In this interview, we catch up with Craig Oram, a Producer and DJ who’s been steadily refining his sound, expanding his horizons through production courses, festival experiences, and discovering new music. From his recent time spent in Cape Town to new releases lined up on Polyptych Label, Craig shares how key moments, influences, and advice have shaped his journey so far, giving us a glimpse into the tracks, places, and memories that have defined his path in music.
Hi Craig, thanks for joining us – how’s everything going?
EDM Cave, thank you for having me!
Things are going great, I am just back from another holiday to South Africa, this time I went solo and went for a two-week production course with a local House legend, Craig De Sousa. It was a great time, a great connection, and now I have another great friend.
Also, partying in Cape Town is just amazing – the people are lovely, the music is underground, and the club’s sound systems are great.
In other news, I have just signed two tracks to Polyptych Label and will be releasing them very soon. I also have several new tracks about to be finished and sent for some analogue mixing and mastering with Baikonur Studios – they are amazing at what they do!
What’s the first track you remember truly connecting with, and does it still influence your approach to music today?
After being shown Psy trance by lads I met in Cape Town around ten years ago, I came home and was tune hunting while in the gym (which is a rare occurrence) and ‘Parvati Valley’ by Blastoyz came on.
That progressive, groovy bassline and plucky style of the genre really clicked with me, and I was excited. I knew now where to look for tracks, and I wanted to find artists who had already adopted psychedelic elements into their Techno – a good example would be Devochka from Brazil.
And still to this day, that energetic style of bass groove influences my productions and mindset.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from another creator?
Take all your plugins off and turn up the volume – this piece of advice came when I really needed it, I was over-processing/ overproducing/ overcomplicating everything.
Try to fully create the sound in the synth with the minimal amount of external processing – this solidified the mindset to get the right sound and desired aesthetic from square one.
Do you have an all-time favourite club or venue?
I really love the beats stage at Origin Festival in Cape Town – it sounds amazing, and it’s right next to a fairly large pond for you to chill around. And it’s probably where I’ve heard the best tunes in the genres I love, like Indie Dance, underground Tech House and Techno.
What was the first piece of equipment that helped shape your journey into music production?
It would have to be just the typical basic set-up of a laptop, Audio Technica headphones, and Ableton Live. I also bought a push, but never really used it (the push 3 does look quite sexy though….).
What’s been your favourite moment behind the decks so far?
It has to be when my best mate Mitch and I played to the whole campsite at Beatherder Festival with our XDJ RX2 and tow Soundboks speakers. The festival music stopped at midnight, but security allowed us to play till 4 am. It was magical.
Do you remember the first time you played your own music in front of a crowd? What was that like?
As above, that would have been the first time I played to a sizeable crowd, and I played my track ‘Do You Really Wanna Party?’ (check it out on SoundCloud) – the crowd reaction was amazing, and that’s when things really started to click and the belief in myself started to become real.
What was the first track you ever made – and how do you feel about it now when you listen back?
The first track I made that was of any use was called ‘Impulsive,’ purely because one of the stock samplers in Ableton I used is called Impulse… it’s a pretty simple acid, kinda groovy, Tech House track.
I made this track when I was at an introductory production course in Glasgow with Sub Sine Academy, run by Simon Stokes.
He is a fantastic teacher, a lovely guy. And within 2 days, over the weekend, I had a finished track. I remember being pretty chuffed with it, but listening back now, I can hear the lack of depth and movement within the track; however, I can still hear my inner sound trying to emerge – I just didn’t have the expertise and knowledge of how powerful the DAW is.
Can you share one of your favourite festival memories?
It would be going to Ozora with my two great friends, Mitch and Aslan. The weather, the music, the people, the energy within the crowd, and just the buzz within the air was amazing. I remember when Astrix was playing and everybody descended upon the main stage, as he was one of the headliners, and his music is so danceable.
I heard Aslan behind me say, “F****** Hell, I’ve never seen so many people rave together at once,” and I remember just smiling, and thinking this is the best place ever.
Lastly, is there a favourite artist right now you think people should be paying attention to?
Right now, I’m really kind of fixated on CADELAGO from Argentina, Buenos Aires. If I’m going to reach for a live set, where I just want to hear some funky, powerful and energetic Indie Dance and Tech House, then he’ll be the guy I’m going to listen to – his ability to remix any song, even if it’s already an absolute rotter and make it even better still, is just jaw-dropping.
As we wrap up our conversation with Craig Oram, it’s clear that his journey is one driven by curiosity, steady growth, and a genuine connection to the music that inspires him. From early festival memories to recent studio learnings, each experience has helped shape the sound he’s bringing forward today. With new releases on the horizon and a continued focus on refining his craft, Craig’s commitment to exploring new ideas while staying true to his groove-led approach sets the tone for what’s next. So, be sure to keep up with Craig as he continues to carve out his place within the Electronic Music landscape and follow him across social media.
Craig Oram Online
