oobs Rx by oobs, Armando Perez

Did the full album die? Did listeners attention spans get so short that a complete album is uncommon, or worse, disregarded?

Growing up a music fan, I listened to albums from start to finish. What can be said? I was collecting records, tapes, and CDs. They shared a story. I could hear the creative efforts, the directional push, the growing sonic identity from the band/artist in a satisfying complete way. It was history. It was a full creative expression.

At the end of 2022, I set out to write and record some new material. I didn't pay mind to what it might become, I was just interested to hear what might come out. I wasn't thinking about genre or audience, album or single. I just wanted to be creative without any expectations. Just exercise; songwriting with guitars, drum kit, keyboards, bass, and a microphone.

After the first couple demos, I felt something different. I almost felt like a previous version of myself. The kid sitting on the edge of the bed learning to play guitar. An adolescent student/music fan joyfully dialing in coordinates on distortion and effects pedals without thinking about what it was going to be.

The further I went along, the more I started to hear how these compositions complimented each other, and what story they were beginning to tell. The more I played with the order of these developing ideas, the more they grew on me. As the process unfolds, you start to hear what the songs might need to reach their final stages. I started to perceive what a full length album might sound like.

This very heartfelt collection of songs was recorded from December 2022 to March 2023. I named the album "Rx." I originally wanted to call the album "meds," but feel it's more to the point to call music a "prescription" to feel better.

I find myself living in the creative process. I am most confirmable there. Oobs is a name given to me by a very dear person in my life. I feel this is a new, yet somehow previously unexplored version of my Self.

The artwork is a photo taken by my sister. She was witnessing an incredible sunrise in Mexico and snapped the pic. As soon as she shared it with me, I knew it was exactly right for this album, not to mention the last song is entitled Sunrise.

This is also the first time I completely mixed and mastered the full album on my own. It has always been a challenge to be so close to the music, and yet, feel like I couldn't complete this process. I've come to trust my ears, and the fact that this art form can be LEARNED. It only requires dedication and will.

This album's contents and it's recording process are my catharsis- my meditation, my answer to living through midwestern winters, and being too busy to actually do this ALL the time, year round. Inspiration comes in cycles. This is the fruit of a creative season.

Conact: Armando Perez sonicoctopus@gmail.com

Belmont Electric Studios features an array of bands and artists that were formed and nurtured in Chicago's underground music scene. Spearhead by producer/songwriter Armando Pérez, this studio continues to, record and release new music.

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