OOGIE - “PHEW”
( EP/Album Reviews ) - Friday 1st March 2024
Words by Theo Darvill. Photography by Jesse Elman (1&3) and Alex Waespi (2&4). Thanks to Ross Hook.
Don’t let the fact that oogie has released just 5 singles since 2020 discourage you - he’s been slowly but surely mastering his craft behind the scenes, all while gaining support from fans, creatives in the scene as well as attention in the media across the country, including radio appearances on BBC 1XTRA. His sound is unique and demonstrates his ability to combine telling anecdotal stories in a way that entices the listener in with smooth overtones alongside clever adlibs. All of these talented elements sit on top of a range of impressive beats that each consist of slick percussive elements, smooth brass notes and xylophone infused tones - all layered together to create the unique homegrown sound of oogie. Simply put, he’s an expert when managing his rhythms and a genius at controlling his tone.
His latest release phew, is an EP that demonstrates the amount of care, love and passion that has gone into the music he shows to the world. It’s been 2 years in the making with the talented artist working hard to create a masterpiece that he’s proud of. The new release is a clear reflection of his desire to transport the listener to a new world with his music, even if it is just for a minute and there is no doubt that 2024 will be an exciting year for the talented musician.
Introduce yourself and briefly take me through the story so far…
“So, I go by the artist name oogie and I’ve been spending the last 3 or 4 years trying to figure out how to turn what we were doing in sixth form and secondary school into an actual thing - an individual and unique thing; going from using the studio at school to regularly recording at studios and taking it a lot more seriously over the last 2 years. Originally, I wanted to be a lot of things, I’ve jumped from idea to idea but it’s always been something in the creative field. My close friendship unit were about to go into, or were doing some kind of music, so I was in the studio with them and seeing it in that proximity made me feel like I might as well try my hand at it as well”
Talk to me about the EP “phew”…
“I spent 2 years in the studio recording on a regular basis for the first time, making 2 or 3 different projects and kept finding problems with them, which meant a lot of these songs are made in 2022 and 2023 so by the time of finalising and making the final version, I had a mashup of all these projects. Then we had the process of doing all of the other aspects of producing music, such as the video I did for Kanye Me which cost a lot of rent money. So, all of that artist stuff trying to build the means to actually release stuff properly and actually do things the right way took a lot of time, so when it was all done, we were all like, phew, we actually did it; hence the title.”
TRACK 1: “two couches” – A chilled-out introduction to phew that invites you into the project as you relax into one or maybe two couches. It demonstrates this talented individuals unique style as well as his storytelling flow using his one-of-a-kind cadence.
“It’s a come inside type of vibe, a come and sit on my couch and let me tell you what’s been going on kind of thing. I’ve been away from the scene for the last 2 years but also away from a lot of my close friends - I’d fallen into a period of isolation to help me discover what I want to do. The track’s about distance from your close ones and about not being as connected to your people to focus on what you want to do.”
TRACK 2: “bake” – The second track on the project provides listeners with the opportunity to hear some of the experimental processes within making the EP. It stands out and leaves little room for comparison, however, it does seem to call back to elements of UK hip-hop on a hard to define drum beat.
“Bake is one of the first versions of that kind of beat for me so it’s a very good indication of the experimental side of this EP. Again, it has a similar theme with the self-isolation and finding certain positives within self-power and self-love. It’s largely about bigging yourself up but at the same time bigging up the other one significant person in your life.”
TRACK 3: “Pray 4 Me” ft. BINA – A beautiful track, classic hip-hop encapsulating the storytelling abilities within the music of oogie alongside features that manage contrast and complement the track’s identity.
“Yeah, I fuck with that - I suppose that’s it really. I was being kicked out of my house with personal shit and I was telling BINA about it and she just made this whole song over it while I spoke. It’s just some real talk really.”
TRACK 4: “just jecause” – Focusing more on the vocal side of oogie with a clever use of layered samples. The lyrics fit perfectly within the track, with oogie conveying real feelings through his voice.
