Ospreyshire Origins: Is This a New Normal?

This was the first of 2 new songs I made for the DFxO split with Dystopian Futures. Dave from DF suggested the idea of a “lockdown” EP given the state of the world today. I freestyled my observations on the world in this pandemic life by mentioning some of my anxieties and concerns. Yes, I did reference some cases of that covidiot licking deodorants at a store or how another one was assaulting and coughing on a cop in Chicago in the earlier parts of the lockdown period. I used an organ sound as a base after listening to a lot of Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio and Booker T around the time of that recording. Relax, I would never rip them off as the song clearly isn’t an organ trio jazz tune.

Hope you enjoyed my thoughts on the song.

Inspiration for Pathos Formula Wave

I didn’t expect to get some attention for my new EP, but I appreciate those who’ve listened to it. If you haven’t then here it is.

I wanted to strip my sound down for this concept. This involved a restricted setting with the recording and writing process. For starters, every song had to be based on the same poetic format. In this case, I chose the nonet. That’s a nine line poem with nine syllables each. There are also nine songs on the EP, so one can say I went up to the nines, right?

The recording process is even more minimal than previous recordings I’ve done with my last EP, singles, and compilation contributions. I only used my voice and acousmatics for this one to see what sounds I can get or manipulate. Some of the found sounds are more obvious than others like using a bathtub in one example.

Besides the composition, I thought this EP was therapy for me. I have to be honest with all you readers. I have a lot of issues with internalizing my anger and sadness. A ton of people have enraged me for most of my lives. Most of them are people I haven’t done anything wrong to. I won’t name names, but the tracks involve people who’ve bullied me in the past, some racists who’ve given me hell, and former co-workers who questioned my worth while getting special treatment. This has been a long time coming. The times when I was open with my anger, people treat me like I’m Satan himself. Not to mention a lot of those same people never owned up to THEIR actions and wrongdoings which frustrates me more. You really want to get on my bad side? It’s when others don’t take responsibility for their words or actions when they do something hurtful. I was sick of hiding these feelings for years now and they manifested in spoken word form.

So what do you think? What was your favorite song on the album? What are your thoughts on how I created this EP?

Maybe this could lead to something good and that’s saying nothing about another album I’m writing and recording. Wink wink.

New song! Nkama Mibale! Dedicated to my over 200 followers.

I told you I would do something after getting 200 followers on my blog. This is a brand new single for the occasion. It’s called Nkama Mibale or 200 for those that don’t know Lingala. This poem/song is free to download or you can pay what you want for it. Hope you enjoy it!

Happy Birthday to me! Here are some presents for you!

Ospreyshire Diletantism
I woke up today one year older. It’s that time of the year where I celebrate another year of life.

I wanted to do something special, but not for myself though.

As of today, I released NEW Ospreyshire tunes on my Bandcamp page! I recorded a single with two poems just a few days ago and I wanted to keep it a secret until my birthday. The new poems are Dilettantism and End of a Decade respectively. The first track is definitely one of my noisier ones with my trademark penchant for acousmatic sounds. The second track is actually a ukulele-driven one, but where I multi track my voice and some subtle acousmatics in the background. This single is free or whatever price you want on my Bandcamp page. https://ospreyshire.bandcamp.com/album/diletanttism-end-of-a-decade-single

But wait! There’s more!

For those of you that followed me because of my film and anime reviews, I temporarily ended my hiatus on Iridium Eye Reviews for just one day. I posted three new reviews today, so feel free to check them out. They involve the early 00s sci-fi anime Alien Nine, Studio Ponoc’s first film Mary and the Witch’s Flower, and the recent travel documentary Unjust Perceptions: Ethiopia. Those reviews are my gift to any of you who like movies and/or anime.

Katauta #49

I uncovered an instrument I haven’t played in years. This is none other than the melodica, ladies and gentlemen. Interesting fact about this instrument: it was also used in the song “Clint Eastwood” by the Gorillaz.

I decided to give myself more constraints by having an entirely alliterative poem with all the words starting with C.

Katauta 52 Project #16

I finally had enough time for using an instrument for once given my schedule.

It was fun doing a minimalistic piece with a chord I’ve never used before. I’ll see if I can use instruments more often if time allows.

-Curtis

Katauta 52 Project #5

I can’t believe I did it. I busted out the ukulele on this one.

My mind is still boggled by this decision to make minimalist music under the Ospreyshire name with one of the happiest sounding instruments ever made.

Oh, the things I do for whoever bothers to watch or listen…

-Curtis

The EP is here!

https://ospreyshire.bandcamp.com/album/verses-vs-anhedonia

http://zaprecords84.bandcamp.com

Feel free to download it for free or to pay what you want. Let me know what you think. It’s also on several digital platforms.

Special thanks to ZAP Records for distributing my debut EP!

-Curtis