Ol Finn - The Winter EP
Multi-talented South West based rapper and producer Ol Finn (alias McVeigh) has remastered and re-released his 2018 Winter EP, extending it to a fully fledged seven track LP. The Winter LP tells a consistent story and a very personal one at that. The LP has been cleverly and thoughtfully pieced together over the years and features bass licks from the late Zac Winter, the muse for this album. The Winter LP also hosts features from other musicians such as producer Hilltown and singer Elsie O’s, rapper One Sun and DJ Madhandz.
The Winter LP is a heartfelt ode to a friend who passed away before his time. Consider this album a dedication to those fighting with mental health battles and addiction, an expression of deep mourning but also a celebration for Zac’s life and legacy.
The name of the project Winter Roots ties together Zac’s surname and the fact that his life took a drastic downward spiral during the winter months and Christmas period as his depression sadly took hold of him. The lyrics to the title track ‘Intro Speech’ were words written for Zac’s eulogy written and spoken by Ol Finn himself at the funeral.
Ol Finn proves himself to be an artist with an acute musical ear and a profound writing ability, largely producing and mastering the Winter LP himself. Having refined and polished his production skills since the first release, the Winter LP 2021 presents itself as the work of someone blissfully dedicated to his cause, his friendships and the Hip-Hop genre. Suicide is the leading cause of death in men under 45, and Ol Finn expressed to me that in sharing Zac’s story he hopes he can raise awareness and reach the hearts of anyone who is/was, or knows someone who is/was, suffering through depression or drug abuse. The raw emotion related to the disturbing loss of his friend can be felt across all tracks. The Winter LP demands attention and is one you should listen to and dedicate your head space to as if you were reading from a novel rather than play mindlessly in the background. The language used evokes vivid imagery will certainly stay with you long after the LP has played it’s last bar.
The six-track EP features eerie violin chords and smooth and silky instrumentals with a nod to the classic boom-bap sound. Chilled nod your head rhythms and toe-tapping short snares lace together with ascending bass loops and vinyl scratches which give the whole LP a Dilla vibe. The raw emotion of Ol Finn’s lyrics can be felt on tracks such as ‘Ghost of Winter’ which seeks to explain the trials and tribulations of Zac’s final thoughts before passing two and a half years ago. In times of loneliness and anxiety, the Winter LP promises to give others in similar mental states a glimmer of hope and support in dark times. It reminds us of the importance of checking in on friends going through hard times and gives courage to those suffering to speak up before it's too late.
Ol Finn has even created his own label aptly named The Winter Roots. The project is currently ongoing with Ol Finn anticipating another music video in the near future. So far, three MV’s accompany the Winter LP which you can view below;
Ol Finn has very recently come under new management with Mountain Bass, whose founder described him as having amassed an impressive back catalogue of tracks produced by himself as well as features on other artists 'tracks, freestyles and exclusive bars. Ol Finn’s history as a supporting artist includes appearances with Fliptrix, Verb-T, Dr Syntax, Pete Cannon & Chester P, as well as features from the likes of CW Jones on tracks such as Reflections.
Follow Ol Finn’s Instagram account to show some love and stay up to date with future projects and appearances.
The Winter LP can now be streamed on Soundcloud by clicking here.
Words: Jessica Holmes - @lilacmelody_