Aidan Ochre (Nov 2018)
There’s a pivotal moment within every young person’s life, a time where heavy decisions are to be made and intense change is about to arrive. It’s a time of confusion, uncertainty and loneliness. Yet, Aidan Ochre is going through the same moment as well, except he’s expressing it through sound, allowing for others to resonate with his experience.
Now working out of New York, Aidan has come to understand the coming of age shift that can be as daunting as it is exciting He’s come to see what the most difficult and beautiful moments both look like. And in a way few can he’s translated it to a soft and lush sonic soundscape that acts as an escapism from the anxieties of daily life.
Through his music, Aidan has become the picturesque figure for youthful connection, and with a stronger sense of self and the art he wants to create, the possibilities seem limitless and endlessly exciting.
Our first question as always, how is your day going and how are you?
I’m good! It’s actually my birthday today. But I’m currently eating breakfast with my parents.
Oh my goodness! Happy birthday! Are you doing anything special or fun for it this year?
Thank you! Nope nothing really just going to my sisters for thanksgiving and all that.
While on the topic of it, how would you reflect on the last year? Do you have any memories that stick out to you or mean a lot?
it’s been a really crazy year to be honest. I’ve watched my music really begin to take off, and as a result, me start to take it more seriously. I met so many amazing people who have become my closest friends. Saw some of my favorite musicians perform. Graduated high school. Started college. Definitely a major transitional year in my life, starting to move in the direction of where i want to be and how I want to be living.
When you say that you’re taking music seriously, what does that mean for you and how are you honing your craft?
Just to be more methodical with what I’m releasing and when i release it. I think before i was just doing it for fun, and i still am doing it for fun, but I realize that people actually care about what I make and I want to give people the best possible product.
To take it a step back, when did music first speak to you as an art form and who around you influenced you onto the path?
I’ve always just loved listening to music. I can’t do anything without having music playing, like it’s necessary. I always used to sing around my house and I taught myself guitar around freshman year of high school. I would just play covers of songs I was into and could sing. I never really thought about making music but one year my parents bought me a mic and an interface and around the same time I really got into the band ‘The Internet’. I found out Steve lacy recorded on GarageBand and I was like “oh shit I could do that” and then I just set up a little “studio” in my basement and recorded some songs and put them out on SoundCloud.
That’s such universal story lately, just using what’s available to your advantage. Beyond Steve Lacy and the Internet, which other artists were or currently are inspiring your artistic vision both past and present?
A lot of people in that scene like Tyler, Pharrell, but also guys like Mac Demarco and HOMESHAKE. Also really inspired by Toro Y Moi’s sound right now, I love how he writes.
If you were to be stuck on a bus ride across the United States, but you can bring 3 albums with you, which do you take?
Definitely Hive Mind by the Internet , probably A Seat at The Table by Solange just because it’s so beautiful, and also Voodoo by Dangelo.
Do you find as well that your location in New York has an impact on the paths you take in music? Or is it just where you happen to be?
I mean, I used to live in the middle of nowhere and the scene was pretty dead there so i was pretty much influenced by the Internet. Now I’m at school and it’s a little different, but I don’t think it has impacted my sound much.
If you could build a music studio in any one city, which would it be?
Somewhere in the mountains, just secluded and able to work! Probably in a foreign country too,I feel like that would be a good center for creativity.
You also mentioned the fact you’ve been able to see more live shows within the last year, what show that you’ve seen, at any point of your life, has made the biggest impact on you and why did it mean so much?
I had the opportunity to see Frank last year at Panorama. It was really amazing, unlike any concert I’ve seen before. I think it’s unbelievable how one person can have such a huge impact on an entire generation of people.
Another notable one for me was seeing Raphael Saadiq this summer. He’s just a legend and an extremely talented musician and me and friend were near the front row just dancing and having so much fun.
To change gears a little, if you could strip one movie of its soundtrack and instead score it yourself, which would it be?
Hmmm that’s a good question, I’ve never been asked that before. I’m not sure if there’s anything in specific but I feel like i would love to score a coming of age movie. Especially one that’s kind of retro almost like Stand By Me or something.
As well, you recently released a single that’s making rounds. Where did the inspiration and motivation for that track come from and how do you reflect on it since its release?
To be honest, I just sat down randomly one day in the summer and already had the progression, and then just made the song in like 1 or 2 hours. I’m not sure what the inspiration was, it was just the song I wanted to make at the time. There were some changes made to it over the summer but it was mostly made in one sitting. It’s different from my other releases and people seem to be really receptive of it so I’m pretty happy that people liked the different direction I went.
As you keep going forward with new releases and projects, what skills do you hope to hone and which musical ideas do you hope to explore more?
Right now I really want to focus on becoming a better guitarist and also just being a better writer in general. Going to try to be more complex with my composition and more methodical in my producing.
If you could have anyone, living or dead, hear your music, who would you pick and why?
Definitely Steve Lacy because he’s the reason I started all of this, getting his opinion would be interesting.
If you could pin down your greatest musical goal going forward, what would you say it to be?
To be able to do a Tour. Not even a huge one, just being able to do any tour and seeing that people actually care enough to come out and see me in different cities would be amazing.
Have you able to play shows in the past, and if so, how was the experience?
I haven’t really played any real shows but I did a small set at one of my friends homes recently and it went really well. Most of the people who came out were my friends but it was their first time seeing me perform live so it was definitely exciting!
That’s an amazing story, it’ll come soon more for sure. Ss a final question, what when you look back, are you most proud of in your work and more so last few years of life while heavily creative?
I’m just proud it’s been able to connect me to so many people. I’ve made a lot of my friends and met a ton of amazing musicians through music. When I lived at home I felt trapped a lot but music really provided an escape for me and, ultimately, a path to what I want to be doing in the future. And I’m so happy that I found that.
Do you have anyone or anything to shout out or promote? The floor is yours!
Check out my single Tease! Also my friend Lukey just dropped a new song called Limerick and it’s so good, so yeah highly recommend that. Also, Change by Blake Saint David and Collect by Pretty Boy Aaron are beautiful songs that came out this month everyone should check out! Thank you all so much for listening.
Follow Aidan on Instagram and Twitter
Listen on Spotify , Soundcloud or Apple Music