OK human - we wanted to be the sky

OK human

we wanted to be the sky
self-released; 2016

​3.6 out of 5

By Dom H

OK human is the project of a 20-year-old art student who dabbles in fine arts and occasionally instrumental, electronic, ambient music. Located in the hot, bustling, upper-middle class suburbs of the Santa Clarita Valley, the man behind OK human often tells people he hails from L.A. It is a sunny, picturesque place which mirrors the color within his music. He took guitar lessons two years ago but quit and decided to pursue music on an unrestrained basis. It’s a side project to him, but it’s more personal because of that. To OK Human, we wanted to be the sky is an album that was made with the sole purpose of transposing emotions into sound form.

​The eight-track release opens with “there’s an ocean in my room.” A piano arpeggio flutters delicately, but at an incredibly rapid speed. The distorted plinks of piano keys echo off into oblivion, reverberating endlessly as a meaty synth blasts into the mix. This is a beautiful, atmosphere experience, yet it’s almost impossible to describe in words. I’d love to capture how perfect the sharp synth notes in the final seconds of the track sounded as they seared through the mix, but instrumental music of this multi-layered quality just has to be heard.

By the time “no body” begins, I’m already well invested in this Radiohead-esque project. The avant-garde, experimental style is very reminiscent of the popular experimental band, though OK human has paved a unique sound. Sonic soundscapes speak a thousand words in themselves. No vocals are needed. A punchy drum beat punctuates the soft synths which tinkle as they fluctuate unpredictably and uncontrollably. It’s dance-worthy, yet soothing; psychedelic and otherworldly, yet grounded and clear.

“obsessions” returns to a restrained, simplistic piano-driven melody. Yet, there are numerous layers and endless depths to this simplicity. OK human specializes in making a gentle, slow and straightforward piano arpeggio resonate deeply within a listener invoking emotions. A sample of a woman talking in a busy, crowded room helps to add noise, clutter and chaos to this thought-provoking track. 

“glow’” is a track driven by clean electric guitar chords which reverberate into infinity as an alien synth which sounds almost like a vicious breeze stutters and flickers in the backdrop. Restrained, timid and soothing synths blend ever so gradually into the mix. 

This is album is a surprisingly well-polished and professional release for somebody creating music solely as a side project. I think it’s well worth a listen.

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