On the Rise: OTR

We’re pleased to welcome our newest member of our On The Rise series, Astralwerks own, OTR!!! With the same abbreviations as our series, we just know you guys are going to love his music! Check out our conversation below!

For readers who aren’t familiar with your music can you share with us how you began your musical journey?

 When I left for college, I started dabbling on the piano every once in a while because it was a good way to de-stress. A few years later, I left for a year-long internship in Japan where I bought my first midi keyboard. There wasn’t much to do so I picked up production and wrote almost every day. That’s where I really started to develop a sound that felt like me.

 We’re so excited to hear your debut album! How does it feel to know that a body of work you created will finally be out in the world?

Thank you! It feels incredible but also a little scary. I’ve only really focused on one singular thing which is to make this album as good as possible with the resources available to me. Spending all that time on one thing can make you a little crazy, but it’s awesome to be able to see it completed now and ready for the world.

 Do you have a favorite song off the album?

“Lost” is a personal favorite because it’s the only track that I truly sing on. It’s nice listening to that one and thinking about what it was like to find meaning behind the instrumental I was writing and express it lyrically for once. I’m hoping I can figure out how to do that again!

 Who are some of your musical influences? Has someone or something helped you figure out what you wanted your sound to be?

 Initially my influences were ODESZA, Porter Robinson, and bands like Passion Pit and Empire of the Son and M83. But the people I collaborated with throughout the last few years on this album are the ones who really helped me figure out what my sound was going to be for this project. I was able to figure out what I truly liked in the moment and over time things just came together in a way that felt like me.

 You’re embarking on your first American headlining tour! How are rehearsals? Anything you can reveal to us about the show?

 Getting ready for the tour has been a whole different beast compared to writing this album and tackling it has been an interesting challenge. I really like being able to think creatively within the framework of a live performance. The only thing that I can reveal right now is that the show will feel a bit more elevated than the music, but in the same world.

 As someone who was in engineering prior to becoming a producer, what was that transition like for you? Was music something you always wanted to do?

 Music was not something I planned on doing full time – until all of a sudden the option was right in front of me one day. I think I was just happy that people were listening to my music because I still really liked engineering. The choice was pretty easy though, because at the time I was trying to get a master’s degree in engineering but a bunch of professors in my field quit/retired so I couldn’t start my thesis for like another 2 years. Music was picking up so I just thought “oh well might as well dive in while I have the chance”. I still would love to finish my masters just so I can say I mastered rocket science.

 I’m so obsessed with your cohesiveness within your cover art and social media pages. Was it intentional to have all of your cover art be similar & blend well together? Do you enjoy having gained an aesthetic? 

 Thank you! I’m glad you like it! Yeah that was very much planned. I wanted something visual that people could recognize and felt cohesive in the same “world” since the music on the album has that same feeling. I love now being able to have something to build off of visually for future pieces of work.

Tell us more about your new single “Midnight Sun” (with Ukiyo)! What does your typical song creation process look like? 

 The first pass of that instrumental was written after a long trip to LA. I was flying back home and the sun was setting behind the horizon as I was reflecting on how the trip went. It was the first time I felt like things could work out musically. I sent that idea to Ukiyo who had just released an EP that I was jamming to. I think he sent me something back like a day later and it was done! That whole song felt so effortless and I’m really grateful for that. Typically something like the above happens where I travel somewhere, I reflect on how that made me feel, then I write about it. I think after being abroad for so long during that college internship, that became my go to writing headspace.

 What would your dream collaboration be?
I definitely want to work with ODESZA in some capacity – whether it’s a remix opportunity or something more formal it doesn’t really matter to me. A lot of the music on their first album got me through some intense moments in Japan where I felt pretty isolated.

 Is there a specific place you like to go to or a person to be with when trying to spark creativity? Is it difficult to find a constant creative flow?

 Usually I’m most creative when I get home after traveling for a few days. Things usually feel way too busy when I’m away to get that spark in the moment. When I’m home and things are calm it’s easy to reflect on what that time away was really like. Yeah it can be difficult to consistently find that creative flow but when I’m not feeling creative I’m always looking for new sounds or ideas to set aside in my toolbox that I know I’ll use in the future. So many songs have come from me telling myself “screw it I know I’ll use this one day” then it ends up working out two or three months down the line. The big thing is telling yourself that nothing has to be perfect immediately and ideas have the potential to grow in the future.

 Lastly, where do you see yourself musically in 5 years!

 I just hope to still be doing this in two years let alone in five! If not I hope SpaceX is hiring. Elon and I could make beats together at the very least.

Connect with OTR: Instagram, Twitter, & Website.