Orava - the French-born, London-based multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and producer – has just released a stunning debut album, ‘Behind The Wave.’ A graduate of the Musician Institute of London, Orava draws inspiration from French touch, classic electronic, DnB, and traditional rock, blending analog with digital, homemade recordings with elaborate production, and vintage instruments with synthetic textures.

Orava recently released a music video “Going Backwards,” the fourth and final single from the new album. Opening with an ambient grand-piano and melancholic vocal melody, “Going Backwards” deals with the impact of time on people’s personal growth and “the wish to go back in time to make better choices,” Orava explains. The reverse sequence music video was shot on a beach in southwest France and features a mysterious figure emerging from the ocean and slowly walking backwards to the top of a dune. The powerful connection between the video and the song offers viewers a shortcut in understanding the deeper meaning behind Orava’s lyrics.

Born Axel Gerard and crafting his music between England and his native France since 2018, Orava is named after a stream in north-western Slovakia that roughly translates as “roaring river.” Inspired by artists like Daft Punk, Phoenix, and Depeche Mode, Orava’s compositions tackle the common hopes, doubts and fears of his generation, drawing mostly from his own experiences. Written, composed and produced entirely by the artist, “Going Backwards” follows the release of his previous singles “Behind The Wave,” “The Rest is Noise,” and “Now I Know.”