Otha - “One of the Girls”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 7

Pairs Well With…Neon Indian, Animal Collective, Javelin

Otha, Norwegian producer Othalie Husøy, plays electronic chillwave house with an emphasis on the chill.  On “One of the Girls,” the standout track, she first invites the listener out onto the dance floor in whispery, nonchalant talk-singing.  The song then seems to wink at the Haddaway dance anthem “I’m in Love,” before getting serious with ambient pulses, drum pad slaps, and synths lines.  “I’m on Top” is in a similar vein but less varied.  “Tired and Sick” is a spacey jab at obnoxious clubbers.  Otha definitely has a sense of humor and her music is both danceable and listenable. We think we’ll do both.  She has gotten some good press lately, including in Pitchfork and The Guardian, so it’s entirely possible she’ll garner an appreciative audience in Austin. (David Zlotnick)