Orchid Star

Orchid Star

Orchid Star is a group put together by Pete Ardron at the start of 2005, originally as a way to perform music he had written for DJ sets, especially for chill-out rooms. The line-up centres on Pete Ardron, Samanta Ray and Julia Szederkenyi.

Sound and style

The group’s music blends electronic and live elements with a strong world-music influence. Its palette draws on Indian, Arabic, Celtic and African sounds, and combines them with styles including psychedelic chill, dub, drum & bass and funk. The group is associated with psychill, chillout, ethnic, ambient and liquid sound design.

Live setup

Orchid Star performs in changing formations, with core players joined by guest musicians, singers, dancers and visual artists. Shows range from small line-ups to larger stage ensembles. The live set-up has included vocalists, guitar and bass, electric fiddle, full-size marimba, percussion and keyboards, alongside dancers. Guest performers come from the UK and abroad, giving the group a varied performance format.

Background of the members

Members and guests bring experience from a wide spread of musical styles, including classical, rock, reggae, soul, funk, jazz and world music. Among the people connected with the project are musicians who have worked with Tim Finn of Crowded House, True Life Confessions, Basement Jaxx, Soul2Soul, Hallucinogen and Stomp.