Just because a mix does not contain four to the floor rhythms, that doesn’t mean it’s not intense–a lesson Yanling can probably teach like no other artist. Although the Hong Kong native does play club sets too, she put more effort into exploring ambient and sound art through her platform and event series Aurora Edition over the last months.
Yanling’s mix for our podcast series first meanders through icy yet emotive soundscapes with occasional spoken word parts conjuring a feeling of winter solipsism not unlikely to Biosphere’s masterpiece Substrata. After round about 30 minutes, broken rhythms, at first hardly more than a delicate crackling, slowly unfold, leading to a state of alertness before freezing polar winds clear the scene and pave the way for complete weightlessness to kick in.
What did you have in mind when recording this mix?
I’ve been exploring a newer direction in my work, blending orchestral and cinematic elements with glitches, drones, and vocals, aiming for something that feels both futuristic and sleek and also incorporates warm instruments that awaken deep emotions within us. These elements are also central to my latest album Cymatic, where I continue to push the boundaries of sound and texture.
Where did you record it and which setup did you use?
I recorded this with a hybrid setup in my music studio, using a combination of CDJs paired with a Xone 92 mixer and Ableton.
What’s the most memorable gig you played so far?
Silent Green, under Aurora Edition, for my album premiere, stands out as both the most memorable and the most challenging. The performance featured a live choir and a synchronized AV show projected onto the architecture itself, creating an immersive experience that brought my vision to life.
Can you name a secret weapon that you use frequently?
My secret weapon is my intuition.
Three releases that caught your attention recently?
Steve Roach – The Desert Winds of Change
Alva Noto – Hybr: ID iii
nthng – Unfinished
What do you have coming up?
I recently launched my own record label, Aurora Edition, which focuses on ambient, drone, and experimental music while also serving as a platform for a concert series. I’m currently planning an Aurora Edition Festival, scheduled to take place in Southern Italy in 2025 within an institutional context. You can sign up for the newsletter to receive more updates as they come.
Track list:
Susan Sontag – Do You Think Dreams Have Meaning?
Ryoji Ikeda – data.vortex
Gigi Masin – The Word Love
Second Woman – 04 400425cc2
Nicholas Britell – Don’t Look at Me
Alva Noto – 01 HYbr:ID Ectopia Environment
Nicholas Britell – The Middle of the World
Hesaitix – Santarosae (Black Dolphin)
Ryoji Ikeda – data.microhelix
Domy Castellano – Kuiper Belt
Safa – Burrow
Emptyset – Axil
Ben Salisbury & Geoff Barrow – Annihilation
Alva Noto – 02 HYbr:ID Ectopia Elastic 1
Perila – Riot Spring
Conforce – Umbra
Yanling – Fieldrecording
Alva Noto – Xerrox Monophaser 2
Yanling – Aura Nova
Jon Hassell – Last Night the Moon Came
