10 September 2018
Newsdesk
On 3rd September 2017, just over a year ago to the day, Octavian released his now iconic ‘Party Here’ video. Seemingly coming out of nowhere, it was a near-perfect introduction to a vital new voice in underground UK music, showcasing Octavian’s distinctive flow and marking his transition from intriguing new name to one of the most talked-about names around. One year and over six million streams on, ‘Party Here’s “you’re gonna blow it’s just timing” line couldn’t have been more apt.
Today, Octavian releases his highly-anticipated new mixtape. Titled SPACEMAN, the mixtape is a brilliant snapshot of where Octavian is at musically right now, as he continues work on his full debut album (expected in 2019). It’s the culmination of an incredible year for the 22 year old French-born, south east London-raised rapper; a year that has seen him forge a whole new UK sound and release a string of defining crossover anthems such as ‘100 Degrees’, ‘Hands’, ‘Little’ and his ‘Move Me’ collaboration with Mura Masa. That SPACEMAN features none of those previous singles is a statement of real creative confidence from a genuinely instinctive and prolific artist. Instead we get a unique and original full body of work: fourteen brand new tracks that blend Octavian’s love of rap, house, drill, teenage raving, Bon Iver, James Blake, unconventional structures and fresh sounds and flows. It features collaborations with the likes of Suspect, A2, Swift and Krimbo alongside production from Octavian, J-Rick, Amir Amor (Rudimental), O12, Lil Silva and 19 year old, south east London newcomer Elevated, who Octavian discovered via YouTube and has produced eight of the fourteen tracks on the mixtape.
This is music inspired by the UK’s vibrant scene but with true worldwide appeal. It’s that appeal and versatility that means Octavian can go from tearing up the grimiest of south London raves to performing at the forthcoming launch of Tokyo’s flagship Stone Island store and being celebrated by US tastemakers and global stars alike (including that much talked-about co-sign from Drake at the start of the year). He’s also received the patronage of Virgil Abloh, who went from rinsing Octavian’s music during his DJ sets to inviting him to perform at his ‘Off White’ parties and then model in Abloh’s inaugural Louis Vuitton show over the summer. Continuing the spirit of collaboration between the two, Virgil Abloh has also created SPACEMAN’s cover art (download high res HERE) alongside Armin Druzanovic and Michael Phan.
SPACEMAN track list:
1. Scared
2. Sleep (feat. Krimbo)
3. Don’t Cry
4. Stand Down
5. This Is My World
6. Build
7. Break That (feat. Suspect)
8. Move Faster
9. Here Is Not Safe
10. 54321 (feat. Swift)
11. Revenge
12. Lightning
13. You See It?
14. Think Twice (feat. A2)
Meanwhile, Octavian will embark on a full UK headline tour in September and October. Every Octavian headline show in the UK this year has sold out and demand for the tour is similarly huge, with all dates selling out within an hour of going on sale and the London show upgraded immediately to 1100 capacity Electric Ballroom. The full tour dates are:
OCTAVIAN Live 2018
Thu 20th Sep HAMBURG, Reeperbahn Festival
Wed 26th Sep MANCHESTER Yes (SOLD OUT)
Thurs 27th Sep LONDON Electric Ballroom (SOLD OUT)
Fri 28th Sep BRIGHTON Patterns (SOLD OUT)
Sat 29th Sep COPENHAGEN Den Grå Hal (The Grey Hall)
Mon 1st Oct BRISTOL Thekla (SOLD OUT)
Tues 2nd Oct BIRMINGHAM Mama Roux (SOLD OUT)
Wed 3rd Oct LEEDS Belgrave Hall & Canteen (SOLD OUT)
Sat 6th Oct DUBLIN Green Room
