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Re​-​Birth

by OBUXUM

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about

BIOGRAPHY:
OBUXUM is a Toronto based Somali-Canadian producer and beat maker, whose lush and characteristic sound celebrates story telling.

Her full length LP titled Re-Birth is set for release on Friday August 23th via URBNET. The anticipated follow up to her 2018 H.E.R. EP represents a time of transition of growth. You can hear the vulnerability. The freedom from inhibitions.

In speaking to what we can expect from the sound OBUXUM tells us,

“Each Song means something different, whether it is a life-lesson or a note to upcoming black womxn artists. I have a willingness to always experiment, and create small worlds of their own, that have their own meanings. I am not a fixed artist; you can never expect one kind of sound from me.”

New experiences bring forth a new kind of sound. With Re-Birth, OBUXUM plays with elements of house and techno, while still carrying through an alternative blend of hip hop.

She has made her presence known with notable festival performances at MUTEK Montreal, Wavelength Festival, Kazoo! Fest, Toronto PRIDE, Electric Eclectics, and Venus Fest. NOW Magazine also included her in their list of Toronto electronic musicians to watch in 2018.

This project is funded in part by Ontario Creates - Ontario Music Fund

credits

released August 23, 2019

PRESS: Toronto’s Obuxum creates her own sonic past and future
The producer shares her earliest influences and how Afro-futurism informs her work.
~ thefader.com/2021/03/18/torontos-obuxum-creates-her-own-sonic-past-and-future



PRESS: 2020 Polaris Music Prize Long List
The Polaris Music Prize, presented by CBC Music, has revealed its 40 album Long List. This year’s Long List is presented by Canada Council for the Arts.
~ polarismusicprize.ca/blog/2020-polaris-music-prize-long-list-is-here/




PRESS: CUPS N CAKES NETWORK
On her debut album Re-Birth, Toronto based Somali-Canadian producer OBUXUM channels all the best elements of beat music, hip-hop and electronic music to challenge the prevailing status-quo in music and offers a commentary on issues of opportunity and diversity.

With track titles such as “Reclaiming my d!mn self”, and “Take Up SPACE!”, the album also functions as a message in positive affirmation. On the standout track “Equity”, OBUXUM takes a sample from Viola Davis’ inspiring 2015 Emmy awards winning speech (which quotes Harriet Tubman) about diversity and access to opportunity; this sample is beautifully nestled within swirling uptempo techno beats as it slowly thumps it’s way into your heart. By the end of that stellar track, it’s hard not to feel hopeful and rejuvenated. On tracks like “Black Girls Flying” and “Own Your Truth (feat Furozh)”, the production takes a more ominous direction. The glitchy synths and skittering drums have an otherworldly nocturnal quality to them evoking production style of Los Angeles’ beat scene veterans Flying Lotus and Ras G.

Nowadays, less is more and clocking in at about twenty minutes, Re-Birth is meticulously efficient in creating its narrative and more importantly the journey is undeniably enjoyable.
~~ Piyush Patel cupsncakespod.com/pick-of-the-week/2019/9/10/obuxumslam-dunk




PRESS: The Bombastic Re-Birth Of OBUXUM
OBUXUM’s Re-Birth is as staggering as it is compact. Across 22 electrifying minutes, The Toronto-based beat visionary’s debut LP quickly pivots from hard synths and twitchy footwork (“Ayeeyo’s Intro/Can U fell my rage”), to lush and ‘lax R&B (“Don’t Blame Them”), to ambient booms (“Take Up Space!”). Though the mostly-instrumental effort weaves together an emotional arc across its many micro-movements, OBXUM likewise includes stirring vocal samples that touch on themes of gender-based violence and equity. While released in the summer of 2019 to acclaim, the record received another bump this month when it was revealed as one of 40 albums long-listed for this year’s Polaris Music Prize. Fittingly, the nom was announced in a broadcast by Haviah Mighty, the rapper whose own Polaris- winning 13th Floor album featured production work from OBUXUM (“In Women Colour”).

