Stefan Obermaier & Seba Campos: Two Worlds, One Groove with "Amina"

Stefan Obermaier and Seba Campos have been building a musical shorthand across multiple collaborations, drawn together by a shared instinct for warmth, groove and atmosphere. With "Amina" on Sounds Of Sirin, they deliver a track that moves between sunset and peak time without ever choosing a side. In this interview, they talk about the Latin American and African roots woven into their sound, why they never produce with a specific context in mind, and what it actually feels like when a track is finally done.

Q: Stefan and Seba, you have collaborated before. What keeps bringing you back to working together, and what does the other person bring that changes what you make alone?

A (Seba): We've worked together on quite a few tracks now, and I think it works because we share a similar musical language without coming from exactly the same place. I bring a lot of my Latin American background and a more instinctive approach, while Stefan has his own very detailed way of shaping sound. That combination usually takes the music somewhere neither of us would go alone.

A (Stefan): Exactly. Most of the time, Seba brings a certain direction or idea, and I take it from there. It always flows very naturally between us, with complete freedom for both of us to contribute whatever feels right.

Q: "Amina" is a name with roots in Arabic and African cultures, meaning trustworthy or peaceful. Whose idea was the title, and what does it mean for this track specifically?

A (Seba): For me, the name fits the feeling of the track really well. There is something warm, peaceful and positive in it, but at the same time it still has enough energy for the dancefloor. I really don't remember who came up with the name! haha - but it fits really well to the vibe of the track.

A (Stefan): I think we made that decision quite quickly. "Amina" is part of the vocal, and after doing a quick bit of research into what the name means, we both agreed that it was a perfect fit for the track.

Q: The track blends organic house with warm African influences. Stefan, your sound has long had an organic, textural quality — where did that connection to African music come from for you?

A (Stefan): It's actually something that has always been present in my music. I grew up with those sounds and rhythms, and they've always connected with me on a very instinctive level. Over the last couple of years, I think that connection has also become more visible in my tracks.

Q: Seba, you are Chilean but have lived in Europe since 2008 and are currently based in Germany. In a way, is that exactly where your sound comes from?

A (Seba): In a way, that is exactly where my sound comes from. I grew up with Latin American music and rhythms, and later discovered the European electronic scene. Organic House became a very natural meeting point between those two worlds for me.

Q: Seba, Chile has a passionate and growing electronic music scene. What is it actually like from the inside, and how has being part of it shaped your perspective as an artist?

A (Seba): I still feel very connected to Chile. I usually go back once a year, and I'd say I'm still part of the scene to some extent. I've worked with artists like Rodrigo Gallardo, and whenever I'm there I get to play at really special places where Organic House is genuinely appreciated. At the same time, because I live in Germany, I obviously can't be as active in the scene as someone who is based there full-time. What I really like about the Chilean and wider South American scene is how naturally electronic music can mix with traditional rhythms, instruments and culture. That way of thinking about music definitely stays with me.

Q: Stefan, you have been releasing music for many years now. What has changed most about the way you approach the studio compared to when you started, and what has stayed exactly the same?

A (Stefan): I think nowadays I'm much quicker and more efficient in the studio. Back in the day, I used to spend hours or even days trying to find the right sound and make everything fit perfectly. These days, it's much more about the feeling and not getting lost in perfectionism. When it comes to mixing, though, I'm still constantly learning and always trying to achieve the best possible result - that definitely hasn't changed. I've also simplified my setup to the equipment and tools I really know and love working with, and I don't feel the need to chase every new plugin anymore.

Q: What does a typical collaborative session between the two of you look like? Do you work in the same room or remotely?

A (Seba): There isn't really one fixed formula. What I like about working with Stefan is that we can exchange an idea, somebody adds something, and suddenly the track starts moving in a completely different direction. We give each other enough space, which is probably why the collaboration keeps working.

