Olendo Explains Why Folklore and Chains Resist Algorithm Thinking

Olendo arrives on the label with the Folklore EP, a two-track release built around rhythm, organic instrumentation, and a production approach that prioritizes feel over formula. His work draws from global percussion traditions, using congas, hand-played patterns, and repeating figures that move with intention while staying grounded in club-ready structure. Rather than chasing uniform tempos or standardized drops, Olendo shapes tracks that breathe and shift, which reflects his interest in movement, trance, and the physical response of listeners rather than quick recognition in playlists. Magnetic Magazine · PREMIERE: Olendo – Folklore [Magnetic Magazine Recordings] The title track “Folklore” sets the tone with layered percussion, steady motion, and subtle changes in texture that reward long-form listening. It unfolds gradually, allowing small rhythmic details to take on meaning as the arrangement develops. “Chains” continues that direction while leaning into a tighter pulse and a darker tone, creating contrast through pattern and restraint rather than through abrupt changes. Together, the two tracks function as a focused statement, one that connects club utility with a deeper attention to rhythm and pacing. Across the Folklore EP, Olendo keeps the production direct and human, choosing groove and timing over surface gloss and predictable arcs. His perspective comes through in the way each track resists fast payoff and instead builds trust through repetition and motion. This release reflects an artist who listens closely to how music moves bodies and holds space, and it fits naturally into a catalog that values identity, patience, and records designed to be experienced in full rather than skimmed in parts. Interview With Olendo Have you noticed streaming platforms nudging everything toward the same tempo, texture, or polish? Yes, very clearly. Over time, I’ve noticed that streaming platforms seem to reward a specific sonic profile… certain tempos, familiar grooves, and a highly polished finish. It’s not something that’s enforced overtly, but more a quiet gravity that pulls music toward the centre. Tracks that sit comfortably within recognisable BPM ranges and have predictable energy arcs tend to travel further, while anything that deviates feels like it has to work harder to be heard. The polish itself has become almost a prerequisite. Clean low-end, controlled dynamics, and mixes that translate seamlessly across earbuds, cars, and club systems are favoured. While technical quality is important, the issue arises when polish becomes aesthetic uniformity rather than clarity. You start hearing different artists, from different places and backgrounds, all arriving at remarkably similar sonic conclusions. Tempo is another subtle area of convergence. Certain BPM ranges dominate because they’re deemed “playlist-friendly” or versatile enough to sit across multiple contexts. Music that drifts between tempos, breathes naturally, or resists grid-locked structure often feels like an outlier. That fluidity, once a strength in underground music, can now be perceived as a risk. Texture has flattened in a similar way. Rawness, noise, and spatial irregularities are often smoothed out in favour of glossy surfaces. Saturation is controlled, reverb tails are pristine, and imperfections are edited away. While this creates consistency, it can also remove the sense of place and humanity that once made records feel alive. What’s interesting is that this flattening doesn’t come from malice. It’s a by-product of scale. Platforms need systems to process, categorise, and recommend millions of tracks. But systems favour predictability, and predictability slowly reshapes creativity. Over time, that reshaping becomes normalized.As a producer, you feel this pressure even if you try to resist it. You become aware, sometimes unconsciously, of what “works” in the ecosystem. The challenge is deciding when to honour that knowledge and when to deliberately ignore it in favour of feel. For Olendo, I try to treat these pressures as something to be aware of, not obey. Understanding the landscape is important, but I don’t want the music to be a by-product of optimisation. I’d rather it feel human, contextual, and slightly unpredictable, even if that means it doesn’t always fit neatly into the system. What kind of tracks do you think are less likely to show up in algorithm-driven playlists? Tracks that take time are often the first to disappear. Music that unfolds slowly, builds atmosphere gradually, or delays gratification doesn’t always perform well in algorithmic environments. If a track doesn’t establish its identity quickly, it risks being skipped—and that single action can determine its future visibility. Records that blur functional boundaries are also less likely to surface. Music that sits between listening and club contexts, or between genres, can confuse recommendation systems. If it’s not clearly “for” a specific moment… workout, party, foc