There's no better way to kick off our new interview series than by picking the brain of one of Lo-Fi Hip-Hop's greatest new talents: Ornithology. With over 18 million streams on his debut album, this artist has already created shock waves in the music industry in the first few months of his public presence.
We sat down with Ornithology to discuss his creative process, the ideas behind his exciting new album (appropriately titled Ornithology), and his goals for the future. We discovered that Ornithology maintains a distinctively deep connection with his music, and strives to bring awareness to larger issues that our natural world faces today.
What do you hope to convey through Ornithology?
"I wanted the album to feel very special and unique. "Ornithology" means the study of birds, an occupation that is very important to me. When I was younger, I wanted to be an ornithologist. Life ended up taking a different path, but I've always wondered what my life might be like if things had been different. In the album, I sampled a lot of calls from endangered indian birds. My hope was that this ambiance might transport listeners to a peaceful state, and promote empathy and awareness for these endangered species. Another aim for the album was to steer clear of any sort of attention-grabbing elements. Attention has become such a commodity these days -- whether it be the popular music we are exposed to, or the ads and sponsorships that flood our senses -- and I wanted to create a sort of attention detox with Ornithology. Through the album, my hope was that listeners could step back from their distractions and appreciate the world around them."
How is Ornithology different from music you’ve made in the past?
"I wanted to create a musical atmosphere that transports the listener into a new 'world'. The goal was to allow my listeners to reach a trance-like state where they can enjoy their surroundings in a new light."
What was the first song you finished for this album, and did it influence the rest?
"The first song I finished was Autumn Breeze, and it definitely paved the path for the rest of the album. I found that it captured a different vibe and told a different story than other music I was writing at the time, and it proved to define what the 'Ornithology sound' was going to be."
Who were you listening to when writing Ornithology?
"There are many artists I could name. Particularly, I drew a lot of influence from santpoort, Barnes Blvd, Kanye West, Ravel, and Laffey. Laffey in particular really influenced the way I wrote my drums, since I find his swing to be so cool and unique. It's soft and subtle, yet captures the message of his songs really well. Often music in this genre is either too quantized, or off-beat for the sake of being off-beat. I tried to pay a lot of attention to my swing, and make it feel exactly how I wanted it to feel."
Do you get sudden bursts of creativity, or are you more of a methodical worker?
"I'm usually pretty methodical, and I try to write music every day. However, certain projects tend to be done in sudden bursts, including this one. I often enjoy spacing out my work across longer periods of time so that I can display how my sound evolves."
How does your environment impact your music?
"My environment doesn't impact my workflow much at all. When I write, I get into a deeply focused state and it doesn't matter where I happen to be. Obviously, the gear I have access to at any given time will mildly change the flow of my music. For example, if I don't have access to a keyboard my workflow becomes more sample-based."
Where do you go and what do you do to find motivation?
"Motivation is everywhere, you just have to look for it. You can find it when you go outside, listen to a cool artist, or talk to someone you love. Motivation can also just arise out of thin air. I have the will to make art that people might enjoy, and I feel lucky that it isn't very hard for me to get motivated. I'm a strong believer that motivation is everywhere, and that you just have to look for it and have faith that you will find it."
If you had to choose a season, a color, and a place that best encapsulates the feeling of Ornithology, what would they be?
"The season is Fall. Some might expect my choice to be Spring, since that's when birds are most active. However, Fall is when a lot of birds migrate and travel somewhere new. At this time of the year, you'll find a lot of birds in unexpected places.
When I think of the color that Ornithology evokes, I picture the brown of Autumn trees and the rich green of moss.
The place that the album reminds me of the most is my grandpa's farmhouse in Gujrat, India. I used to do a lot of birdwatching there when I was younger. The farmhouse evokes many memories of making music, watching birds, and exploring the area."
Why do you make music?
"I've always been an introvert, and I was never able to speak much in conversations. Music was a natural way to communicate my thoughts as an alternative to using words. I began playing the piano when I was five years old, and didn't really enjoy it until I discovered music production in high school. I gradually fell in love with the art of musical exploration and creation. Music has created so many wonderful life experiences for me, and I am so grateful that I get to do it full-time."
What are your musical plans for the future?
"I plan to continue consistent releases, and build miniature worlds with my music. I'm mainly working on EP's at the moment, with a larger album planned for 2023."
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Album Details
Released on October 15, 2021
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