Creating Across Genres: Embracing Ambient, Techno & Artistic Identity

By Darren E Cowley (Admin) · Published September 21, 2025Episode 3 of Signal Chain Stories Explores Artistic Fluidity, Modular Hardware, and Making Music Just for Yourself In this thought-provoking episode of Signal Chain Stories, Miles Kvndra and Mordio talk about something every modern producer wrestles with: Can I shift genres and still sound like “me”? From techno to ambient, dubstep to […]

Episode 3 of Signal Chain Stories Explores Artistic Fluidity, Modular Hardware, and Making Music Just for Yourself

In this thought-provoking episode of Signal Chain Stories, Miles Kvndra and Mordio talk about something every modern producer wrestles with: Can I shift genres and still sound like “me”?

From techno to ambient, dubstep to guitar-driven compositions, this conversation is a deep reflection on how evolving creatively often means letting go of expectations—yours and your audience’s.

Watch the full episode here:
https://youtu.be/cjCtpDHAhYc

The Real Talk: New Studios, Tech Frustrations & Jam Sessions

Before diving into the big themes, the episode starts with a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the realities of making a podcast: tech issues, long setups, and getting cozy in new studios. Mordio shares his excitement about a new creative setup—modular jamming with no screens—designed to spark spontaneous ambient compositions.

“My ambient project is about capturing life without screens. Just textures, raw recordings, and emotional atmospheres.”

Can You Stay “You” Across Genres?

The heart of the episode is a wide-ranging discussion on genre fluidity and artistic identity:

• Ambient vs. Techno: Mordio sees his ambient work as an emotional counterbalance to his intense techno. Each serves a different expressive need.
• Artistic Signature: Your sound is defined less by genre and more by your obsessions—textures, envelopes, favorite synths, or mix approaches.
• Letting Go: Miles reflects on the pressure to make music that fits expectations vs. making music just for joy and emotion.

“We forget to just make music for ourselves… without any intention.”

The Importance of Making Music Without Intention

Both artists admit they’ve spent long periods making music strictly for tutorials, performances, or releases. But they’ve recently rediscovered the joy of intention-free creativity:

• Just jamming on Push 3 with headphones
• Exploring ambient textures using Moog Sub 25 & Mother 32
• Designing full tracks from Fors Dyad without a plan

“Some tracks might become an EP… or maybe they’ll just live in a folder. That’s fine.”

Mordio’s Approach: Music as Emotional Architecture

Mordio details his ambient process:

• Long-form recordings with no loops
• Found textures and environmental field recordings
• Deep contrast between warm noise and sub bass
• No structure, just flow and feeling

He draws parallels between his ambient work and early Radiohead or Massive Attack—emotional, grungy, and textural.

Albums as Personal Statements

For Mordio, creating an album outside his usual style (a guitar-based ambient album on Bandcamp) was key to reclaiming joy and balance:

“No promo. Just for me. But it connected with people naturally… and got played on NTS Radio.”

This led to a new surge in creative momentum—he’s now working on a new ambient album and continues performing at “listening bar” events in Berlin where audiences lie on cushions in silence.

The Rise of Ambient Culture

Miles and Mordio also discuss the growth of a new ambient scene:

• Listening bars inspired by Tokyo culture
• Ambient DJ sets and performances with no talking or dancing
• Bookstores hosting ambient reading sessions
• Events where sound systems are built into cushions

“It’s the healthy alternative to the club. People want a space to feel calm, to reflect.”

Final Takeaway: Let Genre Serve the Emotion

Ultimately, the episode champions emotion over expectation, and artistic curiosity over genre loyalty. If it feels right, it’s probably you.

“Start with ambient. Leave the drums out. See where it goes. Let music guide you—not the algorithm.”