OUTLND

We caught up with multitalented artist and producer Outlnd after the release of his latest record “Feel Love”, a stripped and raw R&B single.

Listen here: https://fanlink.to/Feel-Love

Your latest single “Feel Love” was released a month ago. Tell us about the single and your collaboration with JCAL.

The song is about the tribulations I went through over a breakup about a year ago. You go through so many emotions, especially after being with someone for so long, so writing it was almost like therapy for me. I just had to get these thoughts out of my head and voice it, for my own sanity. 

I wrote it with JCAL in his studio and it came really naturally. I feel like he knew where I was at with the whole thing, so it was easy to put myself in that vulnerable state. I came into the session knowing I wanted to create something with the same darkness and emotion that this track ‘Feel’ by Sonder embodied – I played it for him and we just went from there.

I started off with this progression on the guitar and JCAL created this dark sonic landscape around it that built into this big, bass and drum-filled chorus. We just bounced off each other and got most of the song done in that session.

How would you explain your music style to a new listener?

 At this time, I feel like I’d explain it as dark RnB. I draw a lot of influence from The Weeknd’s early work and ‘After Hours’, and I feel like that really comes out on ‘Feel Love’ through the falsetto and melancholy sonics.

What are some of your earliest musical memories?

The earliest memory I have is learning guitar with my grandmother. I was really young and I remember her picking me up after school and taking me to these lessons. Our teacher would run the lesson for both of us at the same time – looking back at it now, it was special to learn by her side. She was the only other person in my family that played an instrument and I remember her first sparking my intrigue with her playing piano for me.

What are some of your favorite records of all time?

 My top two are ‘In Rainbows’ by Radiohead and ‘Blonde’ by Frank Ocean. I like projects that take you on this emotional journey. Storytelling through sonics as well as lyrics. I remember my dad playing ‘In Rainbows’ for me when I was younger on a drive south and just being taken to this place. It’s like you’re daydreaming but you’re still processing your senses into the daydream. It’s cool. 

What does the next year have in store for you?

I’m going to release some songs that are different to what I’ve released before. Ones more of a summer baseline fueled track and the other really singer-songwriter, guitar-based. I feel like these are going to show these next stages I’m coming into as an artist. 

If there is one piece of advice you’d pass on to an aspiring artist, what would it be?

Don’t try and sound like anyone else. I’ve only just come to this realization over the past year, and I feel like a lot of artists get stuck trying to sound like their favorite artist or someone they think they already sound like. That spot is taken, you need to walk your own path!

Finally, any shoutouts?

Keep eyes on ‘amor’, big things coming. September 17th.