Local producer Ohbliv recently put together a mix for French Label Cascade Records. Along with the mix he answered a few question about the history of all that is Ohbliv. Check out the mix here.
Cascade Records: Where are you from?
Ohbliv: I am from Richmond, Virginia, born and raised.
Cascade Records: When was the first time you wanted to make a beat?
Ohbliv: I first wanted to make a beat when i was 12-13 but I didn't have a sampler so I would make pause tapes. I remember looping up the end of "Lyrics 2 Go" from my A Tribe Called Quest tape many times that way.
Cascade Records: What sort of sounds are you drawn to?
Ohbliv: I'm drawn to anything that sounds interesting to me. Whether its jazzy chords, raggedy guitar riffs, dusty drums--I'm digging it. I'm a big fan of the sounds I grew up listening to: smooth jazz and R&B, smooth rock--some would call yacht rock--and of course, soul music.
Cascade Records: Why did you choose the alias Ohbliv? What does this mean?
Ohbliv: I've had many aliases. This is the one that stuck. At first I was rapping under the name Brad Oblivion. I'm a fan of cult movies, and one of my favorites is the film Videodrome. There is a character named Brian O'blivion who was the creator mastermind in the film so I was digging that. Also, it comes from a lot of people telling me I'm in my own world and I'm oblivious to what others are doing. So there you go.
Cascade Records: How would you describe your style and creative approach?
Ohbliv: Raw smoothness, off kilter smoothness, lo-fi smoothness--I don't know, as long as it's smooth. My creative approach changes with the beat, honestly. I'm a fan of rough edges though. I try to keep the sound as loose and human as I can.
Cascade Records: Can you describe your mix for CR?
Ohbliv: This is a dirty mix featuring sounds that have been inspiring me lately. Some unreleased music from myself, and some from my closest RVA cohorts.
Cascade Records: Any future projects you care to share with us?
Ohbliv: I've been working on an album with rapper Nickelus F called Yellow Gold, which will be released soon. A few mixes, collabs are in the works with some special people. And an official Ohbliv album.
Cascade Records: Anything else you'd like to share?
Ohbliv: Brush your teeth twice a day and floss.
Cascade Records: Favorite Motto??
Ohbliv: Music is a mission, not a competition.
Cascade Records: Special Shouts?
Ohbliv: Man, I'm not gonna get too specific, too many people. But everyone who's down with what we're doing, and continues to support this beat music. Umm... CMLK, JustPlainSounds, Wigflip, Klipmode, HW&W, RVA and The World. Love.