MY STORY

Hi! I’m Derek Orsi — a Montreal-based producer, mixer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. I make music from the heart, whether I’m collaborating with artists in the studio, releasing my own solo material, or performing with my band.

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My musical journey began in 2001 as the guitarist for The Shannon Index, a nu-metal band with a twist. In 2002, we independently released a self-titled EP and built a strong grassroots following, with radio play in the US and Canada. I later joined forces with funk rockers Kamikaze Baby and released an EP with the band in 2006, titled Identity Crisis.

 

After years on the road as a touring guitarist, I shifted focus and opened the Freq Shop recording studio in 2011 with Dave Traina. Since then, I’ve engineered, mixed, and produced records for The Damn Truth, Brittany Kennell, Family Man, Olivier Couture, Portraits, John Jacob Magistery, and Juno-nominee The Franklin Electric. I recorded a few tracks on The Damn Truth’s LP Now Or Nowhere, produced by the legendary 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. In 2018, I spent six months in Los Angeles working under Grammy-nominated producer Brandon Friesen.

 

For over a decade, I moonlighted as a resident Alt Pop DJ on the Montreal club scene, where my unique style earned me several performances at OSHEAGA’s Artist World.

 

In the summer of 2021, I released my debut LP Fallen Angels, featuring the singles Faire La Fenêtre and Crash & Burn. The album paints an immersive sonic portrait, where violas and pianos collide with distorted guitars and 808s.​​ My sophomore LP Astral Youth was released in November 2023, supported by the singles XXX and Daydreamer. The album rocks a little harder, while offering more pop sensibility in its design.

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After years away, The Shannon Index is back — and I’m thrilled to be part of it. We kicked off 2025 with a sold-out show in Montreal and the release of our new single Another Two Parter. Meanwhile, I’ve been recording and producing a lineup of inspiring artists at Freq Shop.​

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Music speaks the language of the soul, and I’m committed to crafting every production with honesty, integrity, and character. Art is a journey — and I’d love to be a part of yours.