0.5 by MOTET

MOTET, the Iceland-based duo consisting of digital artist Owen Hindley and sound artist Þorsteinn Eyfjörð, are set to unveil their debut EP, “0.5” on Friday 1 November.

The EP is an immersive audio-visual experience that disrupts traditional artistic and musical boundaries, and is a profound exploration of the tension between the organic and the man-made.

“0.5” is the duo’s response to a world in constant flux. The collision and intersection of the natural and industrial, the analogue and the digital, is at the heart of this project. It's an exploration of feedback: how we influence and are influenced by our environment, each other, and the technology we create.

Reflecting on these themes, Þorsteinn notes that "the narrative of “0.5” is that as humans, we always think we are bringing order to things. But there is another point of view, which is that we are the disrupter. The natural order of things is always going to win in the end—it will outlive our man-made systems.”

The album ranges from the soft, atmospheric musings of opening track Dimmuborgir to the dark aggression of Breaking Point Flex. Intertwining dark sonic landscapes with joyful overtones throughout, MOTET sets audiences on a path exploring a world where the lines between sound and vision, human and machine, beauty and decay constantly shift.

The two singles from the EP encapsulate MOTET’s wide range of sound and vision. Blokk of Sound is a hard-hitting, bass-heavy track that Þorsteinn describes as, "a turning point, the climax of the story—a victory march for a dystopian future." In Owen’s view, Blokk of Sound is, “aggressive and chaotic—but still with that note of hope in the background.”

In contrast, Þorsteinn describes TekTekTek as, “very human.” The track brings a softer, more melodic atmosphere, blending rich textures with an almost choir-like warmth. "It’s a technicolor bubblebath of unidentified stuff," says Owen, noting the track’s constantly rising, immersive feel.

The sonic landscape of “0.5” takes inspiration from the likes of artists such as Alessandro Cortini, Fennesz, Daniel Avery, and the late Icelandic composers Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson and Jóhann Jóhansson. MOTET draws from these influences to create a sound that feels expansive yet intimate, balancing raw, mechanical textures with moments of melodic beauty.

The optical side of their work is equally inspired by creative forces such as Quayola, 404.zero, Ersin Han Ersin, and Robert Hodgin. Visually, MOTET’s approach echoes their philosophy. "We’ve given everything the same structure," Owen explains, "so there’s a commonality between the organic and manmade. When viewed through this lens, the boundaries between these things begin to blur." Þorsteinn notes that the visuals of “0.5” are just as significant as their sonic output: "If you only hear the auditory component, that’s just half the story."

Aside from work in the audiovisual medium, the cultural backdrop to the EP takes its cues from an esoteric range of contemporary and classical elements, from literary sources like George Haskell and Alan Wiseman to the depths of late-night Wikipedia and Youtube rabbit holes.

MOTET's live performances embrace improvisation, with both artists treating their respective digital and sound tools as instruments that are played rather than programmed. Their shows reflect their commitment to dynamic, reflexive creation. "We’re a band in that we’re fully playing off each other," says Þorsteinn. "I’m creating an auditory score for Owen, and he’s creating a visual score for me. What he does, I have to react to, and vice versa." This constant feedback loop between the visual and sonic components allows the audience to experience the tension and harmony at the core of their work in real-time.

From its dreamlike visual representations to its powerful electronic soundscapes, “0.5.” invites audiences into a space where the biological and mechanical coexist in constant tension. In this world, the natural biosphere mingles with stark, industrial textures and distorted reflections of urban life, conflict, and kindness. Each track on “0.5.” is an exploration of these contrasts—nature versus technology, human warmth versus mechanical coldness, chaos versus hope. The EP traverses dark, dystopian landscapes (Blokk of Sound) before gliding into moments of melodic euphoria (TekTekTek), presenting a compelling narrative through sound and vision alike.

MOTET are delighted to work with INNI as the distributor of “0.5.” Reflecting on this debut release, Colm O'Herlihy, the co-founder of the label expressed, “MOTET's commitment to disruption and boundary-pushing artistry is obvious at every turn of ‘0.5.’ They present a fresh, innovative vision for contemporary digital and sound art.”
“0.5.” was released on Friday November 1st 2024. MOTET’s groundbreaking fusion of music and visual art promises to offer an unprecedented experience to audiences around the world.

INNI is an independent music company based in Reykjavik, Iceland that represents a diverse roster of producers, composers, and songwriters including Sin Fang, Atli Örvarsson, Kári Einarsson, Inki, aYia, Skúli Sverrisson..

Formed by Atli Örvarsson and Colm O’Herlihy in 2019. Primarily a publishing company INNI also works as an independent record label, agency, and music production house.

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