Oddisee: Dissecting The Human Psyche
Let’s hop right into this latest single, “Try Again,” — Tell me about this particular track; how did it come to fruition?
I really wanted to highlight the process of achieving an adjective. We’re bombarded with the celebration of end results with little to no attention on what it takes to get there. To me, that makes failure seem worse than it really is. “Try Again” is a celebration of two steps back for the one step forward.
Of course “Try Again” comes courtesy of your brand new solo LP, To What End — Conceptually, what does that title represent both to and for you?
“To What End” is about the reason we do what compels us, and how far we’re willing to go for that reason. Why we do what we do for survival, attention, love and what if any is our limit to obtain them?
How then does To What End either differ and / or compare to previous Oddisee entries?
I tend to ask a lot of questions in my writing. On this album, I chose to give my opinion more on the subjects I question.
As an emcee, when you sit down to pen your rhymes where do you draw your inspiration from?
I always start with producing a beat first. The music helps me find the mood and meaning of a song. After that, I draw from my own experiences and day to day life. We don’t experience life in a bubble, so I know that what I can relate to others can as well.
Reflecting, tell me your whole inception into music — When did you first become interested in it? And, how did it all begin for Oddisee?
I come from a musically inclined family. My mother sings, my father plays oud and my grandmother plays guitar, piano and sings as well. I also grew up next to Gary Shider of Parliament and Funkadelic. His sons and I would be in their home studio straight after school almost everyday. I eventually went from being a fan of music to wanting to create it. Just after high school I committed to the idea and never looked back.
Now you’re a native of Washington, DC, correct? So growing up in ‘The District,’ who all did / do you consider to be your strongest musical influences?
At the time, we had no nationally famous rapper. Most of my Hip Hop influence came from New York. Our local music, Go-Go, had a heavy influence on my production style. My focus on drumming stems from this, Backyard Band was my favorite Go-Go band.
In having said that, how do you classify your overall sound and / or style?
I would define it as Hip Hop influenced by Jazz, Funk, Soul and R&B.
Switching gears here…
What do you feel has been and will continue to be the ultimate key to your longevity?
Challenging myself, continuing to be a student and exercising my brain. Appreciating what I have is important to me as well. As long as I’m happy, I’ll continue to create music people are interested in hearing.
What do you want people to get from your music?
Honestly, whatever they want. I may have my own ideas or narrative, but once the music is released it’s no longer mine. It belongs to the listener and their interpretation. I want the listener to hopefully be enriched by my work, but nothing more.
On a more serious note, are you happy with the current state of Hip Hop?
Absolutely! More artists are able to make a living from music than ever. There are so many tools at our disposal, and I love how they’re being used. Hip Hop is so diverse nowadays, and there are always fans available to appreciate it.
Do you have any other outside / additional aspirations, maybe even completely away from music?
I hope to one day not have to make music for a living. Doing what I want with my time is what I aspire to achieve. I’m open to any possibility that allows me to pursue my ever evolving interest.
To date, what has been your greatest career moment(s), at least thus far anyway?
I’m not a very sentimental person, I can’t think of any specific moment that I’ve valued more than others. From the beginning of my career until now, I’m always happy and proud of the fact that I have a career in music. There’s no one moment that can equate to that feeling.
What’s an average day like for you?
Monday through Friday it’s waking my children up, getting them ready for school and daycare. Then off to the studio to put in 8 hours. I work on releases and anything involving them. I pick my kids up after work and we head home for our evening routine. Once the kids are asleep, my wife and I have dinner and downtime. I live a very simple life.
What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? And, why?
I love being in the studio crafting new ideas. I’m forever in love with conceiving something from scratch that will eventually form a life of its own. My least favorite part would be the administrative side to releasing music. There’s nothing fun about email threads and spreadsheets.
What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Don’t follow mine or anyone else’s. Find what works best for you, reach your own expectations and appreciate the process as much as the end result.
Lastly, what’s next for Oddisee?
Releasing my new album (available everywhere now) is the main objective, After that, I’ll tour it for a bit. Once that’s done, I’ll head back to the studio and start all over again.
Is there anything I left out, or just plain forgot to mention?
And, any “closing” thought(s) for our readers?
Thank you for listening to my work and finding value in it. There’s plenty of music out there, If I’ve managed to get your attention , I truly appreciate it.
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