Reel of Ark: Turning Myth into Movement with “Journey of Orion”
Blending organic house, cinematic storytelling, and his signature “Museum House” concept, Reel of Ark maps a three-part voyage through history, symbolism, and emotion for Sounds of Sirin.
Reel of Ark crafts music like a curator of stories, drawing on mythology, history, and science to shape his distinctive Museum House sound. With his new Journey of Orion EP on Sounds of Sirin, he blends organic house, cinematic textures, and narrative themes into a three part voyage through emotion and imagination. In this interview, he reflects on his orchestral roots, the influence of film scores and ancient myths, and how atmosphere, storytelling, and human progress guide the way he builds each piece.
Q: Your music blends organic house with cinematic and storytelling elements. How did this artistic direction develop for you?
A: A lot of it comes from my early musical background. I played saxophone and bassoon in symphonic bands, and I have always loved film soundtracks. Soundtracks can completely shape how a story feels, and that left a big impression on me. Over time, I realized I wanted my own music to work the same way, where a track is not just a groove, but something emotional, visual, and narrative.
Q: You describe your sound as “Museum House.” What does that concept mean to you, and how did it take shape?
A: Museum House is my way of bringing storytelling into house music through history, science, and cultural memory. I think of it as merging the feeling of walking through a museum with the feeling of being on a dance floor. The music still moves, but each track is also trying to open a window into something bigger than itself.
Q: Many of your tracks feel almost narrative, as if they are telling a story rather than just building a groove. Where does that storytelling instinct come from?
A: I think storytelling is at the center of how people connect. So much of life is about sharing stories, hearing stories, and using them to make meaning. That naturally found its way into my music. I want my tracks to carry a feeling or idea that gives the listener something to follow emotionally.
Q: What first drew you to electronic music, and when did you start seeing it as a space for deeper artistic expression?
A: I was drawn to electronic music early on, but it was only about five years ago that I started exploring synthesizers and production seriously.
Before that, my background was in marching band, symphonic band, and orchestra. Once I began working with electronic instruments, I realized how wide open the medium was. It felt like a place where rhythm, atmosphere, and emotion could all come together.
Q: Your productions often feel very textural and layered. How do you approach building atmosphere in your music?
A: I usually think visually first. I often imagine a scene and try to understand all the detail inside it. If you are standing in a forest, for example, nothing is static. Every leaf, every bit of light, every movement of air has variation. I think about atmosphere in music the same way. Layers, automation, and small shifts help make a track feel alive and unfolding.
Q: Mythology and symbolism appear in the titles of this release. What attracts you to these kinds of themes?
A: What draws me to mythology, especially Greek mythology, is that those stories keep returning because they speak to timeless human themes. Ambition, beauty, pride, wonder, failure, transcendence. Those ideas never go away. I am also drawn to the atmosphere of the ancient world, that sense of mystery, distance, and permanence.
Q: When you begin working on a new piece, do you usually start with an idea or emotion, or do you discover the concept during the process?
A: Usually I begin with a larger idea or story world. A lot of my recent work has centered on human progress, from our earliest beginnings to space exploration. So when I start a new piece, I often already have a visual or historical moment in mind. The music becomes a way of exploring that idea emotionally.
Q: How important is the balance between introspective listening and dancefloor energy in your music?
A: It is very important, but it is also something I am still learning. Some pieces lean more toward movement and energy, while others are more reflective or atmospheric. In the live setting especially, that balance becomes part of a larger immersive experience with visuals and storytelling. It is not a fixed formula for me. It is still evolving.
Q: Your sound feels both organic and timeless. What influences outside of electronic music have shaped your approach?
A: A lot of my influence comes from outside music entirely. History, science, space exploration, ancient civilizations, ruins, and artifacts all shape how I think. I am inspired by the feeling of encountering something that has endured across time. Those influences help me make music that feels connected to something larger than the present moment.
Q: Looking back at your artistic journey so far, what do you feel has changed the most in the way you create music?
A: The biggest change has been learning where to put my energy. Early on, I could spend a lot of time getting lost in sound design details. Over time, I built a set of instruments, textures, and approaches that I trust, and that lets me focus more on the bigger picture. Now I think more about emotional arc, atmosphere, and story.
Q: When listeners experience your music, what kind of emotional or mental space do you hope it opens for them?
A: I hope it gives them a sense of connection, both to the story inside the track and to the larger idea behind the project. A lot of my work is rooted in the belief that humanity has done extraordinary things, and that there is value in remembering that. If someone comes away feeling hopeful, inspired, or simply lifted by a moment of euphoria, that means a lot to me.
Q: What directions or ideas are you currently curious to explore in your next chapter as an artist?
A: One direction I am especially excited about is telling stories around scientific inventions and discoveries, especially the ones people take for granted. So much of modern life is shaped by breakthroughs that have faded into the background. I am interested in bringing wonder back to those things and exploring how music can help people feel their significance again.
