10 Questions: Othasoul

Today [21st August 2020] North London’s Soul Hip Hop hybrid OthaSoul (Louis VI and Dozer Carter) drop their highly anticipated Return of the Soul EP. An incredible comeback after a 4 year hiatus, the EP further cements OthaSoul as a key act in the UK’s inimitable, underground Hip Hop scene. 

With 8 tracks spanning influences from Soul, Disco, Funk, to Old Skool Hip Hop, Jazz and World Music and beyond, Return of the Soul marks a fresh approach from a duo who are wise to the world. We figured it was the perfect time to run ten questions by them and find out what formed this incredible new release.

1. Contestant, what’s your name, chosen craft and where are you based?

OthaSoul – Experimental Soul Hip-hop artists – Kentish Town, London

2. How would you describe your sound?

Experimental. Lyrical. Soulful. All the of the above. This new EP has allowed us to showcase our broader musical skills, not just as rappers & producers but as musicians. If you had to put it in a sentence: It’s a truthful and gritty London sound marinated in soul.

3. Who/what do you consider to be the biggest influence on your music?

We’re storytellers and the best stories are the ones that we’ve experienced ourselves. The biggest influence is our surroundings and we get the opportunity to be the narrators for what is really happening around us. Especially at a time when the young, poor & people of colour are being marginalised in the mainstream in London & the UK.

4. What’s the proudest moment to date for you as an artist?

Honestly, still being here years later and proud of all the music we have made. After taking a hiatus it was always going to be interesting coming back, but turns out the world has been missing OthaSoul, we got a super loyal fanbase from all over the world & they have all immediately poured the love right back in. I think everyone can feel we’ve grown. 

I think another moment was supporting Loyle Carner & Rebel Kleff on UK wide tour and then doing the show at KOKO to a sold out crowd in Camden, our home borough. The atmosphere was crazy af! I can’t describe that feeling where you have way over 1.5K people screaming your lyrics at you. 

The same thing for the same reason when we supported Slum Village at the Jazz Cafe a few years back. The whole ends came out to see us because we grew up down the road. I mean all love to SV but it felt like our show just as much as there’s. There was a mosh pit for us. 

5. Do you have any advice for our readers who maybe trying to play the mad game of music?

Never ever feel you are above anyone. As soon as you do, go check your ego because success, money, popularity is no indicator of talent. Work with people because of the love of the music, not clout chasing. We see clout chasers a mile away. We only work with peope we f*ck with on a level. There is no rulebook so you might as well be yourself. Don’t compare yourself to others. Write your own rules, stick to your principles, collaborate and experiment. Oh… and always credit your producers!

6. Name 3 people you would love to work with and why?

Rapsody: One of the illest rappers out here and more versatile than she gets credit for.

Earthgang: Because I feel they are the US twin version of us.

Gorillaz: Because we grew up on them, since the first album. And I know Damon Albarn is the type of musician that brings out the best in you, no ego, just for the love of it, you know?

7. What have you got planned for the not so distant future?

Hella music. Like hella. OthaSoul and solo stuff from Louis VI & Dozer Carter on Louis’ Misfit Mafia Music label. Also OthaSoul clothing is coming in a mad way. We got some very interesting collaborations outside of music in the rest of the arts coming… as we always said, this has always been way more than music. OthaSoul is just a way of collecting a likeminded group of people, it’s about a movement of change. 

8. What’s the album you’ve played more than any other?

Dozer: Mobb Deep – ‘The Infamous’ gets eternal wheel-ups but ‘Roc Marciano – Reloaded’ is a close second.

Louis VI: It’s between these: Illmatic - NAS, Kendrick Lamar, Good Kid Maad City, Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine, Outkast - Aquemini and Skepta - Konnichiwa 

9. What’s the best concert you’ve been to and where was it?

Dozer: Mobb Deep at Shepherds Bush Empire 2015. Got licked off E&J and can’t remember half of it but it was a serious moment. RIP Prodigy.

Louis VI: Maybe Dizzee Rascal’s first ever show after he dropped Boy In Da Corner. It made me realise there was a path as a UK MC. Made me realise you could be yourself and sh*t was possible.

10. Name three things you can’t live without?

Dozer: Tea, Tiger bread and my sanity.

Louis VI: Basketball, my headphones (aka music whilst I move), being in Nature.

Check out Return of the Soul below, like share and support good British music. Even better buy yourself a copy here.