Music is naturally part of Northern Transmissions’ conversation with OBUXUM, but the producer also explains how her background in community outreach has impacted her art. In addition to a job working at a supportive housing complex for people dealing with mental health issues, this past April found OBUXUM taking on a role at a shelter for women fleeing domestic violence—a field facing extra challenges and dangers during the distancing measures and at-home isolation of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s terrible. I’m still processing it, being a worker in that field, but I’m just doing my best to support the women in our building,” she says, adding, “The community I serve, it informs my art. The things that I’ve seen in my life…none of this is new to me, [but] I feel grateful that I’m able to be in a position to help, and be supportive.”

Throughout the call with Northern Transmissions, OBUXUM also offered insight on the production choices on Re-Birth, how she sculpted the soundtrack to an upcoming battle-themed video game called Bravery Network, and the Unexpected Waters she’ll be taking her music through in the future. This interview has been edited and condensed

Northern Transmissions: First off, congratulations on the long list nomination. How did you find out that you were nominated?

OBUXUM: I found out through Twitter. I woke up to people mentioning me, ‘oh, congratulations OBUXM, you’ve been long-listed!’ I was shocked. I feel like I’m pretty new to this whole music industry thing. I try to keep up with it, but I’m not too knowledgeable about it. This artist from Vancouver, Kimmortal, made a post on Instagram and she tagged me; I saw that Haviah Mighty announced it, which was a beautiful surprise. I was thankful for that. My whole thing is putting out art, and not necessarily thinking about who is paying attention to me. I wasn’t paying attention to all that, especially in the beginning. I’ve been performing since 2015; I was ignored for a really long time. [With] awards ceremonies…it’s nice, but it doesn’t dictate where I’m going to go in my career. But I also understand
what that looks like for me.

NT: Can you take it back to how you wanted Re-Birth to stand apart from your Metaphor series of EPs [2015’s Luul, 2016’s Itiyama, and 2017’s H.E.R.]. What made this a reintroduction?

O: When I did the whole Metaphor series, I wanted to come up and introduce myself, and play upon different worlds. With Re-Birth, I took it to the next level. That was because of the things I was experiencing in my life. The first track on my album, it’s called Ayeeyo’s Intro/Can U Feel My Rage. My grandmother was diagnosed with dementia at the end of 2018, and she kept talking about sexual abuse. As somebody who’s experienced that, I was like, ‘I’m so tired of this shit’, which is why you have those vocals about female genitalia, that mutilation—that’s how they silenced women. It really bothered me to hear my grandma in a state where she is not entirely present—all she’s talking about is her abuse. I remember making that beat and really feeling that rage. I was so upset when I made that beat. I was so mad. I remember crying while making that beat, just crying profusely because I was so upset. I was able to find a vocal [for the track], her name is Iman and she works for World Peace. She was doing a lot of work in Somalia, and she talked about this. I know it happens; I’m also an [abuse] survivor. And that made me mad. Also, I’m named after my grandmother. The whole album means a lot to me, but it really comes from a place of unpacking. I’m re-birthing myself because I’m committed to unpacking all these things.

I was able to find a vocal [sample for the track], her name is Ilwad Elman and she works for Elman Peace. She was doing a lot of work in Somalia, and she talked about this. I know it happens; I’m also an [abuse] survivor. And that made me mad. Also, I’m named after my grandmother. The whole album means a lot to me, but it really comes from a place of unpacking. I’m re-birthing myself because I’m committed to unpacking all these things.

NT: Did working on these ten songs help unpack those feelings?

