Oniris transmits from the French Electronic Underground..
Emerging from the south of France, Oniris found his calling in the mid-’90s club scene, where house and techno first took hold of him. Years of experimentation and self-taught production across far-flung islands like Mayotte and New Caledonia honed his melodic, emotive sound.
His breakthrough came when Laurent Garnier championed his tracks, propelling Oniris onto the global stage with a debut EP on Bedrock Records that cemented his place as one of France’s most compelling techno exports.
With his All Over Me EP on Balance Music, Oniris proved his knack for sculpting hypnotic, melody-driven house that resonates on both the dance floor and the heart.
On this Balance Selections mix, the veteran French producer threads that same theme through an hour of soothing, afro-prog energy. Featuring tracks from Oxia, Ian O’Donovan, and Beckers & D-Nox, it’s a solid-gold session of deeply affecting house.
Tracklist
1) Arutani – Somewhere {Desagüe}
2) Words of Nio – Beside the fire (Patrice Baumel remix) {SudBeat}
3) Oxia – Presence {Diversions Music}
4) Beckers & D-Nox – On the Rhodes {Sprout}
5) Anna – Kalimba dreams {Global Underground}
6) Analog Sol – Trinidad dreams {Armada Subjekt}
6) Gabe – Focus {DOC}
7) DCLVIII OFC – Little by little {Cod3 QR}
8) Oniris – Reminiscence (5AM Edit) {Elektronik Zoo Sounds}
9) Ian O’Donovan – Eternity {Bedrock Records}
10) Leyzen – Enana Blanca {Parquet Recordings}
11) Oniris & Benjamin Rippert – Sonate {Astropolis Records}
Name: Xavier Januario
Location: Nice, France
Alias/Producer name: Oniris
Labels affiliated with: Bedrock, Systematic, Cod3QR, Ovum, Astropolis Records
I grew up surrounded by a wide range of sounds. My parents weren’t musicians, but they loved music and played a lot of it at home. I remember listening to classic funk, Jazz and Disco music at home.
Those early years gave me a strong emotional connection to melodies, which probably explains why harmony is still such an important part of my productions today.
In 1991, a friend of mine found an audio cassette on a boat that had come from England. On it, there was a set from a DJ called The Exorcist. It was something completely new to me—synthetic but emotional, hypnotic but powerful.
I remember being instantly fascinated by how machines could create something so moving. That curiosity turned into passion very quickly.
In the early ’90s, I started going out to a club in the south of France called « Le Bal ». People would come from all over the region to hear a very talented DJ who was playing the classics of Detroit Techno, Chicago House, and all the greatest European productions at that time.
What struck me the most was the energy of the crowd and the way the DJ was able to control the atmosphere with each record. That night made me realize that DJing was more than just playing tracks: it was storytelling, emotion, and connection.
Over the years, I’ve been inspired by many different artists. People like Laurent Garnier and Jeff Mills were real game-changers for me. Garnier, because of his eclecticism and ability to cross genres with taste; Mills, for his intensity, technique and vision.
But I also draw inspiration from outside electronic music: film soundtracks, classical compositions, or even nature itself. Anything that can transmit an emotion has the power to influence my work.
The last album I purchased was In Rainbows by Radiohead, on vinyl. For me, it’s their best album, the perfect balance between emotion, experimentation, and atmosphere.
I’ve always admired Radiohead, and this record in particular feels timeless. Listening to it on vinyl makes the experience even more immersive, almost like rediscovering the album in a deeper way.
In the studio, I mainly use software. Ableton Live is the backbone of my workflow, and I combine it with VSTs (Serum and Diva are my favorites).
Sometimes I combine both software and hardware, because I love the warmth and unpredictability of analog machines—synths like the Moog Sub 37 and drum machines like the Roland TR-8 can find their way into my tracks.
As a DJ, I mainly play on CDJs, because they give me flexibility and precision, but I still have a love for vinyl and dig into my collection whenever I can.
I have a new track coming soon in collaboration with pianist Benjamin Rippert, featured on the upcoming Astropolis Records 10-year anniversary compilation.
This release brings together an incredible line-up of artists including Rone, Kink, Manu Le Malin, Electric Rescue, Madben, Belaria, and many more. It’s an honor to be part of such a milestone project for one of the most iconic French electronic labels.
I’m also working on new original material but nothing is signed yet. Without giving too much away, I can say that the tracks continue my journey into melodic, cinematic and emotional techno. I’m also exploring collaborations with musicians that bring a more organic touch into my productions.
I’ll be playing alongside Laurent Garnier and Sonic Crew for an AstroClub party at Warehouse in Nantes on December 19th. The event will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Astropolis Records label.
I can’t wait for this one. Warehouse is one of the most impressive clubs in France, and sharing the decks with Laurent Garnier is always something truly special to me.
The Balance podcast was a very special project for me. I recorded it at home using CDJs, in one single take, to keep it as organic and spontaneous as possible. I wanted it to showcase my style and the tracks I love: deep, emotional, and melodic, with a few pieces of mine and some music from artists I truly admire.
It took me a few days to prepare the selection and structure, but the actual recording was done in one go, which I think gives it that natural flow and authenticity that I love.
Civil War by Alex Garland
I don’t watch television, but rather TV series, and the one that fascinates me at the moment is called “Severance”.
The entire collection of Hoxton hotels
