DEREK ORSI
PRODUCER / MIXER / GUITARIST
Record Producer
I love producing records. Capturing an artist's musical vision and transforming it into a captivating recording has long been my passion. I can produce pop, rock, folk, indie, alternative, neo-soul, electro and hip hop to TOP 40 standard.
Mixer
Creating sonic landscapes with my digital & analog tools is always an exciting adventure! Telling a story through a mix has become my new obsession. I can infuse punch, clarity, suspense and emotion into your song with a radio ready mix that will sound HUGE!
Songwriter
I've been writing music since I was a teenager. I've written as a band member, solo artist and through collaborations with singer/songwriters. It all starts with a great song and I'm always ready to write a hit.
Session Musician
There's nothing more enjoyable than playing an instrument. I'm a multi-instrumentalist that can record guitar, or bass on your next song. I play music with a lot of emotion and attention to what will serve the song best.
ASTRAL YOUTH
STREAM
MY STORY
Hi! My name is Derek Orsi, and I’m a producer, mixer, songwriter & multi-instrumentalist, based in Montreal, Canada. I’ve had the pleasure of working on a ton of records, with a lot of great artists over the years. It’s been awesome! I also release music as a solo artist, and I’ll describe it as an eclectic movement of wild frequencies, drawing inspiration from artists like Radiohead, Audioslave, The Smashing Pumpkins and Bjork.
My musical journey began in 2001, playing guitar for the Nu Metal outfit The Shannon Index (stream here). The band released a self-titled EP in 2002, and built a strong grassroots following, with radio play in the US and Canada. I later joined forces with funk rockers Kamikaze Baby (stream here) and released an EP with the band in 2006, titled Identity Crisis.
After years on the road as a touring guitarist, I shifted my focus and opened the Freq Shop recording studio in 2011 with my partner Dave Traina. I went on to engineer, mix and produce records for The Damn Truth, We Are Monroe, John Jacob Magistery, Brittany Kennell, Family Man, Olivier Couture and Juno nominated artist The Franklin Electric. I recorded a few songs on The Damn Truth's album Now Or Nowhere, produced by Bob Rock, and earned an ADISQ nomination for Album of the Year in 2021 for my work on The Franklin Electric's LP Never Look Back. I recorded guitar and toured with The Damn Truth (stream here), I Shot Samo (stream here) & Atomic Radio (stream here) during these years. I also spent an awesome 6 months in Los Angeles, working under Grammy nominated producer Brandon Friesen in 2018. It’s been a trip!
I moonlighted for over a decade as a resident Alt Pop DJ on the Montreal club scene, and my unique style landed me several performances at OSHEAGA's Artist World.
I released my debut LP FALLEN ANGELS in the summer of 2021, supported by the singles Faire La Fenêtre and Crash & Burn. The record crosses the bridge of indulgence, with instrumentation ranging from violas and pianos, to distorted guitars and 808s.
My sophomore LP ASTRAL YOUTH was released on November 17th 2023, supported by the singles XXX, Daydreamer and The Witness.
Music is the language of the soul, and I unapologetically strive for honesty, integrity and individuality in all my productions.
