UK producer Tom, better known as Vorso, has been quietly reshaping the electronic music landscape, starting from orchestral arrangements and film scoring into one of the most unique voices in contemporary bass music.

With complex sound design and relentless reinvention, he stands as one of the scene’s most technical minds, yet remains refreshingly grounded.

Today, we explore the mind behind the incredible Holonomy album, released back in 2023 on Inspected, discussing his creative process, evolution, and exciting projects on the horizon.

Hey Tom, how’s it going today?

Great, thank you!

You started out writing band arrangements and film scores. How did the Vorso project begin? And how did those early influences shape your sound?

I had several years of writing music as a personal project before I had any internet presence. I was initially very inspired by orchestral and film music, before I found any kind of electronic music. I started making a lot of soundtrack material for scenes and stories that didn’t exist.

I think there’s a bit of a cinematic quality that still carries through to my music as Vorso. I try to think about moments and themes in my music that could have narrative meaning, especially during the writing of Holonomy.

What scenes or communities, local or global, do you feel most connected to right now?

This is an interesting one – I feel like I feature somewhere around the internet “Bass Music” scene.

A few years back, there was a community centered around applying drum & bass sound design to other genres and tempos (using the label “neuro”). A lot of us have moved on since then and are making very different music, but I still feel like there’s a connection there. Many are still active in the Upscale, Inspected, and Billain’s “Cyberneuro” community. Locally, it’s always nice meeting up with Ryan and seeing what’s going on with Inspected (and talking about cooking). 

I was very focused over the few years I spent on Holonomy and feel like I’ve fallen out of touch with the internet a bit. I’m putting effort into reconnecting with everyone now. I’m really excited by the direction music in this space seems to be going. I’ve been finding lots of great new music: djeb, HOLOGRAPHIC, Former, Posij, Sorza, setique, Traelmyx, and Yurhi are projects I’m enjoying at the moment.

Your latest album Holonomy blends drum & bass, house, techno, and more. How has your sound evolved since your first release in 2016? What pushed that evolution?

 A lot of my motivation comes from the incredible music that everyone in the scene is creating. I’m also always learning lots from the musicians I work with (e.g. Clockvice, Opiuo, RefraQ). I’ve had some especially fun sessions with RefraQ recently processing zither sounds through the modular – so many tune ideas came out of that (some showcased in the mix). I think being around other musicians can be a huge motivator to improve while also finding your own sound and having fun.

I listen to a lot of electronic music, and I wanted Holonomy to be a collection of tracks that represent everything from that space.

When starting a new track, do you usually have a clear idea, or do you just explore? Walk us through how a track typically comes together.

It varies a lot between tracks. Sometimes I’ll have a clear idea going in, sometimes the idea only becomes clear after a few sessions. I can sometimes feel distinct moments when my initial idea is being pulled in a different direction, and “wants” to be something else, often leading to the most interesting sessions.

I save absolutely everything I work on, even if I think it’s no good. So many of the tunes I release have roots in years-old projects that became the basis for something else entirely. I like the idea of old audio/project files from your early music maturing on your hard drive for years until they become ready to be used later.

I get inspiration from sources outside music. A lot of Holonomy and my newer material is inspired by the coastline of the South UK around where I live. Seeing this visualized by Ed Cheverton in the artwork for Holonomy was really inspiring and gave me the push to finish the album.

Do you use any hardware in the studio? Are there tools or setups you’re especially excited to try soon?

I do! I’ve got some hardware synths, and I’ve recently gotten into modular. I’m not a hardware purist by any means; lots of the stuff I use hardware for can be achieved with software, but the process is certainly very rewarding and engaging when using hardware. I work in software development, so having a part of my music process that doesn’t involve the screen is a nice change.

It’s very easy to get into a “flow” state with a modular synth, and the limitations from having to achieve everything with voltage can be a fun problem-solving exercise. I really like the way everything is just voltage (audio, control signals, triggers, etc.), and it’s inspired me to process audio in software in very different ways (e.g., introducing feedback of control between envelope followers).

My latest additions to the modular have been:

• Xaoc Odessa (Really fun additive oscillator, very unusual digital sound in a usually-analog space)
• MakeNoise Multimod (“Cluster LFO” style multi-control)
• BASTL Ikarie (A very ridiculous and cool filter – feels like every parameter goes about 50% further than you would expect)

Thank you, James Submotive, for getting me hooked on this haha

Have you had a moment on tour or at a show that really stuck with you? One you still think about?

