A highly anticipated introductory EP from South London’s most mischievous storyteller, Oliver Teller. This is a first official foray into music from the spoken word artist, usually found telling stories in verse – or roaming the natural world in search of inspiration.
Recorded with platinum producer Kojo P, one half of Team Salut – a production duo usually found pulling the strings on huge afrobeat heaters like ‘Drogba (Joanna)’ – the cadence of the record moves smoothly and lyrically up (and down) through the gears, without a clunk.
‘The Silkmaker’ spins melodically through themes of self introspection, growth, love, loss and redemption, weaving poetry into intricate rhyme patterns, creating unshakeable scenes on the screen of consciousness.
The second track ‘Take It Back’ graces the senses with a first feature from Barca based singer, Meadhbh, playing out like a classic, stripped back duet over the strings of an acoustic guitar, offsetting the sleek, noir twangs of the opening ‘Truth Be Told’.
The theme of the EP is born from an ancient meditation that speaks of how, like the silkworm, who spins its cocoon and is caught inside, we too spin the webs of our own, very human concepts, and are caught in them. More accurately though, the record is about escape.
Title track ‘The Silkmaker’ is a reflection of Teller’s ongoing battle with himself, a constant quest for peace and, ultimately, freedom from self entrapment and destruction.