The new Ojas Music label—an extension of Devon Turnbull’s audiophile-focused company—has launched with a quietly compelling collaboration: Unna, a minimalist ambient EP from Michael A. Muller of Balmorhea and Otto A. Totland of Deaf Center. The release, a partnership with The Vinyl Factory, arrives as a limited-edition pressing of 500 copies.
A Meeting of Minimalist Minds
Both artists are central figures in the evolution of modern ambient and instrumental music. Muller, co-founder of the Texas-based Balmorhea, has built a reputation for evocative soundscapes and extensive film scoring perform, with collaborations spanning Hania Rani, Alva Noto, and Víkingur Ólafsson. Totland, as one half of the Norwegian duo Deaf Center, helped define a generation of experimental ambient music, and his subsequent solo piano work—produced by Nils Frahm—has garnered critical acclaim.
Unna, the Norwegian word for “away,” reflects both the geographical distance between Muller and Totland and the introspective nature of their creative process. The EP blends Totland’s delicate piano work with Muller’s contributions on double bass, glockenspiel, Mellotron, and Rhodes, creating a textural interplay that emphasizes space and atmosphere.
The release arrives at a moment when vinyl continues to experience a resurgence, driven by both audiophiles and a broader audience seeking a more tangible connection to music. Turnbull’s commitment to high-fidelity sound, exemplified by his HiFi Listening Room Dream No. 1 at 180 Studios, positions Ojas Music as a label dedicated to the art of listening.
Unna is available now through The Vinyl Factory. Will this collaboration signal a new direction for both artists, or a unique offering within their established bodies of work?
