Mickey O'Brien pens an album of Post Cards

 

On his latest EP, Nickel City MC Mickey O’Brien takes us on a journey around the world with these five new songs he penned while on tour of Japan, Australia, Ireland, the UK, France and across Canada. These songs are postcards written by the MC to himself about what he was going through at the time, like a tour diary. Whether it was closing out old chapters of his life, learning about new philosophies in the East, or discovering his roots in Ireland, each song serves as a reminder of where he’s been as well as an opportunity for fans to experience a sliver of these trips. Post Cards is produced by Fresh Kils, co-produced by O’Brien, and is a family affair with features from many of his usual collaborators: Sarah Craig and Annie Q on vocals, Uncle Fester on cuts, Zachary Clement on keys, Geoff McCausland on violin, and new to the crew, Petr Balaz on guitar. The EP is available on coke bottle clear vinyl and in a CD package that includes a series of six postcards inspired by these songs, along with the usual digital release. With his Post Cards EP, you, too, can live vicariously through the voyages of Mickey O’Brien from the comfort of your own home!

Written and performed by Mickey O’Brien Produced by Fresh Kils
Co-Produced by Mickey O’Brien
Keys by Zachary Clement
Violin by Geoff McCausland
Guitar by Petr Balaz
Cuts by Uncle Fester
Additional vocals by Sarah Craig and Annie Q

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 - On Guard (video/single)

 

For “On Guard”, the second single from Mickey O’Brien’s upcoming album, Orebody, the MC delves deep into his psyche to tackle the emotion of fear. The anxiety of the artist is made palpable through his mind-splitting lyrics, taking your brain to another dimension. The banging boom bap beat from Juno-nominated producer Fresh Kils is further enhanced by eerie guitar strumming, frantic fiddling, and a haunting piano, while DJ Versatile’s precise cuts on the intro and chorus increases the intensity of the song. The accompanying remix from The Dirty Sample trades the Fresh Kils production for a boom bap beat of banging drums and soaring strings.

The video for “On Guard” is the first part of a three act series of videos from Orebody born from Mickey O’Brien’s obsession with Tarot cards, directed and shot by long-time collaborator Dan Jardine (Boom Shoal) and produced by O’Brien over three days at several locations throughout the GTA. Act 1 is The Fool, and it examines the consequences of ignoring the signs from the universe on the journey of life, doomed to repeat the lessons of the past.

Written and performed by Mickey O’Brien 

Produced by Fresh Kils 

Co-produced by Mickey O’Brien 

Guitar by Fresh Kils 

Keys by Zachary Clement 

Cuts by DJ Versatile 

Remix by The Dirty Sample 

Mastered by Dorc