Music Q&A with Oblivion Orchestra
Photo courtesy of Josh Allen
Earlier this year, indie singer/songwriter, Josh Allen released Scene To Scene, his new album under his solo project, Oblivion Orchestra! In this Q&A, Josh talked about the album, Björk, and more! Scene To Scene is out NOW.
Congratulations on the release of Scene To Scene! What does the album mean to you?
Thanks, well I’d had the idea for this record for a while, the sort of concept for the sound design and arrangement, where the recording of each song would be accompanied only by cello. That was sort of the rule, and then I would manipulate different tracks of cellos in all sorts of ways.. sometimes banging on the sides of them, screeching them through guitar amps, and then also playing them more traditionally and layering them on top of one another.
Sometimes there are up to 20 tracks of cello going at a time. If that sounds a little crazy, it sort of was, in the mix. So, it’s gratifying to me to see that it came together to become a thing of it’s own that people can drop the needle on, or play on their phones, or however they choose to listen.
With the way the world has been the last year and a half, how do you feel that affected the making of the album?
Well, the songs for this album were written before all this stuff happened, but the mixes were still in a bit of state where they weren’t quite making sense as anything but a road map to what they’d eventually become. The lockdown period actually gave me the time I needed to listen and sort of sculpt everything.. chip away here and build things up there, if that makes sense.
What is your favorite song off Scene To Scene?
Hmm, that keeps changing, and probably will keep changing. “Yours/Mine” seems to be one that’s been resonating with people. It’s one of the more straight forward songs and arrangements I guess, and it got a fair amount of radio play here in the states and a little in the UK, so that’s been cool to see. Plus there’s a video for it that I really like which is basically a slow motion line drawing by my better half (Sara Nili).. if I can plug her work a little.
Who has been your favorite band to see live?
Well, thinking about that I tend to remember certain concerts and certain moments. I saw Bjork once at a church up in Harlem., with no mics and no amplification. If memory serves, it was her, a harp player, a small choir, a music box, and a Macbook pro. She entered the church from the back of pews, behind the audience and just started singing a cappella and walking slowly towards the stage, barefoot in a long white dress. It was really something. I saw Will Oldham with the Cairo Gang (Emmett Kelly) in Brooklyn, also with no amps or mics and I fell in love with both of them on the spot.
If you had a chance to collaborate with a musician, dead or alive, who would it be?
Well, I think the thing I love about most of my favorite musicians is their songs. I love them as songwriters. So, honestly I don’t think any of them need my help in that department. I’d like more to be a fly on the wall while they’re recording or mixing something, see how they’re process works and how they approach things.
What is your favorite thing about making music?
Sometimes there’s magic.
How do you stay positive?
Hmm, well I’m not sure I always do ;) I do think for me that the ‘sad’ songs (and ‘sad’ is the wrong word really) call it saudade, or maybe music filled with longing.. that’s the stuff that sustains me. It’s the same with films or novels. I wanna hear something real. I wanna see or read something that someone’s really felt. Or else, what’s the point really?
Any last words or final message for the readers?
Well, you know, thanks for reading this, and if you’ve got a minute, check out my new record. I think it pairs well with the autumn weather.