Closer Orbit

While his long musical history includes being exposed to opera and classical at a young age, it was the experimental explosion in the 90s that led Nicolaas Black aka Closer Orbit to electronic music. Enamored with the creative palette of such artists as Front 242, KMFDM, 808 State, Nitzer Ebb, & NIN, after attending his first illegal rave in Detroit he learned to mix vinyl records, and the progression to a dancefloor aesthetic was sealed.


His instinct led to a 6 year sojourn in Chicago, where he discovered Trax Studio, co-owned by industrial powerhouse MINISTRY. He bought his first Mac, learned ProTools, sharpened production chops, developed his sensibility, and was fortunate there to meet some of the seminal pioneers of house, when he began assisting studio sessions at Slang Music Group- Frankie Knuckles, Paul Johnson, Joe Smooth, Ron Carroll, Craig Loftus, and Vince Lawrence among others. Later he worked for Mark Picchiotti at Blueplate Records, rounding out his 4-on-the-floor ‘primary’ education. He also engineered a “Pigface” album for Martin Atkins of P.I.L. fame, solidifying his industrial roots.
Countless dj sets, parties, raves, festivals & recording sessions later, he is based in Los Angeles and stays committed to the studio and impromptu surf missions. His music & sets bridge the width of the underground dance music spectrum- Los Angeles to Chicago, Detroit to Berlin; techno, house, industrial, electro, and beyond.