ORBITAL HOTEL (10 OCTOBER 2025)

‘Missing Link’ marks a strong comeback for Orbital Hotel. What was your state of mind before entering the studio?

The weeks leading to the start of the recording was actually a bit confused but energetic, I was trying to adjust back to “normal life” after 9 months of traveling. All the experiences and memories from this time were fresh in my mind.


The cover art, with its 8-bit aesthetic and cosmic character holding a guitar, is instantly recognisable. How important is imagery in your musical universe ? 

It is not really that important, but it helps to convey ideas visually. I found the depiction a big funny so I selected it to be the one. Kind of reminded me of Donkey Kong Jr. from 1982.


The album title evokes a missing link, a transition. What idea or emotion lies behind this concept ?

The outdated concept of a “missing link” in the evolution chain unfortunately still prevails in some circles, and I find it simply hilarious to think of a being that represents that transition, and how it could look like from a musical perspective (we know now that the evolution of homo sapiens and all other species is gradual, there is such thing as a “missing link”). There is also the concept of links missing on html code. So I think of the “missing link” in both perspectives. In any case, it is a transition for the better.


The opening track, “Missing Link”, creates an almost cinematic tension. Was it important for you to introduce the album in this way ?

After choosing the main theme for the album, the first melody came to life and I found it appropriate to describe the concept. It is a bit rough and loud but not so fast, just how I wanted it.


Each song has its own vibe


'Magma' exudes an organic warmth, whereas “The Storm” is more impetuous. Do you like to play on these contrasts in intensity ?

Well, to be honest, I do not even think about that when inventing new melodies..Each song has its own vibe and might be different from one to another. But now that you ask, I do!


Your guitars sometimes seem to dialogue more than they clash. How do you build this coherence in an instrumental format ?

It is a challenge to end up sounding somewhat coherent. The “How” is difficult to explain, it just happens. All songs songs on this album have just two guitars, but I have songs with like 4-5 guitars going on at the same time plus the solo guitar (Horizon being one of them). I also have made more simplistic songs with just 1 guitar line.  At the end, I just try to keep a melody and a story across all instruments complementing each other (or something along those lines) with the idea of not clashing one on top of another as you mention.


All songs are pretty much spontaneous


Improvisation seems to be at the heart of your approach. How much room do you leave for spontaneity in composition or recording ?

All songs are pretty much spontaneous, some if not most recording have the actual thing I first played. No second takes or thinking it through. However, whatever is recorded I play live as it is recorded, with variations of course. I do set a limit on the length though and try to make them rather short (3-4 Minutes). As for the improvisation, I am not sure about what would that actually mean.





Despite the absence of vocals, your music tells stories. Do you seek to evoke specific images or do you leave the listener's imagination free ?

The latter. One interesting thing of instrumental music, be it quiet or loud, is that you can think about things while listening to it without having to pay attention to words and/or singing in the music.


Your universe evokes both science fiction and introspection. What are your main sources of inspiration, musical or otherwise ?

Science fiction is great, but what inspire us is Science, History, Nature and Space Exploration. By Science I mean mainly Physics and Biology, including Astrobiology and Astrophysics.


At times, there is an almost cinematic feel to your work. Have you ever considered composing for the screen, whether for film or video games ?

Indeed...Sometimes if I see a film where an scene -in my opinion- calls for a different song, I try one of mine just for the kicks.


On stage, your songs undoubtedly take on a life of their own. How do you transpose this instrumental density into your concerts ?

We simply try to play as good as we can and perform the pieces as you hear them in digital.


You are releasing the album through your own label, Preza Records. How does managing the production and distribution yourselves influence your artistic freedom ?

Since we do it on our own, we do what we want when we want it, but I have no experience otherwise. We are also not constrained by financial goals, so we can really let creativity fly and do whatever we please.


After thirteen albums, what continues to fuel your desire to explore new horizons ?

Pretty much the urge of doing something with the time and the bunch of guitars and cables I own. And actually, this is the 27^th album as I have made even more quiet music with the acoustic guitar than the rock style. I started making my own melodies with the acoustic guitar. I literally have hundreds of songs waiting to be finished. I even have songs in my head I have not even tried playing ever, they are my private songs for all the people in my head.


If “Missing Link” were to be the soundtrack to a specific place or moment, real or imaginary, what would it be?

I think a loud happy celebration in honour to Charles Darwin would fit quite well.