oceanfromtheblue’s True Colors

The R&B artist shares his views on the changing role of SoundCloud, the benefits of working with less-experienced musicians, and the desire to keep his sound limitless.

For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it to them? How would you finish the sentence “oceanfromtheblue is ___” or “oceanfromtheblue’s music is ___”?

I would like to say [it is] a season. I’d like to call it a wave of changing emotions that can be warm and also sometimes cold.  

I would love to hear all about your new single, “25 - A COLORS SHOW,” and how the idea for making it came about!

It is about how 24 hours is not enough to spend time with your lover, saying that it would be nice if the day consisted of 25 hours. Perhaps it’s quite a cute song. 

What changed once you became “oceanfromtheblue” instead of just “OCEAN”? Did that change represent more than just a name change for you?

When I was known as “OCEAN,” there were no official promotions, and I think I worked with a mindset of creating music as more of an experiment, as practice. There were too many other artists of the same name, so I needed a more developed name, and I remember beginning to treat music more professionally and seriously after deciding on “oceanfromtheblue.” 

For those who don’t know, could you describe how you started gaining popularity through SoundCloud? And do you think SoundCloud is still a valuable tool to help artists get discovered?

I had been uploading my songs steadily on SoundCloud, but my audience increased highly after YouTube channels “WLK” and “danielions playlists” posted my music. I’m still thankful for [those] two channels. I think currently, it’s more helpful to promote music through [Instagram] Reels or TikTok than SoundCloud. Back when I started, it was possible because people were actively curious about indie musicians’ work and dug [for it] by themselves. Now, music [is] exposed [through] social media diversely, through videos and algorithms, so I feel like SoundCloud alone [is no longer] enough. I think more talent is needed [to stand out] compared to when I began. 

I love that in the past, you have specifically tried to work with less-experienced artists! In some ways, do newer artists actually teach you more than a more polished artist could? 

In the starting stage, one tends to have a more experimental and creative attitude and produce such results. I think I get inspired from that. I [also] learn a lot [when working with others], and honestly, I work with them because I really like their music. It’s always been that way!

Have you thought about pursuing more mentorship-type roles in the future? 

I am conducting lessons to produce music comprehensively, but I’m uncertain if I will do lessons on vocals only. Right now, I’m satisfied with being able to become an inspiration for somebody else’s music. 

It seems like you have gotten more comfortable over time working with other people on your music. Is that an intentional shift?

I think working with someone I’ve known for a long time and working with new people with new inspirations [have] very different moods. When I want to do something I’m good at, I tend to find people who have [a] good harmony with me. When I want to bring out something new [in] me, I tend to prefer working with new artists. 

Do you see your self-titled album as representing more of a conclusion to your previous musical eras or more of a beginning of the next chapter?

I would like to say both! When I was working on my full-length album, I had the idea of creating a kind of a transforming feeling, in between my past self and my new, changing self. I hoped to really portray myself wondering which direction to go, left or right. 

What is next for you? 

In 2024, I’m hoping to see you all more with single tracks and other promotional activities, such as videos and performances!

Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourself or your music?

It's actually quite difficult to describe my music in a single word, and I think the reason is because the music I release always has different vibes and contents. If I had to look for a word, I would say my music is “humane.” I hope that [my music can] function as my biography, to show what my life was like when someone encounters my discography in the future. 

Lastly, thank you so much for inviting me! It’s been a while since my last interview, and this helped me organize my thoughts again. And for all the listeners, thank you and I wish you happiness always. 

Check out oceanfromtheblue’s latest single here!

Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Photo credit: Instagram.