Biography
Jernej Marusic aka Octex is one of the most profiled and internationally established Slovenian electronic musicians, operating somewhere in between club and avant-garde, exploring the boundaries of rhythmical atmospheres drowned in dub aesthetics and sub-bass frequencies.
Already, after the first release, on compilation Elektrotehnika Slavenika (NSK/Wire, 2000), his music got noticed by the late, great John Peel, that also supported his debut album Idei Lahesna (Tehnka, 2002) which is regarded by many as one of the best dub-techno albums of all time. It also won him the Slovenian Bumerang award for up comer of 2003, and two years in a row placed him amongst 10 finalists of Radio France International Electronic Music Award. Self made video for the track Emergon got airplay on MTV, VIVA, Onyx TV… With the release of his second album Variations (rx-tx, 2005), he showed his desire to get away from established musical trends and push the sound further, deeper, and more experimental. He continued in that direction on Every Sound Tells a Story (rx-tx, 2009). In 2012 french label Entropy Records released Dead Centre of Nowhere, an ambient sequel to Idei Lahesna, recorded some 10 years ago, but till then never released.
Besides that, he has released music on numerous labels (Mute, EFA, STHLM, Public Records…) and remixed artists such as Laibach, Marko Furstenberg, Gabriel Le Mar, Ultra Red…
After the release of the debut Streeteepy of his side-project Pavemental in 2015, which focuses on his unique take on urban hip hop beats, he retreated into musical self-isolation, only resurfacing for selected live performances to test out new music.
This year he is resurfacing in full force with his own record label Polynya music, which starts of with the new album Mindrifft and accompanying new AV performance.
His live AV performances are ever-changing and evolving analog/digital hybrids in which fragments of prerecorded studio material get intertwine with on-the-spot modular improvisation. All this is visualized by a custom system that follows the music, extrapolating audio parameters, synaesthetically applying them to video. Enabling AV performance, without sacrificing any improvisation and flexibility, and not taking performers' mind off the music, which remains the focal point.
He has performed at festivals and clubs all around Europe, such as ARS Electronica (Linz), CTM (Berlin), ISEA (Helsinki), Dis-patch (Belgrade) Exit (Novi Sad) White Night (Riga), Flussi (Avellino) ...
Discography
Albums
- Rob je tam | Matej bor (original soundtrack) [Polynya music, 2023]
- Idei Lahesna ((versions & outtakes)) [Polynya music, 2023]
- Idei Lahesna (20th anniversary edition) [Polynya music, 2022]
- Mindrifft [Polynya music, 2022]
- Dead Centre Of Nowhere [Entropy records, 2012]
- Every Sound Tells a Story [rx:tx, 2010]
- Variations [rx:tx, 2005]
- Idei Lahesna [Tehnika, 2002]
EPs
- Deflection EP [Tehnika, Slovenija, 2002]
Tracks
- Resurfal (Drums Got Lost in a Blizzard Mix) - Senzorama vol 1. [Zarš records, 2021]
- Gait - Chilli Space 10 [Škuc ventilator, 2014]
- Repeat expansion - DNA Sequence vol. 1 [Grounded In Humanity, 2013]
- Distant wave - Chilli Space 9 [Škuc ventilator, 2013]
- Refract – Retroactive 2 [Retrospective Zoology, 2012]
- First Descent – Chilli Space 8 [Škuc ventilator, 2011]
- Refocuse – Chilli Space 7 [Škuc Ventilator, Slovenija, 2010]
- Introversion – Synaptic Pathways [Synaptic Pathways, 2010]
- Whiteout – Wired Thoughts [Entropy Records, 2010]
- Allitize – The Sound Of Nature [Cold Tear Records, 2010]
- Remories – RoboVox [rx:tx, 2008]
- Broken – Chilli Space 3 [Škuc Ventilator, 2006]
- Blok 70 pm (Evening Melancholia) - BLOK70:Translations [Public Record]
- Computer Love - Trans Slovenia Express vol. 2 [Mute, 2005]
- Kleep - Progress EX.04 [rx:tx, 2004]
- Sensidual - Dunkelplatte - [STHLMaudio, 2004]
- Valley Of Erosion" - Chilli Space vol.2 [Škuc Ventilator, 2003]
- Echo bay - Chilli Space vol.2 [Škuc Ventilator, 2003]
- Errorded - Intelligent Clubbing at K4 [K4, 2003]
