Resident Focus: OOH-Sounds
This month's Resident Focus features long time resident and label / event series, OOH-Sounds.
Dizzying Electronica, Computer Music and Experimentalism feature across the behemoth that is OOH-Sounds — a dense and meticulously curated selection of records pack out their back catalog from Steve Reich reimaginations courtesy of Peder Mannerfelt to post-apocalyptic industrial AI beats from SYNALEGG. Their output as a label has grounded them an outfit with artistic integrity and a true proponent of the music they love, have a read through and get to know a little more about OOH-Sounds.
Tell us a little about yourself, where you are in the world, one fun fact about yourself.
OSOOH and I are based in Florence ... after more than 30 years embroiled in music - in different roles/environments - still curiously haunted by it…..I really can dance eheh
How are you spending your days at the moment?
OSDesigning artwork for OOH and events, planning new releases, mowing the lawn, playing lap steel for the leprechauns ….working to pay the bills :(
Favourite thing to hear in nature?
OSThe typing on a computer keyboard? ...the sparrows in spring? What exactly is nature?
How do you approach the curation of OOH-Sounds?
NFrom the gut and in a very visual way, I follow my inner urge to connect to something I hear or experience that attracts me and start a dialogue with the actor(s) involved... rationality comes later... music and image intertwine... meeting other people and their different visions is what interests me, building a common project together.
We like the same idea of community interdependence that some labels/promoters share, connection and collaboration are vital and ensure sustainability, so we are planning shared releases with Yeveran Tapes and Orange Milk, to name two. OOH stands for "over our heads” everything flies and float above us …we just have to grab it
What album do you jump to when all else fails?
OSI usually turn on the radio and listen harder :)
What is inspiring you outside of music right now?
OSAll my lovings, reading about complexity, non-binary empowerment and diasporas, watching John Huston’s The Misfits, and seeing the decadent Western dream in it, dancing to a damn' good deejay’s selection (Shannen SP?)
Who’s your favourite party/promoter in your city right now and who did you see play most recently?
OSWe are promoters ourselves together with my community here, from NUB Project Space to PHASE collective, promoting experimental/cultural music events at institutional venues, DIY spaces and any sustainable venue we can possibly use... some artists we've brought in recently are Mark Fell + Explore Ensemble, DIALECT, Sholto Dobie, de’Lamperi, CV & JAB, Ana Roxanne, Nobile... and more coming in 2023.
What do you have coming up in the future for the label?
OSWe just released Spiritual™ a fab long form work by Sheffield producer unperson, an LP from LA based musician Nick Malkin is next, then we've got Dylan Henner with an EP inspired by Italian writer Italo Calvino, Plethor-X with a critical / provocative gesture about Eurocentric colonial violence, a new Shit&Shine extravaganza +++ a secret secret mesmerising collaborative project, then who knows? Last but not least come over Bristol for my very 1st time and meet you all ahah
You're running a marathon but can only listen to one song on repeat, what are you listening to?
OSDylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues to try to finally learn the lyrics…;0)
Dream retirement regime, set the scene?
OSThe scene is the world and me/us wandering from one experimental festival / happening to the other :))