“Just Because is everything that I wanted to be, in the sense that a lot of the time I make songs with no beat and this specific track is one of the very first ideas I thought of. I tried it over a thousand different beats and I’m really proud of how it turned out because it’s something to me that something that I had in my head and was able to become a reality. Song-wise, it’s just a shout out to someone who makes you feel special.”
TRACK 5: “KANYE ME” – The lead single, highlighting the range of experimental vocals that oogie has to offer, all perfectly layered over a relaxing beat that not only suits the track but also emphasises the recent process he has been through. It is already a favourite of mine amongst the select few that I’ve heard.
“I’m a big fan of Andre 3000 and Kendrick Lamar; all those guys who are more than just rappers - they’re vocalists too. Andre 3000 once said that your voice is like a piano, so you have play the sound you need with your voice to play to bring a song to life. If you listen to a lot of my songs, you’ll notice that there’s no auto tune or anything - it’s just me experimenting with my voice and practicing my high and low register.
The actual title KANYE ME is a metaphor for your love-hate relationship with your good and your bad habits. There’s pros and cons to the way Kanye West is, so it relates to habits being like that. It’s the lead single simply because I gave the director and friend of mine, Lewis, the whole project and asked him for his favourite… and Kanye Me just stuck in his head. It was as simple as just showing it to your people and seeing what they fuck with the most.”
TRACK 6: “wood” ft. Reckz’Capo – It’s a faster and more upbeat song that brings energy to the room; destined to be enjoyed at a live show. It’s a fresh sound that infuses elements of modern American rap with the unique old school UK hip-hop sound.
“Honestly, it’s a banger. Once again going into the idea of making songs that are a bit more expansive, tracks that can bring energy to the live crowds. Theres nothing worse than facing a crowd who are just staring at you, respectfully perhaps but within the scene I’m in, you just want them to move.”
TRACK 7: “biggie bigs” ft. Jenny – Intertwining elements of house with consistently honest and personal layered lyrics on top. It’s a perfect example of the thorough musical experimentation that oogie has been through to bring a real unique and individual feel to this project as a whole.
“I was experimenting and trying out new things and that’s what Biggie Bigs is all about. Once again, a bit of bravado where I’m saying that you’ve been through a lot of shit but you’re gonna be okay, you know?”
TRACK 8: “practice hours” ft. Denzel Himself – A laidback beat that oogie flows effortlessly on. He is complemented by the feature vocals that help to bring the track together and give it both a warm and calming feeling.
“When I came out with Try, a lot of people described it as mumble rap on boom-bap, which wasn’t what the point was. My approach to that sound actually comes with a bit more of a melody and a bit more playfulness here and there.”
TRACK 9: “WOODY (u’ve got a friend in me)” – A nostalgic track that just feels like you’re sitting on the sofa watching back old memories. The honest lyrics make a reappearance as oogie raps about love, all while demonstrating his control over his cadence.
“That’s what it is; lyrically, it’s a song about old school stuff and I’ve always found that line in Toy Story very warm - I played with it a bit and made a melody.”
TRACK 10: “twenty” – A beautiful outro, encapsulating the entire EP in one; looking back through his 20’s and the journey that phew has taken him on over the past 2 years. Reassuring his listeners that you’re where you should be in life, understanding the importance of looking forward to what is to come.
“You’re still doing good at this stage in life because in the music scene, it’s very young in my opinion - a lot of things happen at 17 or 18 and by the time your 21 a lot of people have gone too far left, so the fact that I’m still out here and doing what I do just feels like a blessing to me.”
To finish, a chance for you to step back and look at the EP as body of work, how do you personally feel about the project?
“Honestly, I’m super proud of it. For everyone that’s trying to do something creative by themselves, it should feel like a badge of honour to be able to start something and actually finish it… and this does. Whether it’s a magazine, a piece of art or an EP, completing a project by yourself should feel as though you’ve already won at something, before your work goes on to achieve other things. I think that it’s what I’m most happy about and it’s essentially why I called it phew.”
