Outflow – Difuz: on wax
Music stories from clients who trusted Mind The Wax to press their music on vinyl!
Outflow is a rock band based in Romania. The project, in its current form, started about three years ago, but it had other shapes before that. They have all known each other and collaborated on other projects as well. The band, as it is today, is the result of what each of the members truly wanted to do musically. It’s a perfect mix of Rock, Pop, and Urban music.
What genres, artists, or life experiences have shaped your sound the most?
Rock music is definitely the core of the band — in all its forms — but each one of us has very different influences. Mircea, our drummer, is really into Trap music. Florin, our lead singer, is into Drum & Bass and other electronic genres. Călin, the bassist and producer, is into Pop. And me (Alex) — I’m the old-school metalhead. So all of these influences show up in our sound, but our love for Rock music is clearly at the center.
In the beginning, we were heavily influenced by the ‘90s Metallica sound, with a lot of Blink-182 in there. But over time, the sound evolved into something we feel is truly our own.
What’s one unexpected influence that might surprise listeners?
Probably our connection to Electronic and Urban music. Most people expect a typical Rock band, but when they hear the electronic elements and Trap influences — especially in the drums and vocals — they’re often surprised. It’s an unusual but exciting blend.
What’s the heart of this album — the story or theme that ties it together?
The album doesn’t follow one specific theme — it’s more of a journey, our journey to find our sound. We struggled a lot with direction at first, and eventually, we had eight songs that were mixed and mastered but didn’t sound alike. Different influences, different vibes. But after listening through them all, we realized this could actually be a great album — an honest representation of who we are.
It was an experiment that led to the conclusion that we don’t want to stick to one specific style. We love a wide range of music, and we want to explore that. The album showcases our versatility and marks our real starting point.
“Diffuse”
Was there a specific moment or turning point that sparked its creation?
Yes, we started out writing in English — that was our Pop-Punk era. But then we came up with “Spune tu”, our first-ever song in Romanian. After playing it live for the first time and getting such an amazing reaction, we decided we were going to write in Romanian. From that point on, everything changed and started coming together naturally.
If you had to describe this album in one quote or phrase, what would it be — and why?
The title says it perfectly: “Difuz” — which translates to diffuse. Not in the sense of diffused light, but something not clearly defined. That’s how we saw it. It’s not a common way to describe an album, but it fit our perspective. People appreciated the diversity and the fact that we explored different sounds, while still keeping everything tied together cohesively.
What’s one track on this album that feels the most personal to you — and why?
It’s hard to pick just one, and each of us has a personal favorite, but I think we all agree that “Dansând” is the most emotional song on the album. It has the deepest lyrics and really resonates with us on a personal level.
What gear, instruments, or software were central to the sound of this record?
I’d love to say we spent weeks in a fancy studio, but the truth is — almost the entire album was written and recorded in our small home studio and bedrooms. Only one track was done in a professional studio.
Călin, our bassist and producer, is the mastermind behind everything. We used Ableton with a few essential plugins like LA-2A (compressor), Valhalla (reverb), and Decapitator (saturation). Vocals were recorded using a Lewitt LC440. For guitars, we used a mix of Line 6 Helix with a Soldano SLO model, a Marshall Silver Jubilee, and Neural DSP’s John Petrucci plugin.
The drums were a mix of live recordings, samples we took from a kit in a rehearsal room and the Modern&Massive – GetGoodDrums plugin.
Any memorable or unexpected moments from the recording process?
There were many, but writing “Dansând” was definitely the most memorable. We took a weekend trip to a cabin in the mountains to work on new music, and that song just happened there. The heavy part at the end — with the scream and all — actually started as us just fooling around. But we realized it was a great transition, and it ended up staying in the final version.
Did you collaborate with anyone on this project — musically or visually?
Yes! On the track “Zile la fel” we feature two well-known Romanian rappers: Phunk B and Pati. Also, some of the piano parts in “Dansând” were played and written by a very talented pianist from Cluj, Cristi Cente.
Why did you choose to press this release on vinyl — what does the format mean to you?
We were all born after vinyl was already being replaced by other formats, but we each grew up with records in the house thanks to our parents. In recent years, as vinyl became popular again, we all got into it — buying players and rediscovering albums that way. So pressing our own record was something we really wanted. It also felt like an important milestone for a small band trying to make a name. We wanted to present our debut album as professionally as possible.
Was there a moment when you knew this album had to be on vinyl?
Honestly, it was the plan from the beginning. Once we decided we were doing an album, vinyl was always on the table.
How do you feel hearing your music on vinyl for the first time?
It was an incredible feeling. Fifteen years ago, when we started playing, none of us ever imagined we’d be able to listen to our own music on vinyl. It was a very emotional moment.
Can you share some details about the final product — the vinyl color, weight, packaging, or any custom features?
We chose a 140g white vinyl with simple packaging. The artwork is black and white, and it was done by us using a photo taken by our talented photographer and friend, Rareș Mocan. The final product came out exactly how we envisioned it. Most importantly, it sounds fantastic — even better than we expected. The songs have a very natural and warm vibe on vinyl.
What’s the ideal setting for someone to drop the needle on this record for the first time?
That probably depends on each listener, but personally, I love listening to it before heading out to a concert or a party. It puts me in a really good mood — perfect for a Friday night.
What was your experience like working with Mind The Wax on this pressing?
Everything went flawlessly. The team at Mind the Wax was incredibly helpful and patient with all our questions — this being our first vinyl release. They helped with everything, from artwork adjustments to final mastering details. They were always available, delivered everything on time, and the final product was amazing. Huge thanks to them for the great work they do.
What advice would you give to other artists considering a vinyl release?
Plan ahead — it’s a long process, and you need patience. We’re used to the digital world where you finish a song, hit upload, and it’s live everywhere. Vinyl takes time, but it’s absolutely worth it.
Where can fans buy the vinyl or stream the album?
You can find the vinyl at our concerts, or just reach out to us on Instagram or Facebook. Let us know you want a copy, and we’ll get it to you. We’re an independent band, so it’s not in stores yet — still waiting for that million-dollar record deal! (Just kidding — message us.)
How important is physical media to you in an age of streaming?
It’s important. Big artists don’t just rely on TikTok or Spotify — they still release physical products. We believe a professional artist should offer physical merch. Fans connect with bands differently when they have something tangible, like a vinyl or a t-shirt.
Are there any special editions, merch bundles, or upcoming live shows tied to the release?
We already had a listening party where we played the full album on a professional hi-fi system with close friends and collaborators, and a very successful release concert. We’ve also made several t-shirt models. This autumn, we’re going on a national tour and we’ll bring the vinyl and all the merch to each venue.
What does it mean to have a tangible product your fans can hold?
Fans were super excited. Many bought the vinyl even if they didn’t have a record player — some said they were going to buy one just to listen to it. Others wanted it just to have a unique piece of us. That meant a lot, and we hope to sell even more during the tour.
Where can listeners follow you and stay in touch with your journey?
You can find us on all platforms — Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Spotify. We post a lot of interesting content, so we encourage everyone to follow us!
Any upcoming news or releases fans should watch for?
We’ve already started working on new music and hope to release a new album or EP next year. For now, we’re focused on preparing our live show for the upcoming national tour — which is very important to us — but we’re definitely writing new music at the same time.
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