O: The process was difficult. I was working full-time, and I got contacted for a videogame called Bravery Network, so there was a lot going on. But I felt like Re-Birth really taught me how to center myself, in the sense of being still. My day job at the time was working at the Salvation Army, I was doing community work; I was working on this video game, and I was scared to do it. I was scared to make Re-Birth! But all these things challenged me to create the record. Doing community work makes me understand more about who I am, and also about the world. Doing the video game stuff gave me a whole new perspective, in terms of how people can see music…people who have a very short attention span. When I was creating Re-Birth, I had that concept in my mind to introduce something different at least every eight bars. I know I don’t have lyrics on my project, but I want to introduce a new meaningful idea or emotion every eight bars.

NT: How did that change your ear? What did you want to introduce, from a sonic perspective?

O: I wanted to introduce some sort of dramatic transition. With the video game stuff— I’m not a gamer. I grew up as a gamer, but I haven’t played video games since I was 15— I remember playing these games, and the ideas that I heard, it pumped me up for the level I was playing. In my mind, I want to introduce new ideas every eight bars. I want it to be fluid. I want it to be intentional. I want it to feel what I’m feeling, and I was feeling a lot. I wanted to make sure that Re-Birth really encompassed what I was feeling. That’s why I wanted to pack in as much that I could.

NT: Where there any stylistic choices that you hadn’t been attracted to before Re-Birth that you wanted to explore?

O: I started listening to IDM. That really turned things around for me. I started listening to Four Tet and Iglooghost. I thought it was so dope. It resonated, these really complex ideas. It really shifted my perspective, both with the album and the video game stuff. I was like, oh, ‘wait, I don’t have to limit myself.’ I can introduce a new idea every bar, if I wanted to. If I had not known about that genre, it would not have opened my mind to those possibilities.

NT: Can you tell us some more about Bravery Network? How did you get involved with the project?

O: I feel like the universe just made it happen. They sent me an e-mail saying they loved H.E.R. and said ‘come to the studio, let’s have a conversation.’ We did, and they just trusted me. I was like, ‘guys, I have no experience, I don’t think I’m the most qualified…please don’t hire me” [laughs]. But they said ‘we believe in you.’ They took a chance with me. It does not sound like what I produce. They really challenged me. It was the first time I heard real constructive criticism. It was also my first time doing contract work. I’m a lot more open to work with that, or a film, than working with an artist, just because of my past experiences.

NT: How much music did you make for this video game?

O: I made maybe nine battle tracks, and I’ve also done all the sound design. Everything that you hear in that game, I did it.

NT: The game bio says that Bravery Network takes place in a future Toronto, a post-post-apocalyptic Toronto. How would you want your music to play a part in the future of Toronto?

O: In my mind, the future of Toronto is not limited to downtown. I’m not from downtown. I think that a lot of resources are allocated towards downtown folk. I’m quite literally from the hood. I’m still in the hood— I mean Toronto community housing. I still exist within that space. The future of Toronto in my mind is that you are not limited based on where you grew up or where you exist—we will appreciate you as who you are. Intersectionality is important to consider. I’m not saying that because I exist in Jane-Finch, or that I deserve any kind of accolade or praise, but I’m saying that I wish there was more attention put on youth from where I come from.

I was able to work downtown, get a job right out of high school where I was a youth worker… I took the train for an hour and a half to get downtown. That’s the only reason why I feel like I’ve made it this far. If I didn’t work downtown, I don’t think we’d be having this conversation right now. That visibility does not exist where I come from. Out of that whole [Polaris] long list, I guarantee you I’m the only person that’s living in Toronto community housing. But we’re here; we exist; we’re eclectic. We don’t all make gang banging music, you know what I mean? I still live that reality, and I’m grateful for that reality, because it taught me to be still within myself, and to make meaningful work.

NT: Are there any upcoming projects or tracks you could tell us about?

