Anthony OKS
I am only discovering Anthony OKS' music but what an artist. What a poet. What a talent. I’ve been listening to his latest EP In the Garden for a few days now and I’m amazed by the production as well as the storytelling. The instrumentation on this project is brilliant and Anthony’s flow is insane.
I rarely get to feature hip hop artists because I always look for something different and inspiring. Anthony OKS is definitely inspiring and he’s an artist I will keep listening from now on.
He recently released an empowering music video for his latest single “Line of Fire”, a must watch.
Go stream In The Garden now :)
Photo credit: Khammy Phanthavong
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
I'm Anthony OKS. I'm a Hip Hop artist and published poet. I started writing to express myself. Music has honestly been so good to me, and I'm happy that I have a space in music to work with people I genuinely enjoy being around. It's such a gift, really.
What did you grow up listening to?
My Dad always had on afropop in the house, like the real polished sounding stuff with tons of reverb and autotune. I ended up loving that stuff as I got a bit older, then started digging for proper Afrobeat. My Mom's side is Jamaican, so reggae was always around, but more through my uncle. He'd listen to lots of Stephen and Damian Marley. That sent me on a quest of its own.
When did you start writing and making music?
I started when I was super young. I was about 14. My older brothers and cousins were all already rapping and recording, but I was really just a kid. About two years after that, I started recording at a home studio my oldest brother built. It was pretty cool! That was the beginning to my first music project with my group, The Lytics. Two years after that, I was 18 and we got booked to play this festival in Greece. Not to date myself, but the booker discovered us through Myspace, ha. So I went over to Greece, and after that I caught the bug. Couldn't get enough of the whole experience.
When did you realize music was more than just a hobby?
When I started making some money from it aha.
Who was the first person to ever believe in you?
My parents definitely.
In The Garden is your latest EP - what's the story/inspiration behind this project?
It's a story about growth. The garden I speak about is the personal garden that I tend to throughout the project. I watch it become healthier, more lush as I continue to progress. This personal garden consists of my soul and experiences — It's the bit that represents everything going on in my life.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this EP? Who helped you create it?
I worked with a few producers and musicians on this project. It was super collaborative. It was pretty challenging because I wrote it in the middle of the 2020 pandemic. Everyone who played on this project were calling in from different provinces and cities, so it made for a pretty hectic, but enjoyable process aha. I remember doing so much time change math! Paul Shearer (Paalsh) was a huge part of this project though. I definitely would not have been able to make this thing come alive if it weren't for him.
What did you learn about yourself after finishing this project?
I underestimated my strength and resilience. By the time I wrapped my project up, I was honestly just proud.
That year was extremely difficult for me and my partner. I mean, it was a difficult year for everyone. I was just happy that I got it done and made a project I was happy with.
What did you feel when writing "Line of Fire"?
I was channeling hard times I guess, while celebrating the good ones. This song is really about being triumphant, even when times seem so dark. During the lockdown, I was pushing myself to be as mindful as I possibly could. I felt like I needed to retrain my thoughts. My perspective started to shift on a lot of stuff that I thought I wouldn't be able to change. It was empowering.
What's the inspiration behind the music video?
The video touches on this idea of seeing the light amongst the darkest moments. The video really creates this world I'm speaking about. The scenes allow me to represent the song full circle. I begin talking about taking a bullet in order to make ground in life, you see that in the scene where I'm running. The overlay of my family photos act as the undergird for my experiences. The border is protection, and it reinforces my lyrics referencing strength, motivation, and assurance. The light piercing through the holes is a sign of better days, the bright light can't be held back any longer. It must break through the darkness. You hear this in the outro, too. I repeat, "I'm taking chances with my life”.
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
The hardest part about being an artist is not being respected by others who work in the music industry. People assume artists don't know the business, it's annoying. I see a lot of show promoters taking advantage of artists, and lowballing us. It's ironic, because without us, there would be no jobs for everyone else, but yet we make the least. I'd like to see that changed. I'm grateful to have a team of people around me with morals and good intentions, but most of the music industry is garbage.
What advice would you give to artists out there?
Don't compromise. Keep pushing what you push. That's really what makes whatever you do special. People will want what you got if you believe in it.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
I wish I knew the answer to this.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
I'm still learning, you know. For me, personally, I've learned not to be so hard on myself. Remember to smile, try to find peace in life. Give people energy that give you energy back. Invest in all that.
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