Mickey O'Brien - Orebody - The Remix Album

 

Nickel City blue collar MC Mickey O’Brien released his third solo album on September 29, 2023. Orebody delved deeper into his soul and psyche as he explored his own inner workings with each song representing a specific emotion. Juno-nominated master of the MPC Fresh Kils was once again along for the ride as the sole producer along with the addition of live instrumentation. But Mickey also loves a good remix, so he enlisted his many friends to contribute remixes for every song on the album, originally only available in full on the b-side of the Orebody cassette release, while a few were released alongside the originals for their singles. Contributions from Factor Chandelier, Uncle Fester, DJ Moves, The Dirty Sample and The 555 bring a different vibe to these songs with which you should already be familiar, often pushing into unexpected territory. Orebody - The Remix Album provides another opportunity for the uninitiated to discover the honest, introspective music of Mickey O’Brien while offering current fans a refreshing return to the rhymes of the original.

Written and performed by Mickey O’Brien and featured guests

Remixed by Factor Chandelier, Uncle Fester, DJ Moves, The Dirty Sample, The 555, and Fresh Kils

Cuts by DJ Versatile

Mastered by Dorc

Mickey O'Brien presents Orebody

 

For Orebody, his fifth project in five years, Mickey O’Brien takes the listener even deeper into his soul and psyche as he explores his own inner workings with each song representing a specific emotion. His process to prepare for the writing of these songs involved sitting with a psychotherapist to discuss what triggers that emotion within himself. And listening to the album, one can actually hear and feel how this blue collar MC perceives the world, like standing in his shoes for a moment in time. To provided the musical backdrop for this emotional rollercoaster, O’Brien once again taps the talents of long-time collaborator, MPC button-masher, and Juno-nominated producer Fresh Kils who crushes it on the pads and production. And as co-producer, O’Brien adds further depth to the music with live instrumentation, enlisting the assistance of Zachary Clement (keys), Geoff McCausland (violin), Anthony Rinaldi (sax), Matt Saroka (guitar), and DJ Versatile (turntables), in various combinations. The result is an album to inspire Canadian youth and the working class alike that mental health matters and healing is within reach.  

Written and performed by Mickey O’Brien and featured guests 

Produced by Fresh Kils 

Co-produced by Mickey O’Brien 

Keys by Zachary Clement 

Violin by Geoff McCausland 

Sax by Anthony Rinaldi 

Guitar by Matt Saroka and Fresh Kils 

Cuts by DJ Versatile 

Mastered by Dorc

Mickey O'Brien - Antipathy (feat. Myka 9)

 

For the first single from his third album, Orebody, Mickey O'Brien enlists the assistance of Myka 9, a recent touring partner and founding member of the Grammy-nominated Freestyle Fellowship, to touch on the topic of disgust using as a metaphor the general disregard by the general public and the powers that be for the poisoning of our water, which can also refer to humanity as a whole as well as to the self. From Montezuma's Revenge to Flint, Michigan, there's something in the water. The chill, melancholy production by Juno-nominated producer Fresh Kils is augmented by Anthony Rinaldi on sax and Zachary Clement on keyboards. Along with his verse, Myka 9 lends his voice to the hook backed by the soulful singing of Sarah Craig. 

The single is released with an even more melancholy and soulful remix by Factor Chandelier, and the accompanying animated video by Baked Clown makes the message of “Antipathy” more explicit. 

Written and performed by Mickey O'Brien and Myka 9 

Produced by Fresh Kils 

Cuts by DJ Versitile 

Saxophone by Anthony Rinaldi 

Keys by Zachary Clement 

Additional Vocals by Sarah Craig 

Mastered by Dorc 

Artwork by Ghettosocks