O: My next album is coming out next year. The title is The Unexpected Waters. I’ll be talking about a lot of things I’ve gone through in the past year. The music will be better. I would hope that the Canadian music industry is going to be able to receive that with an open heart and an open mind.
~~ northerntransmissions.com/the-bombastic-re-birth-of-obuxum/




PRESS NOWTORONTO.COM
The best Toronto albums of 2019
From confidence-oozing hip-hop to anonymous country, record collector psych to morbid pop-punk, it was an eclectic year for local music – and a very good one


1. Haviah Mighty: 13th Floor (independent)
2. Ice Cream: Fed Up (independent)
3. TOBi: Still (Sony)
4. Badge Époque Ensemble (Telephone Explosion)
5. Orville Peck: Pony (Royal Mountain/Sub Pop)
6. PUP: Morbid Stuff (Little Dipper/Universal)
7. Daniel Caesar: Case Study 01 (Golden Child)


8. OBUXUM: Re-Birth (Urbnet)
The Somali-Canadian producer and beatmaker’s debut full-length blends hip-hop, house and techno elements into a politically charged, high-energy debut LP. Over 10 tracks, Muxubo Mohamed centres Black women’s issues and voices – from gender-based violence in Somalia in opener Ayeeyo’s Intro / Can You Feel My Rage?, to racial justice on the Viola Davis-sampled EQUITY!!! Fittingly, OBUXUM underscores these messages with shape-shifting rhythms and fluttering textures signifying restlessness and declaration that Re-Birth is just the beginning. MICHELLE DA SILVA


9. Jacques Greene: Dawn Chorus (Arts & Crafts)
10. TRP.P: 2TRP.P (independent)

BY KELSEY ADAMS, KEVIN RITCHIE, SAMANTHA EDWARDS, CLAUDIA MCNEILLY, MICHELLE DA SILVA, CHAKA V. GRIER, MICHAEL RANCIC, RICHARD TRAPUNSKI
~~ nowtoronto.com/music/features/best-toronto-albums-of-2020/




PRESS: SCRATCHEDVINYL.COM 9/10
Obuxum is a Somali-Canadian producer who calls Toronto home these days. Last year, she made a little bit of a splash when she debuted on URBNET with a short-but-exciting EP called H.E.R.. It was inventive and interesting, and it hinted at a lot more potential that Obuxum was just beginning to tap into. Well, the good news is that we didn’t have to wait too long, because now she’s back with a full-length album that is just bursting with ideas in Re-Birth.

When it comes to hip hop, we tend to think of the emcee as opposed to the producer as the focal point when it comes to making political music. However, it is not only possible to make politically-charged instrumental music, there’s a long history of it, going back through hip hop, disco, rock, jazz, and beyond. This is what Obuxum set out to do with Re-Birth. Just glance at the track listing for the album, and you’ll see songs like “Reclaiming my D!mn Self,” “Own Your Truth,” and “EQUITY!!!” Obuxum achieves her goals by doing the obvious, which is including audio clips such as a recording explaining the gender-based violence against women in Somalia or Viola Davis’ Emmy acceptance speech in 2015, but also in less obvious ways. Musically, Re-Birth is one of the most inventive and challenging albums you’ll hear this year. Obuxum is an incredibly versatile producer, and she has an excellent feel for when to bring all of the different elements she’s working with to the table. Sometimes it’s the pulsing rhythm of house music to pump up the energy, sometimes it’s experimental and noisy to create tension, or sometimes it might be time to sit back in a boom bap beat for a second and meditate on an idea. It might be some combination of these, it might be something completely unexpected and experimental. Whatever it is, though, it’s being done purposefully and to great effect. Obuxum wanted to make an album that would challenge listeners to consider stories from a point of view that most aren’t familiar with. If you are willing to put in the effort to listen to these stories, Obuxum is going to deliver something that is passionate, innovative, and unlike anything else you’ll hear this year.

