Sound of the City: Off Topic sounds off on deep love, their upcoming album, and the healing effects of tea
The trio wants Vancouver to become a place where arts and culture are considered core values
SOUND OF THE CITY is a series created in partnership by the City of Vancouver and Stir that showcases Vancouver’s diverse music scene, highlighting BIPOC and underrepresented artists and acts. Each edition features a Q&A and a Sound of the City playlist curated by the artist that features some of their favourite local musicians.
Off Topic
OFF TOPIC DESCRIBES itself as a “crew of aliens coming from all regions of the universe”. Made up of YK, Tha Soul Child, and BbyBooda with beats by MoriMori and production by Sammy Rich, they use music as a way to find harmony in the soul and have a penchant for performing live with a focus on late-’80s and early-’90s rap and hip hop.
Read what’s on the members of Off Topic’s minds these days and listen to their Sound of the City playlist. below.
Off Topic’s Playlist
How are you feeling about life right now?
It feels like diamond season, since there’s so many pressures happening during these times. We really feel like we are shining like the diamonds we are. No good thing comes easily.
How has the pandemic affected your work?
Throughout the pandemic it has been difficult to connect with society socially but it has pushed us to connect more often with the online presence of the community to prevent us from feeling lonely and giving up our dreams from financial pressures. It has also given us the time to reflect and make the moves necessary to grow. While learning new tools, we strive to create new connections with local platforms and networks for exposure, production, and more job opportunities.
What are you working on right now? Do you have any plans or projects lined up for the rest of 2021?
Right now we are gunning on putting out our debut album, Cosmic Garden, where we have a wick’d music video for one of the singles “$OLD” where we go into the past, present, future. We’re super excited to bring forward this collective channel of deep love, awakening and galactic remembrance.
We are also teaming up Northburn Records to bring more content like music, podcasts, events and more!
Where are you finding solace and comfort?
In each other! Through these times, we’ve found that coming together, drinking tea, and meditating has brought us much needed peace. The community has been critical in keeping us held, and loved. Through art events, park hangs, and getting down in the studio making sweet sweet music.
What are you most looking forward to once the pandemic passes?
We are most looking forward to the opening up of more spaces for group gatherings and live entertainment and the calm unity of what the post-pandemic era will bring. People have been playing and sharing more locally over the last year and the anticipation for further freedom in how we are able to relate has been growing.
What song or album has been in your heavy rotation recently and why?
BLK VINTAGE - by BLK ODYSSY. It’s a masterpiece, equipped with jazz, rap, breakdowns, skits and pieces about the revolution. It has a Kendrick/JID/Earthgang/AbSoul kinda vibe. Really, really important.
Can you give a shoutout to one of your favourite Vancouver musicians or artists? What about them inspires you?
Danny Hernandez, founder of Experimental Waves and plays in Empanadas Ilegales. He brings people together, goes down the path of the unknown in his music and always has a smile on his face. Check him out and be prepared to have your sensations satiated.
What would you like to see change in Vancouver?
We want to see Vancouver become a place where arts and culture are core values of the growing community and gain a name for being an accepting and fruitful environment. We want to help continue to create non-judgemental space for artists in the city to gain confidence, and we would love to see more public, covered spaces for people to share.
You’re writing to us from 2055...what does the future hold?
Looking back, wow, all the countries we’ve played in, all the souls & hearts that we’ve inflamed and all the amazing musicians and artists we’ve played and collaborated with. We have put out some iconic albums that have helped the revolution and awakening processes on earth. Together Off Topic has an entire roster of up and coming artists who are part of the great mission to heal planet Gaia! With our teams over at Northburn Records the future is bright!
Who else would you like to see curate a Sound of the City playlist?
Henny Lucas, Ahsia, Sammy Rich, Giorgi Holiday.
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