“As a writer, I tend to tell stories more than write songs,” Austin-based, alt-pop artist BLK ODYSSY told The Daily Texan in an interview about his upcoming tour and album. After establishing himself in the hip-hop and funk spaces, ODYSSY’s third studio album, 1-800 FANTASY, releases July 19. The album follows a boy through his spiral into madness using the hotline commercial style as the sonic and narrative basis. 

The Daily Texan: The record uses the lens of an operator and a hotline girl. What inspired this framework and how does it facilitate narrative expression?

BLK ODYSSY: One of the main things that (our team) loves, not only stuff that we watch but also in what we create, is surrealism. The lore (behind) hotline girls, we thought it’d be an interesting way to present this record … because it’s coming from a taboo place. 

DT: What is the process of translating your songs into cinematography for music videos?

BO: As far as the videos, it’s easy because we create the music with pictures in mind. We create music putting storylines and cinematics first. So when it comes to visuals it’s like, ‘Let’s just tell the story of what’s happening in the song.’ The treatments write themselves because we’re almost screenwriting while we’re in the studio. 

DT: In January of this year you performed an NPR Tiny Desk concert, how was that experience different from other performances?

BO: It was incredible. It’s one of those milestones in your career that you look forward to. It’s funny because you spend your whole career waiting for that moment and then it’s just 15 minutes and then it’s over. It was very nerve-wracking because you see all these humongous artists do this and you want to follow suit. You want to live up to the standard of what that platform brings.

DT: You have a worldwide headline tour from August through October that is kicking off in Austin. How does that first Austin show set the stage for the rest of the tour?

BO: It’s always cool to start off in your hometown and experience that before going out across the world. It’s always special and, to be forward, a bit forgiving. It gives us time while we’re home to figure out stuff early in the set that we need to work out.

DT: How do you use personal style and aesthetics to build your artistry?

BO: It actually comes the opposite (way) when it comes to personal style and aesthetic. I feel very interchangeable and it’s always according to what I’m working on at that moment … (BLK ODYSSY) has an identity but at the same time that identity is in a lot of different places. On this record, we’re in the early 2000s/late 90s theme and that’s what has been reflected in the style aesthetic. On the next song, we’re thinking something completely different already.