Obuxum is quickly becoming one of the most important producers working today. The amount of growth and ambition between H.E.R. and Re-Birth is astonishing. She’s crafted an album with a great amount of care that will push you outside of your comfort zone, but then reward you by opening your eyes to different life experiences and musical possibilities. This is one of the best albums of the year.
Chi Chi | scratchedvinyl.com/reviews/obuxum-re-birth/




PRESS: BANDCAMP.COM
Somali-Canadian producer and beat-maker Obuxum returns with Re-Birth, a follow-up to her 2018 EP, H.E.R. As she did on that record, on Re-Birth, Oxubum pairs house and techno beats with lyrical themes of gender and equity. Opener “Ayeeyo’s Intro / Can you feel my rage?” pits a vibrant, thumping, soulful house beat against looped narration explaining the gender-based violence that women face in Somalia. “Black Girls Flying,” another standout, is meditative and futuristic, making a deep impression despite clocking in at just over a minute. On the equally brief “Does your blood not move?,” Obuxum unveils a piercing, footwork-like beat that gives way to the Balearic “EQUITY!!!,” a moving track that opens with a portion of Viola Davis’s 2015 Emmy’s acceptance speech.

Obuxum has said that the album, “isn’t your average ‘beat tape.’ I created deliberate little worlds that tells numerous stories. Stories that I hold so dear to me.” And, indeed, Re-Birth does sound like a succinct project made up of multiple little worlds. Obuxum’s world-building is seamless, and taken together, the songs feel like one long track. With Re-Birth, Obuxum demonstrates that she has a singular vision, and is in a beat-making league of her own.
~~ D. Sharp daily.bandcamp.com/2019/08/22/obuxum-re-birth-review/


PRESS: BANDCAMP WEEKLY Show
~~ bandcamp.com?show=338.


PRESS: NOWTORONTO.COM REVIEW
OBUXUM's debut album Re-Birth shows her story is just beginning
Toronto-based, Somali-Canadian producer Muxubo Mohamed (aka OBUXUM), is not just telling her own story on her debut full-length album. Instead, she says, she’s “created deliberate little worlds that tell numerous stories.”

Her compositions bustle with hip-hop, house and techno elements, which gives the album a feeling of restlessness. Although half of the album’s 10 tracks clock in at under two minutes, each song delivers a unique statement. Every thump of the booming bass notes on Take Up SPACE!!, for example, feels like a manifesto for marginalized people to commandeer space.

Her fluttering beats mirror the motions of a pen scrawling across paper. As OBUXUM explains, each track is “a life-lesson or a note to upcoming Black womxn artists.” A sampled Viola Davis from her 2015 Emmy Award acceptance speech quotes Harriet Tubman speaking of equal opportunity on the glistening EQUITY!!! and on Don’t Blame Them, a funky electronic track that morphs into a silky R&B song, local singer/songwriter YourHomieNaomi offers warm encouragement.

On opener Ayeeyo’s Intro / Can You Feel My Rage?, a woman reports on gender-based violence in Somalia, stating that the east African country is “the second worst place in the world to be a woman.” OBUXUM encircles the voice in a murky soundscape anchored by a looped beat that ripples like blood dripping into water. At the song’s chilling half-way point, OBUXUM cuts through the haziness with a roaring synth melody that replicates her fury.

The album’s final voice is robotic and omniscient, welcoming us to “the maze.” From within the eerie soundscape of A Story About Re-Birth / To Be Continued, the voice says, “if this is your first time here, I shall explain the rules.” But before any instructions are given, OBUXUM leads us through a shadowy labyrinth of varying rhythms and textures. The effect is a little unsettling – speaking, maybe, to contemporary unbalance – but emphasizes OBUXUM’s mastery of mood.

Unquestionably, OBUXUM’s story isn’t over. This is just the beginning.
Rating: NNNN (Great)
~~ nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/obuxum-re-birth

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OBUXUM Toronto, Ontario

Toronto-based producer OBUXUM believes creativity is an essential part of life — a quality that all human beings possess but don’t always get a chance to access. “I feel like every single person is born creative, but not many people have the opportunity to explore their different creative niches and then turn that into art,” she says. “For me, art means everything.” ... more

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