Otto Aday has released his debut album ‘Persona’.
Out now via Bay Street Records, the 12-track release was recorded in Nashville with Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart.
Speaking of the album, Otto said: “‘Persona’ is an adventure to me, it’s a time capsule forever immortalising some of the heartfelt moment’s from my teens into my twenties. Some of those stories have fallen into my hands & others I’ve had to reach for, but each one to me is worth telling. The songs to me cover lost love, growing up, figuring out who I am and who I want to be. I went from the quiet kid in school to being an outright performer, this album reflects that journey and takes you along the way.”
To celebrate his album release, Otto shared with us 5 tracks that influenced ‘Persona’.
Dry The River – No Rest | Listen via Spotify
When I listen to the larger songs within the album I hear a band that I’ve loved for a while slip through. Dry The River, mainly their song ‘No Rest’ it builds and builds while telling a story throughout. Their songs have such cinematic strings & great driven guitar sounds.
The Beatles – Let It Be | Listen via Spotify
I worked really closely with Dave Stewart on producing this album which was amazing, we co-wrote three of the songs together. Him and I both really dig The Beatles. When I was writing the strings parts I definitely used some Beatles & The Beach Boys as buildings points for how I wanted my string players to play. It was a nice icing on the cake to finish the album in Abbey Road Studios.
Elton John – Rocket Man | Listen via Spotify
I mean it’s a classic.
Bonny Light Horseman – Deep In Love | Listen via Spotify
Thinking about the production of the album there is a lot of Americana influences as I recorded the majority of the album in Nashville, TN. Having the same players as Dolly Parton, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. It was definitely an all star cast for the session players within the tracks and I love everything they played. Almost everything you hear on the album is done in one take, we did 7 songs in just two days, peering through the glass at each other and just having a great time. One memory that is cemented in my mind is being driven around Nashville listening to this song.
Passenger – Catch In The Dark | Listen via Spotify
The album has routes within my love for folk music especially on the lyric side. The album is honest, inspired by moment’s I’ve had & the people in my life. I know exactly where this folk inspiration comes from, listening to Bob Dylan & Nick Drake when I was younger and finding warmth in the honest, open heart story telling of Passengers music.
Discover Otto’s musical influences:
Listen to Otto Aday ‘Persona’ via Spotify below: