Zørba is a South Korean DJ and techno producer, known for hosting the “Salix.” events at vurt, Seoul’s prominent venue. Through his music, he channels the freedom embodied by his name onto the dancefloor, crafting hypnotic, psychedelic-infused soundscapes layered with deep basslines and driving rhythms to define his techno’s signature groove. He recently released his debut EP “Room” on PROPHET Recordings, featuring remixes by Stanislav Tolkachev - interview here and Doltz. For this occasion, he revisits his influences, speaks about his artistic vision and shares more about his upcoming projects.

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Busan, South Korea, and moved to Seoul as an adult, where I’ve been living ever since. During my youth, I was actually more drawn to fine arts and dance. I prepared for art school admissions and eventually majored in Fashion Design before dropping out. Honestly, I wasn’t very good at music when I was a kid. I think I lacked a natural sense of pitch and rhythm. I briefly took piano lessons back then, but it was too difficult, so I gave up. Haha.

How and when did you first discover electronic music?

I first encountered it around 2017 in Busan, but I really started listening to it deeply in Seoul's techno clubs. I practically lived on the dancefloor every single weekend from opening to closing, never missing international acts at vurt, Volnost, and Faust. Later on, a 40-day trip to Europe completely solidified my decision to become a DJ.

Who are your major influences?

The very first performance that gave me a massive shock of inspiration was DJ Nobu at Berghain. That was the pivotal moment I decided to become a DJ. Since then, I’ve been making music while drawing inspiration from countless incredible artists.

What was your first DJing experience like?

I made my debut at Volnost in 2019. Even though it was my very first gig, I was given the prime main-time slot, and a lot of my friends came out to support, so I had an absolute blast. Back then, I hadn't quite learned humility yet, so I was just overflowing with confidence...

What was the first vinyl you bought yourself?

I don't actually own a turntable yet, and just keeping up with digital track purchases is already quite a handful, so I’m intentionally holding off on buying vinyl for now!

Regarding your "Room EP" - stream here, what kind of gear did you use?

Currently, I own a semi-modular rack, a TR-8S, and an Analog Heat. Unfortunately, I haven't fully mastered them yet, so I completed the production for this release using Ableton Live, which I’m much more familiar with.

Your sound in three words?

Psychedelic, Freedom, Groove.

What is the DNA of your “Salix.” events?

The overarching theme is "Psychedelic & Hypnosis." In terms of direction, I always envision it as a party with a comfortable, liberated atmosphere - closely mirroring my personal DJ philosophy.

What are your three favorite venues or festivals in South Korea?

vurt, Volnost, and The Air House.

What about your project Deepmind?

I actually met chukimaandal in Seoul, but it turned out we grew up in the same neighborhood back home and even went to the same high school—though we were in different grades, so we didn't know each other at the time. On top of that, we realized we were living right across the street from each other in Seoul as well! We truly bonded while playing as residents at vurt during the same period. Eventually, we got an opportunity to play a B2B set, so we practiced together multiple times. Since both of us are DJs with very strong individual identities, finding a common ground was incredibly difficult at first, and we really struggled. But during our very last practice session, we thought, "What if we just let go of our egos and play something really deep?" We tried it, and something magical happened. Our respective interpretations of "deep" aligned perfectly, creating an emotional vibe that was far deeper and richer than anything we could ever achieve playing solo. That was the turning point where we decided to form our duo, and we’ve been happily collaborating ever since.

Any pre-performance routines?

Going to a sauna, especially hitting a cold plunge, going for a run, or meditating would be the ideal routine, but honestly, it’s not always easy to practice every single time!

What comes to mind when you think of 'AI'?

So many conflicting thoughts come to mind that it’s hard to organize them all. Right now, the feeling of an uncertain future weighs heavier, so there’s definitely a bit of confusion mixed in.

What is your favorite record label?

Bitta.

Mountains or the Ocean?

Mountains. I’ve really been into the whole outdoor festival and camping vibe lately.

If you could live in another era, when would it be and why?

I actually think about this often, but I truly believe the present is best. I love my current life and feel deeply satisfied with it. I wouldn't want to miss out on it.

Your top 5 recent releases?

. Doltz “In The Dune”

. mod21 “Non anthropomorphic intelligence”

. Donato Dozzy “Hypno Trance 0”

. Atomic Moog “Landing Point”

. Priori “Memory Palace”

Your Top 5 oldies recommendations?

. Drexciya “Species Of The Pod”

. Steve Bicknell “How Can We Know Track 2”

. Winx “Don’t Laugh” (Live Law Mix)

. Heiko Laux “Dry Me (Acid Mix)

. Donato Dozzy & Giorgio Gigli “Real Love EQ”

Your projects?

I recently released my first EP and am currently planning a release party for it. I'm also scheduled to contribute to an upcoming compilation album, so I need to head back into the studio soon to start working on that.

Interview by Sabrina Bouzidi / Photo (c)