“My dating life is so trash, let me stop dating and make some music”: Oh Annie Oh on the release of modern romance inspired EP Block N Delete
After a stellar summer gracing the lineups of Boomtown and Glastonbury, UK-based Korean DJ Oh Annie Oh continues to rise as one of London’s most prominent club figures. The conceptual EP Block N Delete tracks the monotonous cycle of online modern dating, from catching feelings, to ditching them and focusing your energy back onto yourself. We caught up with Annie ahead of the release of her EP Block N Delete, and chatted all things dating, music and identity.
You’re making waves in the UK – playing the likes of Boomtown and Glastonbury this summer, and becoming a prominent figure in London’s club scene. What makes UK crowds so special?
The UK is home for me! People love to party here and there’s no feeling like dropping a tune and seeing those gun fingers in the air.
Onto “Bye Hoe” – blending dubstep, speed garage and UKG, where did you draw inspiration for this track?
Going into creating this track I knew I wanted a wobbly bass. So the ‘boam’ sound you hear throughout the song came first then the rest of the track was built around it. This is the party track of the EP, the turning point where it gets a bit sassy just like when you decide to end a bad relationship.
Can you dive into the mindset that “Bye Hoe” reflects, and tell us what you’d want us to keep in mind whilst listening to it?
You know that one date that you went on after that shitty situation you just got out of that you were looking forward to? The one that felt like, okay, this person might be a good one, maybe this person is different, this will be fun and I’m gonna stay positive. Not all he/she/they are trash, maybe I’ll make a friend! So you set the date, get ready, look cute, have a great time, feel nervous & excited. They give off a couple of red flags, but you persevere, tell your friends. Then they lie to you, communication switches up, and ultimately acts like a scrub. Okay then, next, BYE HOE!
And tell us about the mindset and feelings around the track, “Obsessed”?
The EP sets the story of a turbulent modern romance and Obsessed is the first track. It’s about the beginning of a relationship when you can’t stop thinking about them and rumination becomes a hobby. I wanted this track to be sexy, addicting and of course, obsessive.
Block N Delete is about going through the motions of a breakup, particularly the frustration and repetitiveness of dating online. What’s one piece of advice you like to keep in mind with relationships in the digital age?
Just one?
DON’T DO IT.
No, I mean, don’t ruminate. But really, if you’re not feeling it, Block N Delete that hoe. Life is too short.
The EP moves swiftly through the emotions of catching feelings, to cutting them off and moving on. What elements of “Bye Hoe” reflect these feelings of nonchalance, fun and independence?
I knew that I wanted this track to be the cheeky one that’s like whatever, bye. I decided to call it Bye Hoe when I was telling my friend about this date I went on and how they were just so trash I just said ‘Ugh, Bye Hoe’ then a lightbulb moment happened and I thought, wow my dating life is so trash, let me stop dating and make some music. That track represents that moment you’re like I’m done, I’m gonna focus on me now.
Your tracks combine a mix of genres – can you explain how blending genres changes the energy of a performance?
I tend to focus on tempo and the general hypeness of a set rather than specifically on genre. For the audience a little vibe change can be playful and grabs people’s attention especially if they’ve been out for hours. I stay in the same genre universe but incorporate the different worlds.
What is your favourite aspect of working in music, from inspiration, to production, to performance?
Putting out music is new to me, but I really enjoyed making all the creative for this project. From the concept, finding inspiration for the shoots and developing a clear aesthetic alongside the music was so much fun. Having said that, DJing is my one true passion and playing a set is where I get the most joy in life.
Outside of music, you advocate against anti-racism and anti-hate; how do you think these issues can be tackled in the creative industry?
Amplifying and platforming our voices is key to creating visibility on these topics. As much as some of us live in our beautiful echo chambers of acceptance and love, most of the world isn’t that. Creating and pushing art is the way we can penetrate the masses.
To you, why is race, gender and sexual representation in this industry so important?
Things have progressed a lot over the last 10 years – even based on the fact that I see many more women, nonbinary, POC and queer people DJing, but it’s still nowhere good enough. If you can’t see it, you can’t be it, so we gotta make sure we are SEEN.
What mark would you like to leave on the world?
BIG question. What’s that saying… people don’t remember what you say but they remember how you made them feel? I hope to be remembered as someone who made others feel hot, accepted, loved, sexy and who made them wanna dance!