A (Stefan): We basically exchange the projects back and forth until we both feel the track is finished and works both in a club and for the listener. Most of the time, we actually get there quite quickly because we trust each other's decisions and don't overcomplicate the process.

Q: "Amina" works at sunset, at peak time and in a deep listening session. Do you actually think about those different contexts while producing, or does that versatility just come from following the feeling?

A (Seba): For me it's much more about following the feeling. I don't want to sit in the studio thinking, "this has to be a sunset track" or "this has to work at peak time." If the groove and emotion are right, the track hopefully finds its own moments.

A (Stefan): In general, I think we both tend to move in a direction that feels right for sunset, but the feeling and vibe can work perfectly in different scenarios. We don't really produce with a specific setting in mind - if the track has the right emotion, it can work in different contexts.

Q: When you listen back to a finished track together, what are you actually listening for? What tells you it is done?

A (Seba): At some point you have to stop improving and start listening. If I can listen to the whole track without thinking about what I should change next, that's usually a very good sign. And of course, the real test is always playing it loud.

A (Stefan): It's really a feeling. When everything sits right and the mix works, we don't overthink it too much. We test the track wherever possible, in different environments and situations, and once it feels right, we let it go.

Q: Stefan, outside of electronic music, what are you listening to at home right now, and has anything surprised you recently?

A (Stefan): Honestly, because I'm working on a lot of music at the moment, I'm not listening to that much other music. I actually really enjoy moments of silence and resetting my ears. When I do listen to something outside of electronic music, I tend to go towards classical, ambient or more jazzy music. It's a nice contrast and gives my ears and mind some space.

Q: Seba, is there a DJ set or a live performance you have witnessed that completely changed how you think about what music can do to a room?

A (Seba): For me it was less one specific DJ set and more discovering festival and club culture in Europe. Seeing how a crowd can completely connect through music, even when nobody knows each other, had a huge impact on me. That idea of bringing people together is still one of the most important things about music for me.

Q: Both of you travel and play internationally. Is there a city or a crowd that consistently surprises you, somewhere that reacts to music in a way you didn't expect?

A (Seba): Bern has a special place for me. I lived there for a few years, and we built a really beautiful community around Orgánica Records, my music and event label. I was always surprised by how open the crowd was to very different tempos and styles. You could go from slow, organic music into much more energetic House, and people would really follow the journey. I'm really happy that we're now able to build that same party and vibe in Essen, where I live today. My mother and most of my German family come from this area, which is one of the reasons I chose to live here and contribute to the cultural scene in this part of Germany. At the same time, I travel a lot and play all across Germany and Europe.

A (Stefan): For me, it often works best when I'm somewhere in the south, where people are generally positive, love to dance and really connect with the vibe - especially when there's the sea and that whole atmosphere around it. But I've also had some of my best sets in cities like Cologne, Vienna and Berlin. It really depends on the moment and the crowd, so I couldn't put it into just one direction. I'm also in Thailand almost every year and always love playing there - it just seems to be a perfect fit every time.

Q: If you could only keep three records from your entire collections, what would each of you choose?

A (Seba): That's probably the hardest question here. I honestly couldn't give you three without changing my answer again tomorrow. My musical background goes from Latin American music and Cumbia to electronic music, House and Downtempo, so choosing only three feels almost impossible.

A (Stefan): That's a tough one. I honestly couldn't answer it because if I started going through my record collection, it would probably take me hours to decide - and I'd still be questioning the choice afterwards.

Q: What is next for each of you after this release?

A (Seba): For me, definitely more music and more collaborations. I'm also continuing to develop Orgánica as a label and event project and bringing that sound into different places and different kinds of venues. I like keeping things open and seeing where the next collaboration takes me.

A (Stefan): There's a lot in the pipeline, and somehow it keeps getting more rather than less. I also have a bigger project planned for 2027, which I've already started working on, so there's definitely a lot happening over the next couple of years.

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