I’ve never had very much of a live presence for the Vorso project, but I have some great memories from shows I went to back when I lived near Bristol. Playing my first show with lots of my music friends was a lot of fun. Seeing KOAN Sound and Culprate live and hearing Emperor – Mind Games on big speakers will always stick in my memory.

What’s something you’ve unlearned about making music or being an artist lately?

“Unlearned” is a really good way to put it. Over the years, you build up lots of habits in music production (or any creative work) that layer up and eventually become a part of your process that you leave unquestioned.

Holonomy, and all my newer stuff especially, was all about trying to erode some of those layers. There have been lots of moments while making my new material where I’ve pushed through with ideas that I’m sure I wouldn’t have been able to pull off years ago (e.g., experimenting with intense tempo changes or inconsistent tuning between sections).

About the Adrenaline guest mix, is there one track in the mix that really stands out to you? What makes it special, technically or emotionally?

There are a few favorite bits for me.

Searcher VIP. I literally made that track in the project file for the mix! I always keep stems for all my stuff rendered out – I tried combining the bass from Searcher with the drums from Palindromes, and it just worked! I love when stuff like that happens…

Otherwise, it would have to be the IDs at 11:24 and 47:10. I think they capture a lot of the energy and sound I’m going for with the Vorso project.

And of course, I’m so stoked by the amazing reinterpretations of Holonomy tunes by Wavhart, Clockvice, Glacier and BVSSIC. 

What’s next? Any upcoming projects, shifts, or directions you’re especially hyped about this year?

Lots of music! I’ve got a new EP coming out on 18th June titled “CORE”. This one is a darker, sci-fi 4-tracker. I’ve got some wonderful Holonomy remixes that are showcased in the mix, really looking forward to putting those out.

Then after that, it’s finding a place for all my latest material – there are certainly several EPs in here. Definitely want to finish up the huge Clockvice-collab backlog that we’ve generated over the years…

I’ve also got something happening soon involving a rhythm game that I’m very excited about!

I also have a slightly ironic pre-Vorso alias that I revived recently, as an outlet for a few of my less serious tunes (SINE TWIST IS BACK).

TRACKLIST

1. 1. 1. Vorso – ????
      2. Vorso – >>>>
      3. Posij – Double Mirror
      4. Vorso – !!!!
      5. Vorso – ????
      6. Vorso – ????
      7. Vorso – Business as Usual
      8. Vorso – >>>>
      9. Vorso – ????
      10. Vorso – Tricks
      11. Corporate – Ice (Vorso Remix)
      12. Vorso – ????
      13. Wavhart – Impulse (Vorso Remix)
      14. Mefjus – Pivot && Vorso – Needle
      15. Vorso – Bad Fuel
      16. Culprate – Beast (Vorso VIP Remix)
      17. Yuhri – Abundance (Vorso VIP Remix)
      18. Yuhri – ????
      19. Skope – Multiply
      20. Vorso – Not So Fast!!Yuhri – Abundance (Vorso VIP Remix) Again
      21. Seppa – Undertow
      22. & Vorso – Dockyards
      23. Ivy Lab – Forex VIP
      24. Kursa – Stuttererer
      25. Kije – Once Again
      26. Tom Finster & Vorso – ????
      27. InsideInfo – Airwaves (ft. Rhymestar) && Posij – Wait a Minute
      28. Vorso – Offshore Platform && Posij – Wait a Minute
      29. Vorso – Searcher VIP
      30. Vorso – ????
      31. Vorso – Searcher & Dockyards (BVSSIC Remix)
      32. Vorso – Badlands (Clockvice & Vorso Remix)
      33. Vorso – ????
      34. Vorso – Facets (Wavhart Remix)
      35. Sine Twist – !!!!
      36. Vorso – ????
      37. Clockvice & BigRedCap – OG (Vorso Remix)
      38. Skrillex & Damian Marley – Make It Bun Dem (Vorso Remix) (Sine Twist Double Remix)
      39. Sine Twist – ????
      40. Clockvice & Vorso – ????
      41. Vorso – ????
      42. Vorso – ????
      43. Vorso – Big Drum (Glacier Remix)

Listen to the previous episode by Floret Loret here.