Otta: Isolation Selection

If anything has been proven this past month, the need for education and learning through consistent conversing is paramount to societal change, very importantly but not only within our country, but also across the world. The extrajudicial and detestable murder of George Floyd has proven there needs to be a constant desire to change and better one’s attitude, doing everything we can to stand for anti-racist, non-optical allyship.

Today, Friday 19th June, Bandcamp will once again waiver their fee on purchases made for one day. On this occasion, all their fees will be donated to the mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), who endeavour to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination. If you can afford to, contribute to the mission and read many of the works that are being shared – both published and online – to learn from.

Today’s Isolation Selection comes from London-based, British-Finnish artist otta. Her new single ‘sick inside’ is an intimate insight into her honest and raw worldview, possessed and made vulnerable in equal measure by the quandaries of life and emphasising on her need to imprint such feelings into scarce, minimal punctuations. Whether exuding within the trembling textures of ‘sick inside’ or the ominous pop of ‘never see’, otta isn’t afraid to manifest all of herself within her work – and it’s a refreshing, revitalising listen.

Ahead of the release of her enigmatic new EP ‘songbook’ on 10th July, otta offers us her Isolation Selection, supporting black artists whose music you can hear below and purchase through Bandcamp today, with all proceeds going towards the NAACP.

These really are unprecedented times, how are you, how are you all feeling in all this?

I’m feeling good, overall! Definitely a crazy time to be living in. Right now I’m just trying to find balance in what I’m doing. There’s a lot of conversations being had and sharing of resources, I’ve been doing a lot of reading and learning, I’m trying to use this time to educate myself. I’m currently reading ‘Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People about Race’ by Renni Eddo-Lodge.

Can you quite comprehend the impact this is having on the music industry? `

I think both are affecting the music industry big time. I think with the energy of Black Lives Matter movement it really is the time for all aspects of the industry to look at themselves and their structures and look at how they will be moving from this point onwards.

Covid-wise, it’s a shame all the gigs have been cancelled but I guess we are all in the same boat and sure enough we will be able to play again, I just hope everyone is getting the support they need.

I know at this stage it’s perhaps not the most important of things to consider, but do you think when all this is said and done, the foundations and the nature in which the industry runs will change?

Yes I think things will change, hopefully the industry attitudes further inside the system will change because of the applied pressure. I hope people feel they can call behaviours out more and i’m hoping artists including myself will think about what choices they are making throughout their careers to make actively ANTI-racist choices long term.

I think Covid has showed us that you can achieve a lot from inside your bedroom, music wise, I do really miss rehearsing and playing shows though, nothing really compares to actually being in a space and performing or watching live music.

With new material landing and a second EP upcoming, what has it meant to you being able to make it and what have you taken from it personally, especially in having to release it in this sort of atmosphere?

I think releasing it in this sort of atmosphere feels ok. In the project I’m tackling things that were heavy for me at the time. I think with everything that’s been going on this year you could worry it’s not a good time to be expressing your own shit but I do think there is always space for honesty, i guess you just have put it out and hopefully even one person will take something from it at some point, but ultimately it doesn’t matter. If people want to listen to it then great, if not then also great. It’s meant a lot to make this project, it’s pretty much been my world up until now.

Talk us through your playlist, what does it represent for you?

Tomorrow (June 19th) Bandcamp are giving their cut from all purchases to the NAACP, so for my playlist I chose to link some songs i’ve been listening to which you could choose to support on the 19th or on the next ‘100% profits go to artist days’ on Bandcamp. Also there is a website called http://www.blackbandcamp.info and it’s a great resource to explore to support black artists too.

camelia – everytime – https://camelia97.bandcamp.com/track/everytime

Heavee and DJ Rashad – It’s Wack – https://teklife.bandcamp.com/track/its-wack

Sam Akpro – Trace (demo) https://samakpro.bandcamp.com/releases

Mr. Mitch – Restart – https://mrmitch.bandcamp.com/track/restart

PK BRAKO – Witchclart (Instrumental) – https://micantifa.bandcamp.com/track/witchclart-instrumental

RP BOO – U-Don’t No – https://rpboo.bandcamp.com/track/u-dont-no

Fatima – Caught in a lie https://fatima.bandcamp.com/track/caught-in-a-lie-2

Coby Sey – To https://cobysey.bandcamp.com

SCRAAATCH- DON’T TALK TO ME – https://scraaatch202.bandcamp.com/track/a2-dont-talk-to-me

serpentwithfeet – cherubim – https://serpentwithfeet.bandcamp.com/track/cherubim