Nathaniel Oku on Sonically Snapshotting Summer 2020 on the 'DRIVER EP' (Interview)

Nathaniel Oku is a Taiwanese-American songwriter, vocalist, musician, and producer known for his lyrical storytelling and lush vocal harmonies. Oku's music weaves contemporary R&B with chill and indie pop, creating songs as easy going as summer anthems, but with messages and compositional details that draw listeners to repeated listening.

His first independently released EP, entitled 'Midnights in Montreal' was streamed over 15,000 times in its first few months. Subsequent singles, led by 'Ports' throughout 2019 and early 2020, continued to grow his fanbase. His music has been featured by Quadio Media, Cornell Creatives, and Rooted Music Media, and has been streamed over 75,000 times across all streaming platforms. His upcoming collaboration project with renowned Mexican artist, filmmaker and entrepreneur Claudio Aluzzi is set to interconnect his global audience.

Oku grew up around music learning piano and drums/percussion mostly from his father, a blues guitarist who can be heard occasionally on Oku’s tracks. After forming the Rabbit Tourism Production Collective with longtime collaborator Will Schoenberger, Oku produced singles with FLANNEL ALBERT and rapper Alex Vince. 

Though currently based in New York City, Nathaniel Oku's upcoming 'Driver' EP was inspired by the tiny town of Mercersburg, PA. With a population of under 1,500 residents, the rural setting provided a backdrop for this collection of summery, jazz-infused pop songs.

Check in with Nathaniel below in this exclusive interview where he gets into his move to New York, growing up under the tutelage of a musician father, and his favorite track from the 'DRIVER EP'. Right now and only on Hype Off Life 👊🏾

What was it like for you as a Taiwanese-American growing up in the small town of Mercersburg, PA? 

Being mixed is already enough for some people to question their identity, and being from rural Pennsylvania certainly only furthers that feeling. I was lucky though; I went to a boarding high school with a pretty diverse student body, so I didn’t feel too out of place. If anything, it has taught me a lot about how much, or how little, of an impact racial and ethnic differences can impact relationships.

Why did you move to New York?

I’m actually in New York City for school; I’m still a college student and I had the opportunity to expand my network both musically and professionally by enrolling in an academic program out here. Since moving I’ve been looking to work with as many other artists as I can, which is tough with COVID and everything, but it’s still been pretty amazing so far.

What similarities and differences have you noticed between both places?

I mean they’re pretty much polar opposites. I’ve actually had some conversations with people from the city about where I’m from and it’s been pretty interesting to hear how they can barely fathom living in such a rural area. Cities have always been such exciting places to me, so much so that I’m actually studying City Planning in college. As I said, I want to collaborate with other artists and songwriters, and cities give you the ability to network in ways that simply aren’t possible in rural Pennsylvania. But like, physically, both places are really beautiful, just in different ways. I will say, I miss being able to see the stars.

You’ve been a musician since a young age. How has your sound progressed over time?

Yeah, music has definitely been a huge part of my life since I was very young, given that my dad is a musician, but I didn’t start making my own music until I was around 17. I think the biggest difference now is that before I was making music that imitated what I was listening to, whereas now I have a better idea of where my sound naturally gravitates so I’m able to play to my strengths. It was really just about putting in the hours and figuring out what worked for me and not pretending to be someone I wasn’t.

Describe the moment when you knew music lived within you.

I put a song last year called ‘Ports’ and I’ve had the opportunity to perform it a few times. It has a really catchy, memorable chorus so I would teach it to the audience and when everyone was singing along together it really made me feel like I have the ability to write a chart-topping hit one day.

So, you’re releasing a new project this month, ‘DRIVER EP’. What is the concept behind the EP?

I really just wanted it to be a snapshot of my summer. I was working at a golf course part time while living through a pandemic and I really just wanted to create something that I could look back on in a few years and relive the rollercoaster that 2020 has been. Each song tells its own story and I really just wanted to make four quality songs that all convey the twists and turns of a late summer drive. 

Its artwork is clean! Can you explain the meaning behind it.

Thank you! I’d like to think if this music thing doesn’t work out I could go into graphic design or something. But yeah, I just really wanted to show the rural place that inspired the music and of course stick to the lyrical driving themes. I was able to borrow my producer’s dad’s Mercedes Benz for the photo, which ended up being perfect because I reference the car in the single, also titled ‘Driver,’ which came out on September 18th. The original concept for the cover showed the golf course that I was working at but the car picture ended up being so much more aesthetically pleasing. 

Which song from ‘DRIVER EP’ means the most to you?

The final song, "Simple Times" was the first song we started and the last one that we finished. My producer, Kaz, and I were pretty stuck for a long time, and then I wrote the first 4 lines and it really started to come together. I wanted to make a song that referenced the COVID-19 pandemic in a subtle, non-corny way and I actually think I pulled it off! The song is about how I constantly felt like I was waiting for it all to be over so I could continue with my life, when I really should still be living a day at a time and going with it. I think this is a pretty relatable feeling and I love how the song turned out.  A huge shout out to Alex Vince for coming through with his featured verse too, he killed it as per usual. You should definitely check out his stuff as well. 

My producer's favorite song is the second track, titled 'For Summer' because we tried to incorporate every instrument we had available in the studio into the beat at one point or another. 

Your Dad is a musician too. What’s the best piece of advice he’s given you?

Yeah, he’s had a huge impact on me! I have to put up with his critiques but I think it’s all worth it in the end. He has taught me a lot about what it takes to make music that will stand the test of time. I think the best advice he’s given me was to identify clear role models, both famous/successful artists and songwriters as well as those in my personal life, and really study what they do. He has put me on to poetry and identified people such as Leonard Cohen to study and master the craft of lyric writing.

What does the peak of your career look like to you?

I really just want to be able to work with talented musicians and be embedded within the music industry. My goal is to be a studio jack-of-all-trades, there to collaborate on and assist with songwriting, producing, and even mixing/mastering. Writing demos and producing for other popular artists while simultaneously being in an environment that inspires my own music would truly be the peak of my career. Also being boys with Justin Bieber would be pretty chill I think.

Anything else we should know?

I’m hella proud of the EP so I have to plug myself! My producer, Kaz, and I spent the last few months of our summer spending late nights in the studio making it and as fun as it was to make, it’d be even more satisfying if other people get to hear and enjoy it as well. Oh also, I did a big collab project with Mexican artist Claudio Aluzzi which comes out in October so stay tuned for that!!