- Brignit - Progress [rx:tx, 2003]
- Otnemem - Chilli Space CD [Škuc Ventilator, 2002]
- Thuavelo - Tehnika 1 [Tehnika, Slovenija, 2002]
- Nigljana - Tehnika 1 [Tehnika, Slovenija, 2002]
- Nigljana - Elektrotehnika Slavenika [NSK/Nika/Wire, 2000]
Remixes
- G.R.I.T. - Furthest Outpost (Octex Radio Interference Mix) – Expans (The Remixes) [Entropy Records, 2012]
- Supersoul Connection - The Key (Octex dub) [2012]
- Gubatz / Van Bonn - Marathon (Octex remix) - Marathon / Burnout [Telrae, 2012]
- Mr. Cloudy - Grey (Octex remix) - Grey [Entropy Records, 2011]
- The Nautilus Project - Deep Waves (Octex Surfing The Waves Dub) - Harbor At Night [ZeECc, 2010]
- Gabriel Le Mar - Dubster (Octex remix) – Wize Dubs [Thinner, 2009]
- Marko Furstenberg - Rosengarten (Octex remix) - Chilli Space 5 [Škuc Ventilator, 2008]
- Spyweirdos - Cellar (Octex remix) - Wetsound Orchestra [Poeta Negra, 2006]
- Ultra Red - Movement for Ljubljana Airport. Remixed by Octex - Movement for Airports Transistors Remixes [Public Record, 2005]
- Laibach - Smrt za Smrt (Octex remix) - Anthems [Mute, Velika Britanija]
Compilations
- Liagon - Wattergate 18 - Butch [WG 018, 2015]
- Zionskische Dub (Oh Jah) feat. King B-fine – Chilli Space 6 [Škuc Ventilator, 2009]
- Broken – Inteligent Toys 5 [Sutemo, 2008]
- Blok70 (Evening Melancholia) – Chilli Space 4 [Škuc Ventilator, 2008]
- Otnemem - Flow.ers - [Sutemos, 2005]
- Emergon - United Djs Vol. 2 [Matrix Musik, 2004]
- Deflection - Datcha Studio volume 2 [LE Maquis, 2003]
- Emergon - Danny Howels - 24:7 [Global Underground, 2003]
- Emergon - Umek - Techno From Slovenia [DJ Magazine, 2003]
- Deflection - State of e:motion vol.10 [EFA, 2002]
- Emergon - Datcha Studio [LE Maquis, 2002]
Live
Octex live is an ever-changing and evolving analog/digital live performance in which fragments of prerecorded studio material get intertwine with on the spot improvisation, resulting in always unique experience. Like his diverse discography, his performances can vary from abstract soundscapes to more beat-driven and club-friendly, or a mixture of both, depending on the venue.
Live A/V
Extension to the standard live performance, using custom ever-expanding system that follows the music, extrapolating audio parameters, synaesthetically applying them to video. Enabling free audio/visual performance, without sacrificing any improvisation and flexibility, not taking performers' mind of the music, which remains the focal point.
Impro session
Start from scratch live improvisation, centered around modular synthesizer.
DJ / Live
A melange of finely selected records and live improvisation.
For booking contact me here.
Upcoming performances
- Ambient Soup - Octex live, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 20.1.2024
Selected past performances
- Musik Im Raum: Werner Puntigam (trombone & conch shell) + Jernej Marusic aka Octex (electronics), Linz, Austria, 5.11.2023
- KIBLIX festival - Octex Mindrifft A/V live, Maribor, Slovenia, 26.10.2023
- Space Echoes - Octex dub-techno dj set, Publika Bar, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 27.5.2023
- Werner Puntigam (trombone & conch shell) + Jernej Marusic aka Octex (electronics), Bad Radkersburg, Austria, 22.10.2022
- IZIS festival - Octex Mindrifft A/V live, Koper, Slovenia, 30.9.2022
- Space Textures - Octex Mindrifft A/V live, Riga, Latvia, 3.9.2022
- Sajeta festival - Octex Mindrifft A/V live, Sotočje, Tolmin, Slovenia, 8.7.2022
- Živa književnost - Octex live, Stari trg, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 13.6.2022
- Mindrifft Album Release - Octex live A/V, Sonica festival, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 29.9.2021
- AmbientSoup - Octex live, Maribor, Slovenia, 27.12.2019
- 30 Years of K4 - Octex live, K4, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 24.5.2019
- Temnica - Octex dj/live techno set, K4, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 16.2.2019
- Temnica - Octex dj/live techno set, K4, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 5.5.2018
