Most kids today are accustomed to seeing DJs twirl around on stage with their hands in the air under bright lights and laser beams, and OddKidOut’s physical dexterity is a deft reminder that form and function are now more critical than ever.
Drumming since the age of six, OddKidOut joined Philly’s acclaimed School of Rock at age 11. By 13, he was on tour and began producing music 2 years later. Other feats include: holding studio time with Grammy Award-winning producer David Ivory, soul singer Jaguar Wright, and members of Digable Planets. Blowing Skrillex’s mind to smithereens by way of a self-made YouTube video and ultimately becoming his protégé, which he credits as his “proudest professional achievement.” And most recently, his Solstice EP via OWSLA saw him sample records from the label’s discography and recreate them into tracks of his own. Tunes like Skrillex & Poo Bear’s “Would You Ever,” Skrillex & Team EZY’s “Pretty Bye Bye,” Yogi’s “Money On My Mind” with Juicy J, and Tennyson’s “Cry Bird” and “Your Face Tastes Like My Happy Place.” If you have not yet heard it, it is beautiful, ambitious, and just one reason why Philly producer OddKidOut deserves to be on your radar.
The kid’s a performer and bangs on Maschine like NAS rocks a mic. He’s on a mission to bridge the divide between underground and mass appeal. “I want to be the gap in the chain that plays music that gets people hype, but also pushes them to elevate themselves from an artistic perspective,” says OddKidOut. The plan is coming together.
Here’ sOddKidOut on cannabis and creativity. Enjoy…
What value do you place on “environment” as a creative springboard?
My environment is everything. Not so much in how it dictates the type of music that I make, but rather just puts me in the mood to be as creative as possible. I could make a super hard dubstep track sitting on the dock of a peaceful lake, or make an ambient track in the middle of a busy subway station. I just need to be comfortable (sitting or standing), feel like I can tune out from the rest of the world (easy with headphones), and just feel safe and unbothered. I produce in Ubers all the time.
What was your last creative block like?
I had writer’s block when I first moved back to Philly from LA. Back to our environment convo, the biggest issue for me is getting comfortable in one spot and then packing up and going to another. I had trouble producing simply because I didn’t feel normal in my space yet, and I was overwhelmed with trying to make it my new home. Once I got more comfortable with where I was, the inspiration and the desire to produce came back to its normal state.
Are you impulsive with your work?
It depends. If I’m working on a project or a remix, I will sketch out what I’m gonna do beforehand. I do this so that everything is cohesive and makes sense. On the other hand, if I’m looking to find inspiration for a project with no concept, or I just want to make a beat for the fun of it, then I’ll smoke and let my imagination run wild with sounds that I would typically not use.
What’s your relationship with cannabis?
I like it a lot, but I’m not a heavy smoker. I’ll partake maybe half the week and only a bowl or two when I do. Is that considered a heavy smoker? I don’t know. I like to take small hits throughout the day that keep me elevated. I usually only smoke if I’m doing something creative or hanging out with people who just want to vibe. Otherwise, I like to stay sober.
You can read the rest of the article via Mezzbrands.
