OTR has released his new single, “Apart Of Me” featuring Devault, kicking off a new era for the musician, which leads up to the release of his upcoming album, Be Quiet, They’re Listening, out July 28th via Astralwerks. The upcoming album, which is available for pre-order starting today, is the follow-up to his 2020 debut album, Lost At Midnight. On the new single, deliberate, atmospheric tones give way to jittery exhilaration as the song captures the thrill of connecting with another soul and losing oneself in the moment. Listen to it now below.
“Apart Of Me” began as a composition by Broods that captured the imagination of Ryan Chadwick, the onetime aerospace engineer-turned-producer known as OTR. He recalls, “I first heard ‘Apart of Me’ through Georgia Nott (Broods), and then it took on a new life of its own after working with Sage (Devault). It felt natural to bounce ideas off each other – we each had our own way of writing music so we weren’t stepping on each other’s toes. In the end, we both liked how the song matched both of our styles.”
The official video for “Apart Of Me” is a companion to the official video for the album’s first single, “Heat of the Sun” (with JONES), which follows Josefine, a young woman, as she embarks on a new relationship. In “Apart Of Me,” which was also directed by Kevin Clark (Finneas, Between Friends), the story is flipped and told from the point of view of her new love, Thom. After exchanging texts with her, Thom leaves the countryside, where he works on a farm, and travels into town to meet up with Josefine at a party.
The album’s title comes from a science fiction short story, inspired by the Fermi paradox, that concerns a transmission headed out into the vast universe and a somewhat mysterious message coming back. “I wanted to replicate that feeling,” he says of his initial pandemic mindset. But optimism continued to flow through his music: Boasting an explosion of dreamy synths and polished percussion, Be Quiet, They’re Listening showcases the scope of emotion as well as meticulous attention to detail that elevate OTR’s work. The songs – which feature collaborations with such artists as Bipolar Sunshine, Lizzy Land and Kacy Hill – take listeners on a journey through a vibrant soundscape of varied tempos and moods that affirm the healing power of music.
OTR will support Be Quiet, They’re Listening with a fall North American headline tour. The run kicks off on September 14 at Cobalt in Vancouver, BC and includes shows at Echo in Los Angeles (September 22) and Elsewhere Zone 1 in New York City (September 30). See below for itinerary. Tickets go on sale to the public today, April 28, at 10:00 AM local time – purchase HERE.
OTR – 2023 Tour Dates
All dates are headline shows unless otherwise noted.
7/4 New York, NY Skyline Theatre (DJ Set)
9/14 Vancouver, BC Cobalt
9/15 Seattle, WA Nectar Lounge (DJ Support for Com Truise)
9/16 Portland, OR The Get Down (DJ Support for Com Truise)
9/21 San Francisco, CA Café du Nord
9/22 Los Angeles, CA Echo
9/23 San Diego, CA Soda Bar
9/27 Chicago, IL Sleeping Village
9/29 Toronto, ON Drake Underground
9/29 Montreal, QB Newspeak
9/30 New York, NY Elsewhere Zone 1