- Temnica - Octex hybrid dj/live techno set, K4, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 20.10.2017
- Od:vod - Octex live, Sotocje, Tolmin, Slovenia, 1-3.9.2017
- Chill & Grill - Octex dj set, Jauhe, Slovenia, 15.7.2017
- 28 Years of Club K4 - Octex dj set, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 25.5.2017
- Grounded festival - Octex live, Pritličje, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 4.12.2015
- Kiblix - Octex live AV, Maribor, Slovenia, 9.10.2015
- Centralna postaja, Pavemental live, Maribor, Slovenia, 25.9.2015
- +++ festival - Octex live, Serbia, 4.7.2015
- Streeteepy release party - Pavemental live, Gala Hala, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 10.4.2015
- Tehnicni pouk - Hybrid dj/live techno set, Channel Zero, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 6.3.2015
- Ment festival - Pavemental live, Gala Hala, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 6.2.2015
- Salotto Vienna, Ex Pescheria, Trieste, Italy, 10.10.2014
- Cmakajne festival, MC C.M.A.K., Cerkno, Slovenia, 13.9.2014
- K4 Četrtica Live, Klub K4, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 19.12.2014
- WRO Festival, Wroclaw, Poland, 9.5.2013
- Berlin music week / ICAS Suit, West Germany, Berlin, Germany, 8.9.2011
- Haip Festival, Klub K4, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 26.11.2010
- Kino Udarnik, Maribor, Slovenia, 17.9.2010
- Sajeta, Sotočje, Tolmin, Slovenia, 29.7.2010
- Ekstrakt z Bregov, Lovački dom Bliznec, Zagreb, Croatia, 3.7.2010
- Every Sound Tells a Story, release party, Kino Šiška, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 15.5.2010
- Ekstrakt, Dvorana Jedinstvo, Zagreb, Croatia, 2.4.2010
- Con-fine aperto, Menza pri koritu, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 4.2.2010
- rx:tx oddaja in sprejema, Kino Šiška, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7.12.2009
- Arzenal Depo, Studio Viba film, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 3.12.2009
- MFRU, Dvorana gustaf, Maribor, Slovenia, 13.11.2009
- Berlin sreča Brooklyn, Kino Šiška, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 25.9.2009
- White Night – Space Textures III, Riga, Latvia, 12.9.2009
- Flussi Festival, Avelino, Italy, 28.8.2009
- 7epta/8ogdoa festival, Megáli Panayía, Greece, 7.8.2009
- Sajeta, Sotočje, Tolmin, 1.8.2009
- Balkan Blackbox Festival, Berlin, Germany, 28.11.2008
- DobiaLab, Dobia/Monfalcone, Italy, 1.11.2008
- ARS Electronica, Linz, Austia, 8.9.2008
- Enigmatica Festival, Ambasada Gavioli, Izola, Slovenia, 15.8.2008
- Supynes Festival, Lithuania, 14.6.2008
- Shanti, Moscow, Russia, 13.9.2007
- Under Construction, Barcelona, Spain, 13.6.2007
- Ekstrakt, Aquarius, Zagreb, Croatia, 5.4.2007
- Cynet Art Festival, Dresden, Germany, 18.11.2006
- Zimmerfrei, Vodice, Croatia, 24.7.2006
- Crash Test Dummy festival, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 24.6.2006
- Electroblog festival, Trieste, Italy, 28.5.2006
- Ljubljana Berlin Soundbridge, Berlin, Germany, 14.4.2006
- Resonance FM, London, UK, 11.11.2005
- Sprawl, London, UK, 9.11.2005
- Dis-patch Festival, Beograd, Serbia, 8.10.2005
- Progress Festival, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 25.11.2004
- E!AxX galerija glasbe, Galerija Kapelica, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 10.8.2004
- TEMIKKA festival, Murska Sobota, Slovenia, 17.7.2004
- Exit Festival, Novi Sad, Serbia, 4.7.2004
- Nuit Blanche, Paris, France, 2.10.2004
- La Batie festival, Geneve, Switzerland, 8.9.2004
- ISEA 2004, Kiasma, Helsinki, Finnland, 21.8.2004
- ISEA 2004, M/S Silija Opera, Baltic Sea, 16.8.2004
- Signal-Sever - Transignal 2, Karlsplatz, Wien, 13.05.2004
- Futuresonic, Manchester, Uk, 30.4.2004
- Meet Me festival, Divača, Slovenia, 5.7.2003
- Club Transmediale, Berlin, Germany, 31.1.2003
- New Year Celebration of Slovenian Ministry of Culture, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 9.1.2003
- Citat devedesetih, Museum of Modern Art, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 15.10.2002
