Geelong’s Oscar Rose steps out from behind the piano with infectious debut album, ‘Saigon, Signing Off’.
A rare talent that is entirely fearless and unapologetically himself, Geelong-based artist Oscar Rose has truly shown us the deepest depths of his mind and creativity with his debut album, ‘Saigon, Signing Off’. Flushed with thoughtful lyricism and lush, immersive soundscapes, Rose offers a futuristic record with virtually flawless production that lingers on the mind long after the final track.
Hailing from the Geelong region, Rose cut musical teeth as a performer with Geelong’s prestigious and beloved Piano Bar Group, so there’s no doubt that this artist has the drive, not to mention the talent, to capture people’s attention.
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With his infectious personality and skill for confessional songwriting, the past year has seen the 22-year-old make significant steps in the transformation of his musical style, from the upbeat piano man to a refreshing rapper who has produced a lush, complex, extraordinarily accomplished debut album.
Spanning nine tracks, just like its creator Oscar Rose, the self-written, self-produced and self-mixed ‘Saigon, Signing Off’ contains multitudes.
Rose has taken his time developing a signature sound drawing from a plethora of genres, with ‘Saigon, Signing Off’ immediately establishing Rose’s penchant for crafting immersive hip hop, inspired by the smorgasbord of influences.
Effortlessly partnering a melting pot of suave jazz, punchy trap/RnB and new-age ballads with his effortless and everchanging flow and lyricism, the rapper’s eclectic sounds are a nod to the likes of Frank Ocean, Travis Scott, D’Angelo and Vory, to name a few. The influences go beyond genre boundaries, with brilliant songwriters like John Mayer, Ben Folds, Brent Faiyaz and Bon Iver being integral to his work.
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The album opens with Braggadocio, a godly fusion of jazz-meets-rap. Featuring Torquay based rapper Rory Jame$, the upbeat feel, simple drumbeat, beautifully constructive vocal layers and sentimental instrumentals is a strong start for the debut.
‘Treasonous’ is a chilled marriage of hip hop beats, RnB flavours and raps with strong melodic hooks, that feels simultaneously energetic and melancholic, reinforced by a flow executed with incredible flair.
Opening with Rose’s delicate vocals backed by lush, minimalistic production, the one minute and 30-second track ‘The Inevitable’ allows listeners to catch their breath. Despite its length, this track is filled to the brim with raw, powerful emotion and breathtaking soundscapes, proving Rose is anything but predictable.
Delivered body-moving music for the heart and soul, ‘Finally!’ sees Rose blend soulful vocals with delicate, wistful phrases from Kaviita, backed by a super smooth synthesiser and ambience, while ‘Can’t Hack It?’ hits listeners with a funky bass while the almost conversational singing and smooth rapping verses helps construct a relaxing and playful song.
The final track, previously released single ‘Sprite, Sangria’ sees Rose dive further into textured atmospheres and danceable beats. Effortlessly blending electronic production with stunning alternative hip hop instrumentation, the track fuses emotive lyrics and psych trap beats creating a beautiful blend of powerhouse raps and cinematic production.
The simple arrangements across the album lend an intimate quality to Rose’s voice, which delightfully makes it feel like he’s singing to you rather than in a studio.
From a lyrical perspective, all nine tracks on the album are a testament to Rose’s ability to wield poignant themes within his flow. Using music as a therapeutic outlet to expose his vulnerabilities, each song provides an emotive and incredibly candid look at the recording artist’s past, bolstered by his cinematic and candid style of songwriting.
“’Saigon, Signing Off’ is an ode to the death of self, the genesis following and the serenity of a belated, yet imperative realisation,” Rose says.
“Across a landscape of pitfalls, triumphs and outlandish experiences, this project has come together through the span of little over a year.”
Full of genre-bending, sonic surprises and melancholy narratives, the album’s content covers a range of stories, speaking decisively on harrowing guilt, unfettered lust, self-love, a necessary evil, undeniable sin and pure purpose.
A testament to his growth as an artist and inherent creativity, Rose manages to thread his essence through the needle of every track, showing the audience different dimensions of himself through different undertakings in his work. Every song on the album is different. However, Rose establishes a momentum that makes the album one of the most enjoyable and unique listens of 2022, gaining respect from those who may not anticipate it.
In only 27 minutes, ‘Saigon, Signing Off’ earns its place as a dynamic deliverance of artistry and so far, one of our favourite releases this year.
You can listen to ‘Saigon, Signing Off’ via Spotify. Follow Oscar Rose here.
