Øsky is an emerging songwriter and producer who recently made his professional solo recording debut. When not mixing up Trap grooves with melodic raps and romantic R&B vibes, the 23 year-old Miami-based creator is attending law school. Although he has been making music for most of his life, until now he has kept his work to himself. Now that same music is giving him the strength to go public. No longer concerned with buzz words like ‘image’ or ‘brand,’ now he is just making music.
I’m realizing that the only thing that matters is whether my music can resonate with others.
Øsky
“1.5L EP” is the debut record from Øsky, released worldwide to all major streaming services on November 12, 2021. The eight song collection finds the singer navigating the sometimes rough waters of communication breakdowns and personal insecurities that are inherent to young life and love. His mix of moody Rock guitars, Pop hooks and downtempo Trap beats creates a hypnotic feel that permeates the entire record.
The EP is bookended by a pair of great Emo Rock/Trap tracks. Both the opener “Emøtiønal” and closer “Best Øut” pair Øsky’s Alternative Rock guitar with deep synth moods and stark 808 beats. Throughout the record Øsky matches these big emotional vibes with a smooth Pop tenor, melodic rhymes and some impressive chopping rap skills. He maneuvers heartache, depression and Pop culture references to everyone from Popeye to the Beastie Boys and BB King.
“Locked Øut” rides a cool mix of Blues guitar, Lo-fi Hip-hop and a great EDM bass tone as Øsky riffs on the title. Here and on tracks like “1AM Live” and “1 Ør 2,” the singer echoes the contradictions and confusion of life in love. The two tracks also feature some excellent performances from guest rappers Jammal and NEOTOKYO (respectively). “
There is a psychedelic thread that runs through the record. “Rattle Øff” is a great example with its hard-panned stereo percussion, space cathedral organ and Øsky’s own distinctive melodic rap style. In both rhyme and rhythm he has a rolling and hypnotic flow. “Spøelstra” continues the trippy feel with a wild tremolo piano/guitar mix. “Gaslight” is a real highlight, mixing all of the record’s best bits into an emotional, clever and memorable tune.
Check out Øsky’s “1.5L EP” in its entirety below, or listen on your favorite streaming service. You can also hear the song “Gaslight” on the Deep Indie Dive playlist. We had the chance to chat with Øsky about the record. Check out his answers to our 8 questions below. Follow the links below to connect with the artist. Get on his socials and get in the loop on all of the music to come from this talented new voice.
8 Questions with Øsky
Where are you from?
-Miami, FL
How long have you been making music?
-Started playing guitar when I was 8 years old, mostly Spanish classical… was in jazz band in middle school… started teaching myself how to produce music on Logic Pro when I was about 17/18
Who are the musicians involved in your project?
– Theo Braun – my recording engineer/producer helped me arrange and finalize several of the tracks. I’ve been friends with Theo since I was like 12 and he was the other guitarist in jazz band with me.
-Jammal – I met him through Theo, he really gave me the confidence and encouragement to continue to pursue music. He’s a talented rapper, screenwriter, and activist from Parkland, FL. Still waiting on him to put out a project, but great stuff is coming along behind the scenes.
-NEOTOKYO – he’s a little secretive, but I met him in college at Bentley University in Massachusetts. I’ll ask him for a verse and he sends something fire back every time within 2 days. He definitely has a big chip on his shoulder. I hope he puts some more music out soon.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
-Growing up it was Green Day, the Strokes, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana… now I’d say I listen more to rap with some of my current favorites being Rico Nasty, Kenny Beats, Smino, Monte Booker, Baby Keem, JPEGMAFIA, Drake… I’m kind of all over the place. When it comes to everything, I find it hard to stick to one thing and I think that’ll show in my future projects.
What is your greatest non-musical influence?
-Definitely sports. Mainly football. Along with playing guitar growing up, I played quarterback throughout high school and even went to Bentley University for football. (I’m on the 2016 roster). I feel like a great sports team has the power to bring a city together into a community. I also enjoy playing Madden, 2K, MLB the Show.
What inspired you to create this project?
-My stress levels were all out of wack throughout my 1st semester of law school. I was recently diagnosed with clinical depression and wanted to put this project out as a measure of my progress, mentally and musically. “1Ls” are first-year law students, so “1.5L EP” simply represents songs I created during my 1st and 2nd years.
What are your plans for the future (musically)?
-Keep expressing myself and creating. Hopefully people will feel the emotions I put into the songs and it resonates with them. I have to remind myself I’m not alone so I hope I can create a dialogue to help others.