Introducing: Otala

Nottingham’s genre-defying quintet Otala has unveiled “Patchwork”, the latest glimpse into their upcoming EP Fire! To The River. Released via Lil Chop Record Shop, the track plunges listeners into a captivating jazz-rock groove, blending raw energy with intricate craftsmanship.

Originally a forgotten relic in their live repertoire, “Patchwork” was reborn in the studio under the guidance of producer Nathan Ridley, evolving into a bold declaration of the band’s dynamic new direction. “It’s a song that captures the energetic essence of the new EP while showcasing our growth as a band,” Otala explains.

Following the success of “Everything but the Hate”, Otala continues to challenge genre boundaries, weaving post-rock ambience, dissonant stabs, and lyrical depth into a uniquely cohesive sound. With Fire! To The River set to release on February 20, 2025, Otala is cementing their place as one of the UK’s most exciting emerging acts.

1. “Patchwork” has been part of Otala’s live sets for a while, but you almost let it fade into history. What was it about revisiting this song that made you decide to rework it for your upcoming EP?

[Rory] We saw a specific old video of us playing it around a year and a half ago and realised some parts of it were actually too good to get scrapped completely. Some of the ideas we were trying to cover with that early version we’ve since done better in different songs, so we stripped it right back to the bits we still liked and then went from there.

2. The track showcases a mix of jazz-rock, post-rock, and experimental elements. How would you describe Otala’s evolving sound, and how does “Patchwork” represent your new direction as a band?

[Oscar] We wanted to give the EP some direction,  making the songs all coherent with each other (instrumentally and lyrically) to create a proper body of work. It was something we’d never done before and was very fun to put into action.  The evolving sound is kind of toning the tracks to their place and part in the story of the EP. So Patchwork represents one of the more tension breaking, hypnotic sections within the EP. 

3. Nathan Ridley’s involvement in the studio helped refine the track. How did his input influence the final version of “Patchwork,” and what was the collaboration process like?

[Rory] It was lovely working with Nathan, it seemed like he really cared about the music itself and pushed us to really think about the track and how it would be listened to while we were playing. I think a lot of the energy that we put into the recorded take was thanks to him getting us all in the right headspace.

4. You’ve been gaining attention for pushing genre boundaries. How do you approach blending dissonance, atonality, and ambience into a cohesive song while maintaining a strong lyrical narrative?

[Oscar] I suppose all of these things help create the atmosphere of the songs and in turn help paint the wider picture. We usually come with an idea, alongside some lyrics, which will already have some sort of vibe. We’ll then further develop it with the rest of the instruments and the vocal delivery to fully paint that picture.

5. Your upcoming EP Fire! To the River is out in February 2025. What can fans expect from the full project, and how does “Patchwork” fit into the larger themes and sound of the EP?

[Rory] I think Patchwork is the energetic extreme of the EP and it’s halfway through, the other tracks are mostly slower tempo so in the whole context it’s sort of the first climax before the second half begins and eventually builds it up again. We really tried to make the full EP a cohesive set of tracks so we're excited for everyone to see it in full.