Released in 2023, Wu Wei is one of Oniric Cat's most conceptual works and represents a profound connection between philosophy, creative process, and sonic aesthetics. The EP's title comes from a fundamental concept of Taoism that defines not only the album's concept but also the way it was conceived.
Wu Wei can be translated as “non-action,” but its true meaning goes far beyond that. It is not about inactivity, but about acting without forcing, about letting things happen naturally, in harmony with the flow of life. It is the art of intervening only when necessary, without resistance or friction.
This concept perfectly aligns with Oniric Cat's working method on this EP. The creative process was based on letting ideas emerge without a rigid pre-existing structure, allowing the tracks to evolve organically. Musical decisions stem not from over-planning, but from attentive listening, intuition, and respect for the natural rhythm of each composition.
The cover and visuals
For the EP's cover art and visuals, artificial intelligence was used for the first time as a creative tool, specifically DALL·E 2. The base images were generated from the following commands:
“river flowing in valley between two mountains and low grass landscape in pencil daoist style”
“leaves blowing in the wind, black and white pencil drawing daoist style”
From these initial compositions, further editing was done in Photoshop, refining details, framing, contrasts, and the final composition, until the EP's definitive visual identity was achieved. The result reinforces the Taoist imagery, natural balance, and constant movement present in the album's concept.
Wu Wei was Oniric Cat's second album released on CD, with a limited run of 150 copies, now sold out. This physical edition holds special symbolic value, as it included poem number 48 from the Tao Te Ching, a fundamental work of Taoism, superimposed with a photograph of the Santa Fe del Montseny reservoir, one of the album's inspirations.
This poem reinforces the EP's central message: the more you pursue control, the more you lose your balance; the more you let go, the clearer the path becomes. The inclusion of the text transforms the CD not only into a musical medium, but also into a small object for reflection.
Behind each track
Santa Fe originated from a field recording taken at the Santa Fe reservoir in Montseny. The real sounds of water, animals, and children playing form the beginning of the piece and establish its organic and natural tone. From this authentic environment, the composition gradually unfolds, reinforcing the feeling of being immersed in the surroundings. Interestingly, one of the drum kit elements is Oniric Cat's house keys.
The title Pachamama refers to a concept from Andean cultures representing Mother Earth, a symbol of fertility, life, and spiritual connection with nature. The piece is constructed from a series of organic and performative recordings: sounds of frogs recreated with the voice, a wooden owl call, a ceramic bird call, and the transverse flute, which adds a ritual and ancestral dimension to the work.
Bethanny in Wonderland is produced at 432 Hz. Its structure evolves from a 4/4 time signature to a 5/4 time signature at the end of the composition. It includes the laughter of Oniric Cat's sister (hence its name). Furthermore, it uses 5D audio effects that can only be fully appreciated by listening to the track with headphones.
Changa Visions features a music video created using artificial intelligence, which evokes the visual and psychedelic effects of Changa. The voice in the song describes a real experience with this substance, reinforcing its visionary, introspective, and sensory nature.
Disco Galactica is a track that combines House and Psytrance influences. Despite being produced before most of the tracks on the EP, it ended up fitting naturally within the conceptual line of Wu Wei due to its fluid, expansive character and its constantly moving energy.
Wu Wei is the title track of the EP. It uses a base of organic sounds, along with an analog synthesizer Behringer TD-3 and a very fluid structure, to directly convey the concept of “not forcing anything.” The composition unfolds without rigidity, evolving naturally and musically reinforcing the philosophy that gives meaning to the entire project.
Release date: January 13th, 2023
Production: Oniric Cat
Mastering: Ultimae Studio
Illustration: Oniric Cat
Copyright Oniric Cat, 2023 ©℗