Words: J Anderson / @j.ando22
- ‘Focus’ is the newest single by Liverpool-based three-piece Oya Paya.
- The track is the precursor to a mini-album scheduled for release soon.
- FFO: Pavement, Blur & Beck.
Oya Paya are a hard band to pin down – drawing on their combination of Singaporean, French, Italian and English heritage, the Liverpool three-piece have resisted genre labelling. Choosing instead to describe themselves as “a smelly group of 20 somethings making spicy music”, the group have found support for their previous work from outlets such as BBC Radio, EarMilk and Clash Magazine. Their latest single ‘Focus’ is a prelude to a mini-album scheduled for release later this year.
To begin with, ‘Focus’ is interesting due to the entirely remote recording process involved, with each member of Oya Paya separated by a distance of over 7000 miles. Despite this, the 90s style evoked by the track creates a surprising intimacy, sounding as though it could have been written in a suburban garage on a boring afternoon. The initial repetition of the track lulls the listener into a hypnotised head bop, before breaking into technical flourishes and some unexpected instrumental tones that give a slightly psychedelic edge to its angsty and apathetic spirit. ‘Focus’ is out now on Tri-Tone Music.