New record from Big O

Orlando Turner, known artistically as Big O, has spent his life moving through cities, cultures and sounds, piecing together a journey as varied as the beats he produces. Born in the USA, he began making music at 13 and quickly found himself chasing new horizons, from Atlanta and Miami to the Bay Area and Los Angeles, even spending a year in Germany before eventually making London his home. That adventurous spirit has shaped his artistic output, resulting in smooth, soulful and experimental music, a sound based in hip hop but never boxed in by it.

His catalogue is attests to both his sonic talent and curiosity, with collaborations alongside names like Fashawn, Skyzoo, L.O.U., P-Rawb and Dankery Harv of Frank N Dank, while earning attention from platforms including Underground Hip Hop Blog, Earmilk and The Word is Bond. Big O’s production often draws from sample-based traditions, fusing them with original instrumentation to form a voice that’s distinct and thoroughly versatile. From behind the boards for collaborators to pursuing his own projects, his work has consistently stood out in the underground, standing at the crossroads between various genres and influences.

Earlier this year, he linked up once again with San Diego’s Tranzformer for Dichotomy, their third collaborative release, which showcased the pair’s chemistry and shared vision. Now, Big O returns with a new statement of intent in the form of his latest solo full-length album titled When It’s Not Said, But Done. Recorded in his London home studio, the record serves up a fifteen-track outing that signals transformation and reinvention not through promises, but through the music itself. It’s a release about shedding skins, exploring new side of his musical world and embracing the steadfast sense of development that’s driven him so far already.

The record moves through different moods and tones, bound together by a Big O’s slick production panache. Musicians Jeronimo G on xylophone and IB Delight on saxophone helped shape the sound, expanding Big O’s sonic fabric and bringing an organic touch to the album’s smooth production. Citing inspirations as diverse as Madlib, Four Tet, J Dilla and Kiefer, Big O channels their experimental style while retaining his own unique voice.

Following the atmospheric intro piece “From the Ashes (Rebirth)” where spacey synth textures and dreamy tones form a transportive scene, the album flows with “M!dnyght Ryde,” where the soft stretch of PADs is met with the laid back shuffle of drums and bounce of stabby bass grooves, elegant piano flickers and smokey sax leads. “What’s in This World” brings an upbeat energy where crisp percussion propels chiming instrumental elements to craft a stripped back hip hop instrumental that’s impossible not to love.

Tracks like “Still Standing” cast hazy soundscape with warm brass textures and subtly hurried rhythmic march dashed with soulful vocalisation. While “Relaxing My Emotions” demonstrates just how fluid Big O’s approach has become, blending Afrobeats, hip hop and R&B into something cohesive yet unexpected. Closing the release with “Bigrodamous’s Closing Theme,” graceful piano chords give way to a mesmeric scene of gently pulsing beats, twinkling instrumental notes and shifting layers of immersive instrumental elements, concluding the album with a dazzling jam that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Fans won’t have to wait long to see this new direction live; Big O is set to perform at Four Quarters on October 11th for Audio Arcade, bringing the energy of When It’s Not Said, But Done to the stage. For an artist who’s spent years building a reputation as a jet set producer, this new record feels like both a homecoming and a step forward, proof that reinvention, when done with honesty, speaks louder than words ever could.

Listen to When It’s Not Said, But Done below