London O'Connor
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'0Δ', the debut album from self produced American songwriter,
London O'Connor, is a post-any-genre narrative told through vivid
and visual production he made from the contents of his backpack while
sleeping on floors and couches in New York City. It details the suburban
world he grew up in and fled from in Southern California years before.
His story is not that unlike many others, "a kid who feels stifled in
America's suburbs and wants to get out." But, there is a clarity and
vulnerability in London's version that is rare. From the meticulously
simplified arrangements to the lyrics that stand out more as admissions
than punchlines, to his opening live sets in New York that saw him
perched on top of a solitary cube of light in a blacked out
venue - London's mode of expression is to reduce until there is nothing
left to hide behind.
"I remember being in the mall, and pop music is just everywhere," says O'Connor, who grew up in the San Diego suburb of San Marcos. From his earliest memories, he was enamored with the textures of pop songs, but had a gnawing distaste for their lyrics. "I remember feeling that this certain kind of person is talking about certain experiences - and I feel like they're lying to me. Making '0Δ' was about two things. It was an album like a movie about where I was from and how it really was. I didn't want it to be a filtered story the way most pop music is. I wanted it to be real. I guess in other music people aren't talking about the things that I notice about life or the things that are really important to me. How I feel actually being here. I wanted to express those things. But it was also about me needing to breathe and make a place in this world where I could live safely. Safely in a world where I could be myself - and survive."
London O'Connor applied and was accepted to music college in New
York, and within his first week met his instant and inseparable friend,
Davis. "I was never supposed to produce my first album, or any of my
albums. Davis was supposed to produce them. He was the greatest artist I
have ever met. I was going to help him with the vision on his projects
and he was going to produce mine." Davis' sudden and unforeseen
death left London without both a brother, accomplice or producer. A
resourceful and strong-willed artist by nature, London didn't seek to
find a replacement, but instead sought to "defend himself" with
sound. He stepped up his production, locking himself in a room for
almost two years training his arrangement and composition skills, and
simplifying his lyrics. He focused his expression first to the
production of ambient music (a space to inhabit) and then built up to
pop structured songs. His first lyrics were those of a captain
traversing a sterile environment. '0Δ' is the result of that era of trauma
and resolution. The goal wasn't to produce pop standards, but to render
memories and surroundings with pop music's core simplicity. His response
since leaving this bedroom has been both exacting and holistic. His
release of singles 'GUTS' and 'Nobody Hangs Out Anymore'
traveled quickly from soundcloud playlists to DJ rotations on BBC Radio
1 and some American non comm stations. His one-of-one performance cube
which he likens to a ship, sat with him on a plane to play shows in the
UK and France within months of his album's initial self release. The
original version lingers on the internet along with a tweet of his
cellphone number "if you're from nowhere I'm here until my cell phone
explodes 858 232 9290." The creative direction of London's body of
art and the viscerality of its themes to overcome one's environment
liken the symbol, '0Δ', in the eyes of his fans to one perceived like the
emblem for the Rebel Alliance. A remastered version of '0Δ' will be
released physically and digitally February 17th on True Panther Sounds.
London is currently traveling and continuing work on his self produced
follow up album.
"A singular talent" - The Guardian
"a dreamy tribute to growing up bored in the suburbs and finding adventure in the nether regions of his imagination - The FADER
"'0Δ' works like a mini motion picture" - Pigeons and Planes
""as expertly constructed a pop album as anything that will be released this year" - Pitchfork
London O'Connor
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19 May, 2018
The Great Escape: Saturday 19th May
The Great Escape festival will take place at multiple venues across Brighton, from Thursday 17th to Saturday 19th May, and a great many Primary Talent International artists will be taking part.
Saturday 19th May
...Gaffa Tape Sandy
...Vistas
...Cuckoolander
...KIOKO
...Jack River
...BLESSED
...Kawala
...Chappaqua Wrestling
...Steel Banglez
...The Magic Gang
...Puppy
...Ebenezer
...Self Esteem
...ALASKALASKA
...Pale Grey
...808INK
...Fredo
...MoStack
...Now, Now
...Canshaker Pi
...Tom Grennan
...Carmody
...MistFor further information, consult The Great Escape website.
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13 Jun, 2016
London O'Connor: Featured In Guardian Music
London O'Connor is featured in Guardian Music.
www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jun/10/london-oconnor-new-york-music-moma-ps1
tracks=170283996