Hull-based artist Chiedu Osaka has shared new single ‘Counselling’.
A Black working class voice from the North of England, Chiedu’s work has been honed through real life knocks. Using music as a lens to view the world through, his debut mixtape ‘Mixtape’ offers a blunt but immersive glimpse of his world.
Out on April 26th via Launchpad+/EMI North, it’s led by ‘Counselling’, a bold, blunt, but poetic piece of word play. Speaking from the heart, Chiedu wants to tell his story – and allow others to seek help without prejudice.
He comments…
Before the country went into lockdown, I never thought that I would need or want any sort of counselling. However, being stuck indoors with nothing to do except go on 5k runs suddenly left me in a space where I had to reflect on past traumas. I needed a safe space where I could confront them and find ways to deal with them.
I tried one session with a counsellor and hated it – we didn’t seem to gel at all. I found it awkward and I found him quite dismissive. The easy thing to do would be to give up, bottle up my issues and speak to no one. I was lucky enough to find a counsellor who I really bonded with. He made me feel comfortable and I was able to open up.
With this song, I laid it all out on the page, left no stone unturned, and I hope now people know I’ve been for counselling, it will push other people from similar backgrounds to do the same.
Tune in now.
Photo Credit: Luke Hallett
