OTR Opens Up About His Latest Album, Musical Evolution, Upcoming Tour, And Beyond!

After months of waiting, OTR’s brand new album ‘Be Quiet, They’re Listening’ has finally been released. To celebrate the release of this album, we had the pleasure of catching up with the talented OTR. In this conversation, we’ll be diving into the makings of his newest album, written partly during the pandemic, and exploring the exciting journey of creating an album compared to releasing singles among other topics.

Hey OTR, thanks for speaking with us, how are you doing today?
Just played a show last night and had a 6am flight so I’m in recovery mode but doing well!

Let’s kick things off with your latest single ‘Leave You Behind’, how has it been to see the overwhelming positive response to this release?
I was nervous because it’s definitely more of a downtempo song compared to the others but seeing people connect with it has been such a huge relief. Songs tend to take on new meanings after they’re released and this one just feels like summer thanks to how people are treating it.

Can you give me a little insight into how this album has come about?
Half of it was written during the pandemic so it was a little unconventional. I think everyone had to relearn how to go about doing their jobs but once things started opening up, my process became more streamlined. I traveled to London once to work with some artists that inspired me at the time, then wrapped up the writing process in LA towards the end of 2022.

Which single from this album are you most excited for the world to hear?
I’m most excited for people to hear “In The Summer”. It feels like an elevation of the different sonic elements throughout my project all in one song.

This is your second album that you’ve created. Did you do anything different compared to your first album?
This time around I was working with more analog synths (since I could afford a few of them finally) and had the time thanks to the pandemic to learn how they worked.

Can you give me some insight into the process of creating an album, compared to releasing singles?
Writing an album in general is such an arduous process compared to just writing one single. A single is like one sentence out of context while an album is akin to a short story. But as a vision takes hold and a few songs are written that all feel like they’re part of the same “story”, it’s easy to feel where the gaps are. Being able to fill those gaps and surprise oneself as an artist is what writing an album is all about. There’s an element to experimenting and pushing the boundaries that can’t really exist when writing just one song.

You’re about to embark on a North American headline tour this September, how excited are you to hit the road?
I’m so excited! I finally get to meet people who have been listening to my music. I’ve played a few shows and it still amazes me that people are out there and listening. Despite having two full albums out, the pandemic prevented me from connecting with my audience at that level.

Thanks for taking the time to speak with us, do you have anything else you’d like to say to our readers?
Thanks for the lovely questions! 

Stream this album below.