From Berlin’s underground clubs to the sun-soaked shores of Gibraltar, Ocean Flor is the sound of two worlds colliding—and something entirely new blooming in the space between. The duo, made up of Ralf and Jesse, fuse intricate sound design with evocative songwriting to create emotionally resonant electronic music that’s both deeply human and fiercely forward-thinking. In this exclusive interview with Urbanista Magazine, Ocean Flor opens up about how their contrasting backgrounds shaped their unique sound, the making of their latest track “Never Let You Down,” and the creative push-and-pull that keeps their project evolving.
How have your individual backgrounds and musical influences shaped the Ocean Flor sound?
Ralf: I was born and raised in Germany and spent a long time living in the techno capital of Berlin. I’ve also been working as an international touring DJ for many years, which definitely influences my workflow and taste. I get really deep into sound design and arrangement and can easily spend hours in the studio tweaking small details. I’d also say I’m pretty good at finishing things.
Jesse grew up in Gibraltar, the British enclave in the south of Spain. He’s been involved in nightlife for a long time too, organising events and DJing, and he studied music production in London. He’s obviously more responsible for the songwriting and vocal side, and he’s great at getting new ideas off the ground. He’s super knowledgeable about production too and has a great ear for melodies.
Even though we come from different backgrounds, we share a lot of the same taste and vision, and we’re both really driven to make this project work. We complement each other well and split the workload naturally based on what each of us is best at.
What was the hardest part of creating “Never Let You Down,” and how did you overcome it?
Jesse: Writing and recording the song came pretty naturally – that part was smooth. But lately, we’ve been spending just as much time thinking about the visual side of Ocean Flor as we do the music. It’s become a big part of how we communicate the feeling behind a track, its new ground for us. Trying to turn a mood into something you can actually see feels like chasing something intangible. Working with my good friend Chris Mounter on the video really helped – even when we couldn’t fully articulate what we were going for, he just got it.The words don’t always arrive as fast as the ideas do and he helped pull those scattered ideas into something real, and it made the whole thing feel more complete.
How does “Never Let You Down” compare to previous tracks you’ve released? What has changed in your approach to songwriting and production?
Ralf: IIt’s a lot faster and more breakbeat-influenced than our last two tracks, but it still has that Ocean Flor feeling we’re always looking for. With this one, I was actually there when Jesse recorded the vocals, which isn’t always the case. I gave him a bit of direction and live feedback as he was recording, kind of guiding the process in real time.
Can you describe a defining moment in your musical journey that pushed you to pursue this collaboration as Ocean Flor?
Jesse: There were a few pivotal and defining moments in the beginning of Ocean Flor, but one I’ll never forget – and honestly, in the moment, I thought I might die from cringe.
Ralf had stopped by Gibraltar while he was visiting Malaga with his partner – I think it was 2019? We went for dinner, and then ended up at my studio to grab a cable or something. It was meant to be a super quick in-and-out. He played me a couple tracks he was working on, and while he was doing that, I stepped out to use the bathroom.
When I came back, I heard something playing from the speakers – and immediately realized it was a project of mine from months earlier. It was this awful cover I had made of an Arthur Russell track, where I was just starting to mess around with using my voice and treating it like an instrument. I still have no idea what I’m doing, to be honest – but back then, I definitely didn’t. I wasn’t even sharing my electronic stuff at the time, let alone this mess. I honestly wanted the floor to swallow me. It felt like someone had walked in on me naked in the shower. It was the first time anyone was hearing me attempt to sing on anything.
I tried to act like I hadn’t heard anything, thinking “fuck, just shut the project and move on.” But Ralf turned to me and said something like, “What the fuck – is this you?” And I just stood there,it felt like someone had walked in on me in the shower, trying to play it cool, but fully panicking inside. I went to close the session and pretend it never happened, but he insisted I play him something else. He really motivated me to keep exploring that side of my production.
What do you think makes the connection between your music and your audience so strong?
Ralf: Of course we’re still building the relationship with our audience, but even from the first releases, it’s clear that people connect with the human element in our music. We make songs, not just tracks, and the lyrics and themes seem to really resonate with people outside of the club circuit as well. We also put a lot of thought into the visual side of things. It’s important to us to build a whole world around the music, not just put it out and hope for the best. We’re trying to tell a story. I think people are also drawn to the mix of our backgrounds and personalities – it brings something different, and hopefully something that feels special and unique.
Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re excited to share with your fans in the near future?
Jesse: We’ve just finished a song called “Keep On Coming” in collaboration with Adana Twins, this one means a lot to me. I had written the lyrics down months ago and when I heard the instrumental Adana Twins had sent us It triggered the same sentiment of those lyrics. That’s releasing the same weekend we play our first live show at Wakana Reunion in mid May.
How do you handle creative differences or challenges when working together? What keeps you both motivated during difficult moments?
Ralf: So far, I have to say we’ve been pretty lucky, most of the time we’re on the same page creatively, and when we’re not, we always manage to find a solution that works for both of us. One of the biggest challenges is just finding enough time to get through everything we’ve taken on. Our schedules are packed, and there are always more ideas than we can realistically follow up on. Not everything ends up being worth sharing either – that’s just part of the process.
When you’re working creatively, the old battle between perfectionism and actually getting things done is always there. But I feel like we’ve found a good balance. We try to keep each other from overthinking and just keep things moving. It’s also super important to keep it fun and stay excited about what we’re doing. So far, motivation hasn’t been a problem, there’s always something new and exciting around the corner that we’re looking forward to, and to be fair – we’re just getting started!
How has living in Andalusia and the culture around you influenced the music you create? Are there any specific cultural elements that inspire your work?
Jesse: My location has always seeped into my music, whether I mean for it to or not. In my early twenties, I got kind of obsessed with the idea. I used to look out my window across the bay toward Algeciras – knowing that’s where Paco de Lucía was from – and I’d imagine him doing the same thing, looking back toward Gibraltar. I used to joke with myself that “Entre Dos Aguas” could’ve never been written if he’d grown up in, like, Berlin or Birmingham. It’s kind of a ridiculous thought, but it stuck with me. It made me think about how your surroundings – the landscape, the culture, the in-between spaces – all quietly shape what you make and who you are. Like music becomes a sort of map of where you are, and where you’ve been
Looking ahead, where do you see Ocean Flor going next in terms of sound, style, and personal growth?
Our style comes pretty naturally. It’s not something we try to plan too much. And honestly, I don’t think you really can, at least not if you want to stay true to who you are as a musician. It’s more of a natural process, like a flower. You just try to give it the right water, soil, and sunlight, and watch it blossom.
That said, our next big step is bringing the music to the stage. We’re working hard to make that happen, and we’ve got our first live show coming up in May at Wakana Reunion. We’re really excited to finally share this music in a live setting. On a personal level, we just want to keep reaching more people, and we’re always thinking about new ways to get the music out there and connect with our listeners.
