10 Questions: Otis Mensah
We’re back with another round of 10 Questions to get the lowdown on artists that are on our radar. Otis Mensah is arguably the most productive rap-poet working under lockdown right now – he’s put out four tracks as part of his ongoing #OtisMensahExists series; each with their own animated music video (which you need to see!); which is an insane work ethic and there’re no half measures either. Otis’ sound is a distinct one, with an unbridled stream of consciousness over low-pressure beats; he describes it as a sub-genre of alternative hip hop, namely: “Art-Rap”. We caught up with him for some quick-fire questions…
1. Contestant, what’s your name, chosen craft and where are you based?
My name is Otis Mensah, I’m a self-proclaimed Rap Psalmist, Mum’s House Philosopher and Poet Laureate of my city Sheffield, where I currently reside.
2. How would you describe your sound?
I would describe my sound as alternative Hip-Hop; more specifically avant-garde or Art-Rap. I take influence from experimentation across all genres and find myself gravitating to art that has a common denominator of “poetic vulnerability”, to me, this means that an artist pushes through their own self-consciousness, social norms and societal conditioning to expose a greater authentic truth about themselves and the world and I think this can happen both sonically and lyrically.
3. Who/what do you consider to be the biggest influence on your music?
I’d say the biggest influence on my music are artists that create a greater community through their art, a point of relation through vulnerability. I began to notice these elements throughout the early work of Kid Cudi and Childish Gambino as a teenager and it was transformative for me. As these artists opened up about their depression, quarrels with their identity and self-worth; their words really empowered me and helped me feel less alone whilst I was juggling similar burdens.
Later on, I found myself inspired by the artistic integrity, experimentation and independence of artists like Open Mike Eagle and R.A.P. Ferreira fka Milo, their ability to be unwavering in their philosophy of creating even in the face and age of a trend chasing “normal”. But this journey of inspiration through Hip-Hop music and culture was sparked when I was first introduced to “Things Fall Apart” by The Roots.
4. What’s the proudest moment to date for you as an artist?
My proudest moment to date; an amalgamation of playing the BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury, being titled Sheffield’s first poet laureate and getting the opportunity to tour outside the UK with some of my favourite artists like Blu & Exile.
5. Do you have any advice for our readers who maybe trying to play the mad game of music?
Yeah, never pressurise yourself to create, give your ideas time and space to grow. Don’t feel the need to exhaust yourself in the rat race of productivity, rather develop and work from your own artistic values with integrity, whatever that means for you personally. And post Covid, try and get your music out in a live performance environment, feel the tangible exchange of emotion that happens between an audience and an artist, for me, this is one of the more purpose-driving, transformative experiences.
6. Name 3 people you would love to work with and why?
There’s a few artists that I would absolutely love to work with Okay Kaya is one, I really appreciate her artistry, she’s wrote some of my favourite lyrics ever, love her ability to be profound and wildly ironic in the same sentence, have listened to her two albums like soundtracks to life, really connected to them.
I would also love to collaborate with Eric Mayson, again one of my favourite musical innovators, his music displays such daring musicianship and artistry. His albums really are filled with worlds and soundscapes that I’d never experienced before discovering his music.
I’d love to go against Black Thought on a track, he’s probably my favourite emcee and I’d love to prove my emceeship by standing aside him on the same song one day. He’s a true inspiration.
7. What have you got planned for the not so distant future?
So over the last few months, I’ve been working on a project called #OtisMensahExists, which is a series of new songs and original animations. The series came about from a shift in how I perceived the utility of art, I began to emphasise art as a means of documenting my existence. The project touches on themes of mortality and all that is ephemeral about life. I consider the songs to be some of my most important musings I’ve dared to share yet. I’ll continue to share new music from the project every three weeks over on my YouTube channel: www.YouTube.com/OtisMensah and #OtisMensahExists is a precursor to my first album which will be revealed in 2021.
8. What’s the album you’ve played more than any other?
Ooooo this is such a hard question because I listen to soo much music. I think my most listened to album is a battle between: Childish Gambino - Camp, Okay Kaya - Both, Eric Mayson - Detail, Haley Heynderickx - I Need to Start a Garden and The Roots - How I Got Over… but I’m falling in love with Mac Miller’s Circles at the moment, that’s one that I’ve repeated soo much lately and found worlds of value in it. So there’s six of my many most listened to albums haha
9. What’s the best concert you’ve been to and where was it?
Again, really hard question, I loved Superorganism, went to see them in 2018 and that was pretty awesome! Open Mike Eagle has such an incredible live show as does R.A.P. Ferreira, tricky to choose one!
10. Name three things you can’t live without?
My ever expanding record collection, cliche but coffee and maybe One Tree Hill, I love going back to that show haha… obviously, Family and Love, top trump all of those but I figured I should approach this last question with some quirky self-indulgence.
Follow Otis for the latest news and be sure to subscribe to his Youtube channel for the must-see animated music videos. Photos by Raluca de Soleil & Miroslav Kiss.
