Indelible downtempo selections from one half of the a.s.o duo.
Theory Therapy 52 is by Berlin-based Aussie singer, songwriter and DJ Alias Error. Alia is one half of a.s.o. (the other half is Tornado Wallace), a duo that have been releasing some of the most memorable downtempo we’ve heard in a long time. Can’t wait to hear their debut album out next month. Also highly recommend checking out Alia's monthly radio show on Refuge Worldwide too if you haven’t already. Like this mix, it’s chock-full of indelible downtempo and trip-hop selections.
Hey Alia, thanks so much for the mix. How are you doing today?
My pleasure! Doing well thanks.
What was the last song you listened to?
‘Whatever (I Had A Dream)’ by Butthole Surfers.
When’s your favorite time to listen to music?
First thing In the morning I’ll often put the radio on. It’s usually a good way to start the day.
How did you and Lewie meet? What made you decide to form a.s.o?
We met at his studio in Berlin. I went in to record some overdubs for a song I was working on. We ended up really getting along, chatting about our musical influences and wrote our first song soon after.
Can you tell us a little about the mix? Where was it recorded?
It’s just a bunch of songs that i’ve been into at the moment. It was recorded between my living room and bedroom and the cafe downstairs.
Where would you recommend listening to it?
On a train or bus, at home, maybe while cooking dinner.
Are there any tracks you’ve used in the mix that are special or significant to you?
They’re all special. I did sneak in a forthcoming a.s.o. album cut though… i’ll let you guess which one it is. :)
Theory Therapy mixes are about sharing the music that you personally find therapeutic, cathartic or restorative. What does that mean for you?
I suppose that all depends on the kind of catharsis your in need of. I’m a generally a slow-moving person and sometimes I like to have some energy injected into me. Othertimes I prefer something that matches my own usual rhythm and pace.
Is there a particular album or piece of music that you find yourself returning to for similar reasons?
I think I just really enjoy music that is transportive in some way. This mix and a lot of the music I’m into in general, is quite nostalgic. Growing up in the 90’s and early 2000s, down tempo electronic and indie pop is just really familiar and comforting. A couple of albums I resonate with and I think really capture the mood of that era are Long Distance and Apartment Life by Ivy and Millions, Like Stars in My Hands, The Daggers in My Heart Wage War by Single Gun Theory.
Tell us something exciting that's coming up in your life, music or otherwise.
The a.s.o album which comes out June 2nd. That’s pretty exciting.