Based in Chicago, self-taught producer Henrik Fortuzi, better known as Nvrtheless, has carved out a distinct space in the electronic music landscape with his intimate, emotionally driven productions. Alongside running his own label, Memoirs Records, Fortuzi has built a growing audience of more than 200,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, with tracks including ‘jpn’, ‘never told u’, and ‘away with u’ each surpassing one million streams.
With his understated approach to production and a catalogue that balances atmospheric textures with melodic songwriting, Nvrtheless has steadily developed a sound that feels both personal and expansive. As the project continues to evolve from his Chicago base, we caught up with him to discuss his journey as a self-taught producer, the philosophy behind Memoirs Records, and the creative process shaping his music.
Listen to his mix on PLAYY. Music whilst reading the interview below:
How would you describe your musical style and the genres or subcultures that most influence your sound?
Dark romantic, or yearning, but also danceable. There has always been a sense of longing and rhythm in all the music that has inspired me.
Music Creation: Describe the primary setting or environment where your music is conceived. Is it a chaotic, overstimulating studio, a minimalist digital space, a rehearsal room, or a more isolated location?
Minimalist, slightly isolated if possible. I get distracted easily, so having a space that is free from that always helps me focus on the music, which is what really matters in the end.
When you create, what leads the way – a feeling, a story, or the sound itself?
I am always searching for a feeling, or a memory of it. The sound is just the caravan to get you there.
What’s in your toolkit? Share the gear, gadgets, or software you can’t create without.
My Arturia KeyStep is all I use as a mini piano. I refuse to get myself into gear. I’ve tried once getting into TD 3, but I ended up spending hours and hours turning knobs, which was not very productive haha.
Are there any unexpected or dream collaborations hidden in your work?
Baltra. He’s one of my biggest influences. He has moved on artistically from my sound, but working with him would be a dream of mine.
Any side projects you’re working on?
I was in the very early stages of starting a darkwave project, but I’ve hit pause on that for now.
Who’s an emerging artist you think deserves more recognition right now?
24mg and Odysseus. They’re doing their own thing, not following any trends (cough angelcore cough), which I respect.
What role does ‘rebellion’ or ‘counterculture’ play in your music? Are you aiming to challenge commercial norms, sonic structures, or societal expectations?
It plays a big role. I don’t know music theory, so to me there are no rules, there is no structure. I don’t know if something is correct or not, but I can feel it. I also never wanted to get into the rules because it would be harder to break them.
I like grit. The more degraded a sound is, the more it intrigues me. For me, it’s those sounds that create the emotion I’m looking for, “correct” or not.
But yeah, we are here, expressing ourselves in our most vulnerable state with no rules or expectations, rejecting super clean studio sounds, big DJ gear, or major labels to push what we make. It’s all here underground. We are making it happen somehow without the help of anyone.
If it’s good, people are going to find it and connect with it. If they don’t, then maybe it was never meant to be, or maybe we aren’t making something substantial enough.
Who is one non-musical artist (e.g., fashion designer, visual artist, film director) whose work feels sonically synonymous with your sound?
Kazuo Kamimura. Beaty, and melancholy
What aspects of your artistry feel most important to you, for example your sound, visuals, storytelling, or live performance style?
The atmosphere; the sound needs to tell a story, although visuals are a big part of it too. I always obsess over getting the right album cover. The first impression matters a lot for me.
The Future: What is the most exciting and the most terrifying technological development impacting the music industry right now (e.g., AI composition, NFTs, digital distribution models)?
It’s cool to see how sophisticated VSTs are getting, but nothing is truly terrifying. Let’s just focus on the music. Everything else is just noise.
How would you describe the live music environments you feel most connected to? For example, are you drawn more to the energy of massive festival stages, the intimacy of underground warehouse parties or DIY venues, or a mix of both?
I like the intimacy of smaller environments. The connection you get from DIY venues is different. The music becomes the focal point for me in those spaces. The less of a spectacle it is, the purer it feels to me. Of course, being at the club is its own experience, but there’s something about being at a big club. There’s this distance. It always triggers this sense of loneliness for me.
Famous last words?
I don’t even know what I’m doing
