OWBY is an anonymous digital artist and songwriter making waves in the music scene. Returning with his brand-new single ‘Closer’, we sat down with this talented music artist to learn more about what makes him tick, his approaches to the creative process and much more in this exclusive interview with TAGG!
‘Closer’ has such a unique blend of genres and sounds. How did you go about crafting this fusion of gospel warmth, trip-hop, EDM, and pop-R&B?
Basically, I wanted to create an imaginary sequel to The Blaze’s ‘BREATH’. So I
had to stay close to their universe, without necessarily copying them. So there was an initial mix between their universe and mine. Once I’d found the toplines and the lyrics, I wanted to take the song further emotionally. I wanted it to touch the soul. The idea of integrating a gospel choir then came to mind, and this last element was the final piece of the puzzle for ‘Closer’.
Your production style balances organic vocals with masterful electronic elements. How do you approach blending these two worlds to create such a harmonious result?
I see the instruments – whether organic or electronic – as additional voices accompanying the song. So each time I try to give them harmonies that can fluidly accompany the main voice, or “ answer ” to it. In other words, I see it as a game between instruments and human voices.
You’ve mentioned that ‘Closer’ is a sequel to ‘BREATH’ by The Blaze. Can you tell us more about how that song influenced ‘Closer’ and the thematic connections between the two?
As a listener, I found that ‘BREATH’, with its minimalist approach, brought a lot of love and peace. The story of this song made me fall in love with this story between two sincere and faithful lovers. The Blaze have succeeded (as in many of their creations) in touching the soul through their frequencies and subtle melodies.
There’s a powerful sense of romantic uncertainty and the search for meaning throughout ‘Closer’. How do these themes resonate with you personally, and why did you want to explore them in this track?
Yes, that’s somewhat how I see the nature of this world: full of beautiful things to discover and experience, but all of which can be ephemeral. The idea is not to be afraid of things going away, but to be able to fully embrace every possible moment of them. In love as in friendship. The uncertainty addressed also reflects the point that we have no control over the future, and that some of the answers we seek may come in the future (or not).
The choir of vocals in ‘Closer’ introduces a gospel-style calm before transitioning into different moods. What inspired this vocal arrangement, and how does it reflect the journey of the song?
Thank you for this question. I wanted to represent several phases through ‘Closer.’ Starting with the soul: the gospel choir was the best element to represent this first point. Then the pre-chorus brings more light into this soul, and finally, the chorus concludes by bringing all the strength and hope to move forward and find this new ‘path’ we sometimes need to find to heal and grow.
Your music feels both immersive and deeply emotional. How do you balance making something that’s sonically experimental yet still accessible and catchy for listeners?
It is essential for me to maintain depth and authenticity in my music. Even if a song takes a catchy direction, it still needs a ‘soul.’ And this soul can be found through the various harmonies or the lyrics. If a listener can be excited by my music while also being receptive to the soul of the song, that’s a wonderful artistic success in my eyes.
As an anonymous digital artist, your music feels like a story that transcends traditional boundaries. How does the concept of anonymity help shape your creative vision and storytelling in your music?
In my opinion, what represents an artist first and foremost is their own art. A good artist knows how to let their art speak or express itself on their behalf (musically or visually). Putting my musical and visual world at the center of the project to gradually create an immersive experience for the audience is all I want to do. I don’t need to worry about my identity within my art, and I can focus on what truly matters.
The production on ‘Closer’ builds towards a hook that feels both seductive and deeply connected to the evolving beat. How do you approach writing and producing hooks that are both memorable and emotionally impactful?
As I said before, I never neglect the soul of a song when creating it, because it can become a solid foundation that can be felt by the listener. I’m delighted to see from your questions that you’ve felt it too. To tell the truth, I don’t have a specific formula on this subject. Let’s just say that I let myself be guided by my state of flow, while keeping in mind the emotional directions or messages I want to transmit through the musical composition and hooks.
There’s a clear connection to world music fusion in your sound. How do different cultural influences play a role in shaping your music, and what drew you to such a diverse sound palette for ‘Closer’?
The blend represented in ‘Closer’ really came about naturally. I’m very receptive to a lot of the musical genres surrounding us, and I pick out their elements that capture my attention, make me vibrate, or touch me emotionally, and finally gather them in my mind. And when I’m in a state of flow when I’m composing, I let these elements appear as they wish, while maintaining the coherence of the music.
With ‘Closer’ being such an addictive listen, how do you ensure that your tracks maintain replay value, while still pushing the boundaries of genre and sound?
Thank you very much for your positive feedback on ‘Closer.’ My approach to this is first to reach the artistic quality I aim for and be satisfied with it, then to present the song to the right people/listeners. In general, I avoid falling into very trendy genres of the moment because they are often the ones that ‘die’ quickly (and can sometimes be appealing only on the surface). My goal, through varied musical influences and staying true to my own world, is to maintain a timeless musical strength in my creations. There is no special formula for this—other than keeping authenticity in one’s art. I feel, for example, that Depeche Mode, Daft Punk, and Stromae have managed to achieve this timeless authenticity.
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