Oddsmokee On The Making Of ‘The Good, the Bad and the Oddy’
How does 'The Good, the Bad and the Oddy' reflect your musical journey and growth as an artist?
Great question. I believe ‘The Good, the Bad and the Oddy’ really shows listeners how far I have come as an artist and individual in the last few years. I started making music as a coping mechanism to deal with my mental health and substance abuse and share my journey with others as a reminder we are not alone. Almost four years later it has turned into a dream. This album in particular means the world to me as an artist due to the storied nature of the 8 tracks following someone's struggles with getting sober, to falling back into the pitfalls of drug use. I also feel I have really grown in the sense of intermingling genres to reflect an original sound, that is never quite the same. One of my biggest goals starting out was to blend numerous genres, drawing on all my inspirations as an artist. I believe this album in particular has brought that original goal into fruition.
Can you talk about the recording and production process for this album?
Yes definitely, I decided on 8 songs for this album. I wanted to reflect on everything I have been through as detailed as possible while keeping the Oddsmokee persona and remaining my true self. I also wanted to portray a story of the pitfalls of using substance abuse as a crutch to deal with mental health or any life struggles for that matter. Once me and Augmented finalized the release arrangement I took this album to the studio. My recording process has grown tremendously over the years. The process for this album was very much planned in sequence. I always go into the studio knowing what I’m going to lay down for each individual track. I go through hours of preparation before I record anything. However, this album surprised me, new high melodies and harmonies were not planned and came out during the recording process. This was a big step in my eyes. I never want to stop growing as an artist. This album inspired new sounds and almost forced me to get out of my comfort zone. As an artist, I never want to stop trying new things to expand my reach with my music.
Which song do you like the best and why?
My favorite song is Overdosaa. This song reflects the end of a long battle with substance abuse, and mental anguish. Overdosaa is Oddy and Jozzi, “The Bad and The Oddy'' personas of Oddsmokee, battling feelings of hopelessness while looking back on their past and expressing the anger of the life they have lived, and the dreams they never accomplished. This song is purely a sad conclusion anyone with these types of demons can ultimately come to. You hear me begging god to “take me up” and “get me away from this stuff”. With a mixture of hard grimey rap, high angelic vocals, and meaningful lyrics this sound in my opinion is very much original and one of my best pieces. I am beyond proud of this song.
What role do you feel emotions play in your music, and how do you channel them into your performances?
Emotions play the most significant role in my music. Without emotions life is meaningless. However, one thing I will say is my entire life I have had a very hard time dealing with negative emotions. The only thing that has ever truly worked, has been expressing those emotions into music through my lyrics. In terms of performances, I bring my full self to the stage and try to connect to my audience while delivering my musical truth.
Can you share a valuable lesson or piece of advice that you have learned along your musical journey?
Despite life’s challenges, we can all learn something from ourselves and the positive influences that are brought into our lives. I have recently grasped the true importance of having a “dream” or passion, and how important it is to hold onto that, and never let go.