no way out — with distance and time away from this toxic environment I began to find my power again with the help of friends and family and a charity based mental health service Pieta house.
Some people survive and open up about it. Some people survive and go silent. Some people survive and create. Everyone deals with pain and grief in their own way, and everyone is entitled to that, without judgement. Maybe I’m oversharing here but moving into 2021 I really would like to start a healthy discussion about the real things in this, at times, very shallow industry. It is hard to find a language about the things that have hurt us the most but I am hoping to move forward as an advocate for mental health awareness.
If this pandemic has given us anything, it’s time. Time to slow down and reflect. I hope everyone took this time to really figure out what their own version of happiness looks like. Finding peace within yourself is by far one of the toughest things you will do but the best thing you could ever do for yourself.
The truth is the path of healing and self-discovery is not easy — it’s gritty and raw and it takes a huge amount of guts to stand up to yourself and for yourself and say there needs to be change. It takes time to return home to yourself. Not everyone should have access to you while you are healing, growing and restoring. You need to protect yourself throughout these processes in order to elevate and self actualize — successfully.
Has your relationship with music production changed since the pandemic began?
Last year with everything going on and returning back to my job as a nurse in Dublin, I had to put production on the back burner. Now that I am settled I have begun to work on some very exciting projects for the coming months and have definitely found my feet with it again. I’m trying to explore many different avenues and really think my sound is in its infancy. There’s definitely a spirit of experimentation and I’m excited to see how my sound develops.
What about DJing, are you dying to get back to it or are you kind of enjoying this time where there isn't an option to play out at the moment?
I miss it so much! Everything about it really. I miss the anxiety fuelled adrenaline rush before getting on stage. I miss the paro buzz of nailing that first mix. I miss loud music and the vibration in my chest. I even miss drinks being spilt on me on the dancefloor and the queues for the bathroom, ha!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious, do you have a go-to track/mix or style of music that significantly lifts your spirits?
I wouldn’t say I have a specific style, I have quite an eclectic taste in music when I’m just listening at home or out and about. If I’m feeling overwhelmed I would generally stick on a podcast rather than music as my mind is already too busy at that point and it is easier to focus on a voice rather than music.
I have been listening to a lot of industrial bass at the moment which is heavily influenced by IDM, grime and techno — there’s so much going on in the productions you really have to lend your ear to it. I’ve also found myself chilling to jazz and classical especially after a busy day at work.
Do you have any advice or tips on how to look after the mind and body during this evolving time, as well as trying to stay motivated as an artist?
Check-in with yourself everyday — it literally takes 10 minutes of your day to just sit and ask yourself if you’re all good. In 2020 I began to learn how to meditate and it is something I now practice everyday. It helps to clear the mind and create space and could not recommend it enough. You learn to be patient with yourself and others around you and it has greatly contributed to my inner peace and happiness. If you are looking to get into it there is an app called Calm which introduces meditation and what it is with a 30-day guide. It teaches you to breathe and really reflect on how you are feeling and putting a name on those emotions. Another thing to help a busy mind is to write — keep a journal, or don’t, burn the pages after you’ve written what you needed to put on paper and out of your mind. But most importantly go easy on yourself, be kind and be your own best friend. It is okay not to feel ok and it is ok not to know what to do—trust your gut instincts they are usually right.
Also don’t forget to check in with friends and family during this time — everyone is really feeling the blues at the moment we all really need to support one another through these unpredictable times.
Another big thing is exercise — get out of the house even for 20 mins a day — I know it’s hard at the moment with the weather but it’s so important to move and stretch to release those happy hormones.
As for motivation, just start where you are with what you have and things will start to move your way if you want it badly enough. Concentrate on what you are doing. Just fall back and do the work, centre yourself, this is your time.
Back to the present moment. Tell us how the photo below is something that brings you happiness or comfort in your day-to-day life right now?
This is my friend Katie pictured on the edge of the world in Tiknok mountains. My girl has really kept me grounded and positive since moving back to Dublin and can’t thank her enough for being who she is. From days spent out on adventures, nights out (when we could have them), to pushing our physical and mental health forward I think we have both really grown into happier people because of each other in the past year and honestly couldn’t have made it through the pandemic without her!
Katie in the wilderness ✨ Photo: Ôneyra