BW's musical maestro speaks
Boikanyo Mathonsi | Saturday February 10, 2024 22:12
Solo Otto traces his passion for music back to his early years when he was captivated by the sight of Timbaland working his magic behind the boards on TV.
He said since then, he knew that music production was his calling and he has never looked back. “I fell in love with music from a young age, I remember seeing Timbaland behind the boards on TV and knew from that moment that this is what I want to do,” said Otto.
Inspired by a diverse array of artists, Solo Otto says he finds the creative influence from Hip Hop icons.
“Right now I would say I get inspiration from Ye FKA Kanye West, M.I.A, Travis Scott and Amaarae,” he added.
However, he credits his deep love for music to daily immersion in the sounds of artists like Lil Wayne, whom he used to mimic. He alluded that this unwavering passion led him to dive into music production in 2015 with his sights set on shaping his own unique sound.
“Music was always a passion for me; I was listening to music every day, nonstop. I listened to Lil Wayne and I would go on and try to mimic him. And just growing up and learning you can actually make a career too; so I started making beats in 2015 and I have been making music since then,” said Solo Otto. He says he crafts a versatile range of musical styles, ranging from Hip Hop, RnB and experimental genres and is refusing to confine himself to a single sound. “I do alternative Hip Hop/RnB, and I like to experiment with different sounds. I don’t box myself in just making one sound,” he remarked.
In pursuit of his music, Solo Otto emphasises the importance of creation above everything else. He says he is constantly surrounded by a dedicated community of like-minded individuals all bound by a shared passion to drive the music industry forward.
“Creating comes first before everything, everyone around me here is dedicated and we are dedicated to pushing our craft forward,” said Otto.
Solo Otto remarked that his work speaks for itself with his productions reflecting a range of emotions – be it sadness, courage, or moodiness. Never shying away from testing new sonic territories, he says his music aims to provide listeners with a genuine and raw experience. “I make all sorts of production so what I feel at that moment when making a beat is what I hope people experience when listening to it, but I love minor notes; sad, courage and moody,” he added.
Otto said achieving a Grammy nomination is the hallmark of his career thus far.
“I got nominated for Best RnB Album for Summer Walker - Clear 2 EP that was released last year. I produced the song Hardlifebeing and I must say being a Grammy-nominated producer is the best moment of my career so far,” he said.
Building on this success, Solo Otto mentioned that he is actively collaborating on his third album. “I am working with a local rock artist known as Lyn, she is very talented and I can’t wait to release my third instrumental album that she is featured in,” said Solo.
Looking ahead, Solo Otto said he aspires to inspire the next generation to show that anything is possible.
“One must have self-belief, unwavering passion, trust in the process, and relentless hard work to make it in the creative world; utilise every resource and opportunity, including the boundless power of the internet, to further your craft,” he added.