Big O Shows The Power Of Surprise & Talks New Album “When It’s Not Said, But Done”
Intro:
American hip hop record producer, recording and mixing engineer Big O, is repping the UK in today’s interview article. The London-based artist has just released his powerful new album titled “When It’s Not Said, But Done,” which we’ll be discussing in this write-up. While growing up & traveling to different places in the US, Big O built an impressive resumé & skill set for creative work. His art has only grown in popularity since moving to London, where he currently resides. Before reading our brief conversation, make sure you listen to Big O today below.
Me: What was the creative process like while making this new album? How'd you get inspired?
Big O: I was inspired to make something different and not making a giant announcement of it. I was going through my discography and said to myself that I want to make something I've never done before.
Additionally, were there any specific genres or albums that inspired you during the process
Yeah absolutely. I was inspired by Madlib's "Sound Ancestors" & "Shades of Blue." They're such incredible albums, and I loved how he stepped out of his comfort zone just to create something new, and that's exactly what I wanted to do.
How would you describe your overall current style of music? Has it evolved over time?
For a little over a decade, I've been making Lofi beats, and I've been slowly trying to step away to see what else I can make. I still love and create Lofi, but with this album, I just wanted to step away from that sub-genre and create something different from what I usually do.
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from “When It’s Not Said, But Done”?
The main thing I want listeners to take away from this is not to be afraid to try something different. Push yourself to that untapped potential inside of you, and that you don't have to always announce when you're about to do something. Sometimes silence is key, and your actions will speak louder than your words.
A lot of people really need to hear that message these days! With that in mind, what was the most challenging part of the recording process?
Composing original sounds versus just relying 100% on samples. Don't get me wrong, there are some sample-based tracks on here, but most were original compositions.
Where does your stage name originate from? Has it ever changed in the past?
My name comes from an old friend of mine, since I was pretty much the tallest friend she's ever had. She gave me the nickname Big O back in '08, and fast forward a year later, when I was in college, everyone I met on campus was calling me Big O, and it just stuck from there.
Nice! Do you have any upcoming releases or plans that you're comfortable sharing with the readers?
Yes, next year my artist L.O.U. & I have a new album getting ready to come out called "The Mystery of Mr. Y.N.M.A.S.," and I have another project coming out with my other artist, Loki Loko.
Excellent! I’m sure fans are looking forward to what’s next as they enjoy the album. And finally, in your own words, why should a new listener check out this release today?
Because this is something that's not only different from my discography, but different in the current state of music. Not a lot of artist in this industry are trying to push the culture or their sound forward anymore.
