POETIKAL REFUGEE

Why Poetikal refugee ?

Onesp first album is called poetikal refugee for a simple reason. He writes about his own experience of being an expatriate, leaving france with nothing to lose (check the track Clac Clac CLac) but also, about other people, other cultures he has came across through his travels. (check, I told jesus). Being cut off of what’s happening in France, especially regarding the music industry, onesp has developed an hybrid style , rapping in french keeps him in touch with french speaking people, but rapping in french in front of an english speaking audience makes him unique and alone at the same time. It is impossible to be fully part of the scottish or the british music scene, if your french, even if you live there, and equally, you can’t be part of the french scene, because you simply don’t exist there. That’s the reason why the concept of the album revolves around this notion of refugee.

A perfect example of this duality french MC in Scotland: Freestyle competition final , at the liquid rooms, (see article)

No chance to win when you attend a scottish national MC competition if you’re french, because this competion aims at promoting new scottish talents. Second, when your rhymes are being quoted by a journalist “you’re just a fake, like justin timberlake” and used as a reference, it becomes flattering, because this is not your first language you’re using. It’s an impredictable thing, one day people love you, the next day they hate you…depending on the political context (e.g , when us french said no to the Iraq war) or on the mood of people (if France has won at rugby or football against Scotland for instance). In the end, it’s always interesting to be stuck between two cultures that don’t necessarily interact, it’s the coolness of being different.

Soundwise, the productions are very diverse - from jazzy beats (ration d’alliterations) to accoustic guitar (Lost) , afro soul(style libre) to electro (Thunder lust) and so on…They are diverse because all the artists involved in the project are from different musical backgrounds, ethnicities, and even languages.

Another interesting feature of the album, some artists are not in Scotland or have moved recently. The songs travel through the internet or the post, arrive to onesp, lyrics are being recorded, the track go somewhere else, post production is added (like scratches or effects) and finally it is mastered elsewhere. It’s like a circle of creativity.

the Songs are made in home studios, as it comes, naturally. No rules, just friendships and a nice bottle of wine (or whisky, it can boost the creativity!)

The album cover :

Again, there was no strategy to find an album cover, it just came along. A simple picture of a fishing boat wreckage, taken in kerrera island on the west coast of Scotland, on a sunny october day. The boat represents the travels, the memories, the fears as well - of not being able to leave again-

Onesp is sitting on the deck, meditating and trying to fight its demons.

realised by Molecular scissors - an edinburghextraodinaire graphic designer and re-shaper - the cover thrives to portray onesp as an artist waiting for his time to shine, a poetikal refugee, seeking for his identity !

Artists involved in the album:

Cousin cole (Flagrant Fowl records, New York). Cousin cole is actually becoming one of the biggest dance DJ around. He recently released a hit called”crank dat, soulja boy remix” that has been played all over the world. DJ Swiss Cheese (Three feet cats, Oras production France) a bass player, DJ and beat maker, influence by ska punk and reggae rythyms. Praxis (Leeds), a drum and bass and hip-hop producer. Melvitronica (edinburgh, Scotland), a self taught musician and electronic producer. Burning Dog (edinburgh), behind musical experiments such as “Asazi space funk explosion”

Whys (Tape deck records, edinburgh), one of the best producer in Edinburgh.

Show improve (Brighton, London), a soulful producer often compared to kanye west.

B-burg (edinburgh), a recognised jazz guitarist and turntablist.

Philbo and the intruders(cannes, france), producer and funk musician influence by Funkadelik.

Dyems (edinburgh), part of kyons and Dyems, propely scottish crew !

Asmathics Astronaut,

from Underling, a Dumfermline acoustic hip-hop band.

King funkatron from the scant squad (dumbarton, glasgow)

and last but not least,

On vocals:

persian cat (Iran, Edinburgh) , Suny (Pakistan), Emma (Edinburgh), Dyems.

and last but ot least onespeee !!