How do you make a track almost entirely remotely while in lockdown in 2020? Otosan have made a career of remote working, rarely being on the same continent at once since they announced their arrival in 2018 with ‘Do You Feel It’ (2 million Spotify streams and counting). But never has the challenge of working remotely proven greater for Otosan than in the sessions that produced ‘Nowhere’ featuring Julia Lostrom, out now on Hussle Recordings.
Like everyone, through the first half of 2020 Otosan’s lives were lived out online, where they discovered emerging Melbourne singer-songwriter Julia Lostrom on triple j Unearthed and knew they had to get her in on a session.
“We started scouring through triple j Unearthed for some amazing vocal talent, which is always our first go-to when looking for collaborators,” explain Otosan, aka Ryan Dickinson and Ultan Burke. “From the moment we heard Julia’s voice we knew she would be a perfect fit for the track. The first takes were recorded with Julia remotely in the first wave lockdowns in April and streamed on Instagram Live, then completed with a couple of real-life socially distanced recording sessions during a brief lifting of harsh restrictions in Melbourne.”
Everyone can relate to endless video meetings in 2020, but Otosan used this new format to complete the track while half of the duo was enduring the world’s strictest pandemic lockdown in Melbourne and the other was across the Tasman, playing gigs to packed New Zealand dancefloors with little to no restrictions. The result? Yet another vocal house heater that blurs the lines between pop and dance to add to Otosan’s growing collection.
Melbourne based, Zambian raised and Greek born singer-songwriter Julia Lostrom has harnessed her diverse cultural upbringing to inspire her material which flutters between chilled electronic melodies and slightly left-of-centre R&B. Her breathy vocals perfectly complement the melodic house vibes of ‘Nowhere’.
Julia explains, “I had just released my single ‘Walls’ on Unearthed and the Otosan guys thought my voice would suit their track, so they reached out and I loved it so much! It was so funny recording it virtually in the first lockdown and then we met up in the in-between stage between Melbourne’s strict lockdowns to record some parts and just got to hang out a bit. They’re such lovely guys.”
‘Nowhere’ has already been awarded with a New Music Single grant from NZ On Air, allowing the guys to bring the full package to life with a video clip from Australian Director Harvey Hayes, featuring World Champion krump dancer Ken Vaega. Out today, get your first listen of ‘Nowhere’ below!
