Onarsé is an artist whose art can safely be placed in a whole new league of its own. His distinguishably extensive lyricism is a talent which is a rare discovery in today’s (generic) music scene. Onarsé possesses a prodigious 4 octave vocal range which he was able to showcase in his debut album; with a tone so unique and bright, it reminded me of Michael Jackson’s – However what stood out most to me was his versatility to become a powerhouse voice with such ease and ability to control multiple areas of his voice.
‘Mantra To Myself’ is a debut album which is the perfect mix between today’s modern music and the classics from the golden era of music, you know, back when talent was a prerequisite? Not only that but to create a debut album so personal, yet transitions flawlessly from the 1st track down to the 7th was phenomenal in my opinion. Especially the very vivid and stunning imagery which can be found throughout the tracks. Many albums these days often sound as if a bunch of songs were just thrown together; then you have ‘Mantra To Myself’, created by an artist whose name is destined to become a household name, executing the perfect way to create an album that’s covered in many layers, yet solid enough to be listened to by today’s appallingly short attention span.
After listening to the debut album from Onarsé, it seems to be that he has found his distinctive sound as an artist. I’d highly suggest listening to Onarsé’s previous releases “15/10” and “Wonderer”, 2 EP’s which highlights the remarkable growth Onarsé has faced as an artist. Starting out with a definite indie and alternative sound, it’s safe to assume that pop and contemporary r&b are the genres where Onarsé shines bright the most. Although, that’s not to discredit his versatility within different genres.
What I realised to be very striking though is that “Mantra To Myself” isn’t in any way nostalgic in my opinion, like what many artists these days try to replicate due to either a lack of originality or it’s what their record label tells them to do. You know, replicating the nostalgia from the golden eras of music in the 90’s, early 2000’s and the over copied y2k trend. Instead, Onarsé hints at the elements from the golden eras and utilises them to create a sound distinctive to him with such originality that pushes beyond the horizon of what we’ve already heard and seen before in music.
“Mantra To Myself” has a solid rating of 9/10 in my books. Enough with the replicated nostalgic BS and lack of originality. Onarsé is an artist who not only has the songs, the lyricism, the insane voice, the sound, the visuals, but also the potential to push music in a direction where hard work and exceptional work ethic is a prerequisite instead of chasing overnight clout.
Mantra to Myself
Listen to Mantra to Myself on Spotify. Onarsé · Album · 2022 · 7 songs.
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