Or:la

The more you sink into it, the more it will seduce you”
DJ Mag

“Fantastic”
Electronic Sound 

“A personal pursuit, processing the journey from Derry[…] to Liverpool and her place in the queer community, with all the turbulence that has entailed”
The Wire

“a dark, brooding techno journey”
Narc

Today, the vibrant Irish producer and DJ Or:la has released her long-awaited debut album Trusting Theta on fabric Originals. Listen to the album now.

The album is imbued with both Irish and ancient Greek mythology and captures moments of sapphic love, friendship, and defiance against the still-never-ending injustices against the feminine. The culmination of years of hard work, through building her reputation as a key figure in the global club scene and commitment to her craft as a producer, Or:la’s debut album showcases raw emotions of joy, rage, and desire. Glittering percussion ushers in these themes with vibrancy. From spacious club cuts to retro garage rhythms, this body of work is an impressive collection of work that calls to mind the far-reaching clubs and raves Or:la has commandeered as both a headliner and promoter. Known for her diverse showcasing of genres, across UK bass, tribal house, deep house, breakbeat, acid, and 90’s techno, Or:la’s ability to draw connections between the subtleties of these genres is what sets her productions and DJ sets apart from the rest.

On the artwork for Trusting Theta we see Or:la as a 3D scan transformed into stone, a playful nod to how some myths and legends can be misinterpreted just like the tale of Medusa often is. With great storytelling of metamorphosis in mind, Or:la immersed herself in many legends from both Irish and Greek mythology. Drawn to the Celtic pantheon in particular and the Celt's respect for women as healers, mothers and leaders - the focus on equality hit a chord. 

This compelling debut chronicles her own evolution: from breaking free from the suffocating energy of rural Ireland as a young girl to the relatable reality of modern life and all its complexities. The themes of female rage and need for community can be sourced to the sticky hangover of growing up in latent sectarianism and religious order, a complicated matter felt by many queer millennials wishing to express themselves authentically. 

Calling on her own community, the debut album features impressive collaborations with Or:la’s close friends and club comrades. Fellow Derry-born artist SOAK reads heartfelt poetry on “Milky Way of Glitter”, and long-time friend Eliza Rose can be heard on the declaration of resistance and desire “Slay The Beast” and Mary Lake in conversation on “Cooking Up Pepper Spray”. The latter was born as an enraged act against the criminalisation of pepper spray as a self-defense tool, and captures the intimate laughter between two friends in a moment of defiance. The track documents Or:la and Mary Lake cooking up their own pepper spray, discussing their ingredients like a Julia Child-hosted cooking tutorial, on top of a beat; methodical and purposeful. 

This debut album takes our quiet conversations, intimate moments, and mournful prayers, projecting them out into the world. As Or:la describes it herself: “The girls who get it, get it”. These intimate moments include being at one with oneself, and most of this album was born from experimentation while Or:la was in a theta-mind state. During theta states, the brain works on autopilot, and for Or:la the base emotional themes of love and rage had bubbled to the surface. 

As a multifaceted producer, DJ, and label owner of Céad and previously Deep Sea Frequency, Or:la’s artistic journey has taken her from the tranquil and remote landscapes of Inch Island in Ireland to the vibrant nightlife scenes of some of the world’s most iconic venues. Already noted as DJ Mag’s Best of 2022, Dooley’s illustrious career has seen her host her La Potion queer parties across London and Liverpool with a stage takeover at Love International Festival, too. These line ups have included party peers like TAAHLIAH, Marie Malarie, Pariah, Mary Lake, FAFF and many more. Now based in Liverpool, Orlagh Dooley has become an integral part to the clubbing scene as a promoter and queer community builder pouring her heart and soul back into the place she found her own musical voice.