Oktehya’s New EP is a Feast for the Senses
Upon listening to oktehya’s sound it’s something that isn’t simply described. The music is a feast for the senses with mellow yet interesting beats, lyrics that make you feel something, and a flow that is pleasing to the ears yet intrigues the brain. This truly shines through in her most recent EP a changeable feast which brought a melodic clamor that depicted scenes and feelings that not only made you feel something deep within yourself but also melodies and harmonies that leaves a lasting impact and impression throughout not only the course of the music but well after the fact as well.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, oktehya was shaped by music from birth; her father is a local legend funk drummer, and she forged herself a fiercely self-made path, as well. She left home at 16, found her people in Seattle's Capitol Hill underground rap scene, and taught herself Pro Tools and FL Studio by sitting in on sessions until someone handed her the keys. She plays guitar, keys, and drums. She writes 100% of her own toplines and lyrics. She is, in the most literal sense, self-made.
“catch//release” is a beautifully cathartic opening track with a familiar string melody that almost makes you feel like you’re back in your childhood bedroom learning how to grow again which was fitting considering oktehya’s goal for the E.P explaining that, “It was an interesting process uncovering the overarching message and meaning behind the project. I realized that this E.P reflects my internal growth and understanding of self through the lens of relationships of all kinds. There’s a lot to be defined in ourselves by the way we connect, attract, attach to, and treat others”. This is continued with a steady lyrical flow throughout the song which provides not only a rap section but a melodic chorus as well which showcases oktehya’s vocal abilities as she switches up into her lighter and airy head voice. Throughout she also provides a catchy drum beat supported by a bass line that makes you almost want to get up and dance — a stark contrast to what the lyrics have to say “catch and release/don’t know what I wanted from you/hook, line, sink to the bottom with you/good old bait and switch/seen a million come & go/on me just like this”.
Although continuing her sound with a guitar opening on the second track “buckwild” the feeling of the song could not be more different than the previous. The lyrics throughout the song feel raw and honest almost like a confession knowing that things with someone may not be the best but willing to know where things may go. The music almost feels carefree and laid back switching from a melodic singing and riffing section to a free flowing rap section as well as parts that had a synth vocal modifier. It truly jumped all over the place while still maintaining the dreamy instrumental which continued to build and resolved at the end truly encapsulating the feeling of being ‘buckwild’ and exploring a relationship with someone in a free and fun way.
As I continued listening “the patriot” was a track that had pleasantly surprised me and something I felt was the perfect middle section. Although in the previous two songs I was aware she had a strong and well fleshed out voice here is where it really shined for me. Once again showing off her higher range flipping up into her head voice and using a breathier yet full sound to create something fleshed out yet delicate. The R&B influence throughout not only gave a steady and infectious beat but the lyrics make you really feel something especially considering the way the world currently is and continues to be. It touches on people feeling that they owned land that was never theirs to begin with as well as feeling they have more power over marginalized groups. This was truly a standout for me not only due to the beautiful sound but the powerful message lyrically, “run me my reparations/I need some separation/from this church and this state/come on no hesitation/steal it right under me baby”.
Upon listening to “4L” for the first time I could not help but groove along and take in the song sonically. The guitar and drum beat makes it feel as though you are hearing the song being composed in real time in a bedroom. This feeling is solidified with the way the lyrics seem to flow out so naturally with punchy melodic rap verses and a high and delicate chorus which shows the ups and downs within a long term relationship and although there being rough patches the love for them will always be there. It could not have been a more perfect lead in to the conclusion and the true star of the E.P “complicated” which oktehya describes as, “a song about being attracted to someone you shouldn't be. The palpable tension between two people keeping an unspoken secret.” which is prevalent throughout the song through the building of the track particularly in the drums and guitar which feels like a beating heart that intensifies throughout the song paired with longing lyrics that feel like they were stripped straight from a diary entry, “now your face looks different/harder to express the tension […] playing catch/just throwing glances/what’s the harm/in looking past him?”.
Oktehya’s newest collection of songs shows not only that she is an artist who knows how to tell a story lyrically but is also someone who knows how to create a song that is melodically catchy yet well thought out. She is someone who is destined to continue to greatness and she’s just getting started.
