SIX FOR ONE: The Oddness
The Oddness chats tunes Ahead of his upcoming LP on Beat & Path…
We’ve not shied away from our appreciation for The Oddness. In fact, we featured him in one of the very first articles we did waaaaaaaay back in 2018. ’What do you like about him?’ we hear you ask. Well, it might be that his music sounds like it is being performed by a four-piece band, or maybe the cool-as-fuck samples he employs in a way which sounds completely organic. Hey, it could be his production range which can go from dubby House of Pain-style jump up and jump down beats, to reflective 4/4 jams screaming ‘IT always happens to me…. WHYYY?!’ before cuddling you to make you feel better about being human. So yeah, that’s why.
His new album Observations as Stranger promise to take that ‘Humans… 🙄’ sentiment and wrap it in a leaf of empathy. The human condition is a strange and complicated thing. From happine… no, let’s say contentment because happiness is an insidious manipulation device dreamed up in a shitty Coca Cola or Instagram marketing meeting to make us all feel insecure and weird about why we’re not smiling ear to ear 24/7. Let’s rephrase: from contentment cut with moments of 1% - 100% pure joy to bouts of intense sadness, we all experience it.
On the new upcoming LP (the presser tells us), The Oddness approach our unique condition through the lens of what it would look like for a visitor from another planet. He captures that whole experience into a soundtrack of warm house, crisp organic beats and cathartic vocals that could double as a very personal journal entry. On the first single ‘Breathe’, the vocal and lyrics of Anita Musca are strained with the pain of dealing with inner suffering. Once the single locks you in, it can be a pretty intense experience. And if you don’t connect with that sentiment, then The Oddness’ mature production will hook you in. It all bodes very well for the LP. So while we wait for the 4 December release date through local label Beat & Path, here are the six tracks that made The Oddness who he is today…
INspiring ‘Observations as a stranger’
Kerala Dust live @ Fusion 2019
‘Was listening to heaps of different music while writing the album, but if I was going to pick one act that actually had an influence I'd have to say Kerala Dust. They have that perfect balance between a traditional band and an electronic act. Really catchy hooks and haunting vocals.’
Outside of electronic music:
Dolly Parton - Jolene
This is my favourite song of all time, I can listen to it over and over again. It's beautiful storytelling and it honestly gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.
New musical discovery:
Mula - Acid Baikal
I first discovered French artist Mula earlier this year, and this track is an absolute weapon, I’ve played it in almost every DJ set since then. Everything he puts out just has a hook which grabs you. So deep and funky.
Teenage wasteland:
Beastie Boys - So What’cha want (Remastered 2009)
‘Every time I hear this song I have flashbacks to jumping around with my high school friends, pants sagging down way too much, being way too stoned, and running into walls because my beanie was down over my eyes. The Beastie Boys are a huge part of my life and my love of music.’ (ED: TUNE)
Electronic music virgin:
The Crystal Method - Trip Like I Do (1997)
‘I was into Heavy Metal and would work as a busboy at Hard and Fast, the Metal night at Chasers nightclub in Melbourne, and then some of the DJs started to drop some stuff like this, as well as The Prodigy and early Chemical brothers. But I'd have to say this is the track that got me.’
local focal:
Thankyou City - The Huntsman (2012)
‘This isn't just my favourite track from a local artist, this is one of my favourite tracks overall. When i first heard it, it blew me away, I honestly had not heard anything like it. The Staccato Piano licks and the ominous orchestral stabs are just so dope, proper bass face stuff!’
musical explorer:
Dear Humans live @ Sound Nightclub (2020)
‘First discovered these guys when I heard their track ‘Restless Bones’ earlier this year. Fantastic live act with amazing vocals mixing up original tunes with really cool cover versions.’