MP3: Souls of Mischief’s Opio x Free the Robots – “Stoned Temple Pilot”

The Hieroglyphics MC and LA Beat Scene Vet Release Second Single Off Sempervirens and Reveal Tracklist Via Ambrosia For Heads

8.13.2015

Critical Praise:

“Free the Robots…taps a dark, psychedelic vein while boasting highly technical hip-hop production prowess.” – SPIN

“Opio’s strengths are found in his flow and wordplay. His cadence is married to each rhythm.” – Okayplayer

“Opio’s ability to utilize intricate wordplay and vivid imagery as a means of putting him ahead of the pack.” – HipHopDX

“Somewhere between the neck-snapping, gritty hip-hop of the FatBeats era, the fuzzy, distorted psychedelia of the 60s & 70s, cool jazz, and the woozy beats scene of the last decade lies the music of Free the Robots.” – Okayfuture

The Song:

Announcing the September 18th release date for their Sempervirens album and revealing that it was recorded in a redwoods forest, Souls of Mischief/Hieroglyphics rapper/producer Opio and L.A. beat scene vet Free the Robots have also shared the project’s second single, “Stoned Temple Pilot.” Premiered by Ambrosia For Heads, Opio rhymes atop the looping drum track that’s layered with a spacey synth melody and subtle upright bass groove. “A play on the 1990s Rock outfit of a near-exact name, the song is a hazy exercise of Ope’s nimble bars and F.T.R.’s dynamic productions,” Ambrosia For Heads stated in their post. “Understanding this music was made in the tranquil shadows of some of North America’s tallest trees may seem plausible, as one of Souls’ most experimental founding members goes a step further than ever before.” “Stoned Temple Pilot” follows the release of the funky, boom-bap single “Point of View,” which debuted via RESPECT Mag.

Recorded predominately in a small town in the middle of a redwood grove called Cazadero,Sempervirens is a product of the duo’s time spent along the verdant Northern California coastline. “This time spent away from the chaotic concrete jungles we both live in recharged our batteries and set the stage to create art off of the renewed energy from our inspiring journey,” explains Opio. “I feel like we are both going through a re-birth,” adds Free the Robots, “and with that, we both have been able to create with no expectations; just open minds” Splitting their time between Cazadero and the Sonoma and Mendocino County coasts while deep in the recording process proved to be a fertile creative landscape to shape the album. The title, Sempervirens, comes from the ‘Sequoia Sempervirens,’ which is the scientific name for the giant redwood tree. The term ‘sempervirens’ also means “always living.”

This past March, Opio and Free the Robots shared The Subconscious Mind EP, their first collaborative release. Opio and FTR first met at Hiero Day in 2013, and began working together last year, merging their respective skills on production hardware as seen in their Delicious Vinyl TV session.

Listen to “Stoned Temple Pilot”: https://soundcloud.com/opiohierosom/stoned-temple-pilot

Check out the Heads for Ambrosia premiere: http://ambrosiaforheads.com/2015/08/souls-of-mischiefs-opio-free-the-robots-recorded-an-lp-in-a-redwoods-forest-hear-some-audio-premiere/

Pre-order Sempervirens: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sempervirens/id1029105831?ls=1

Please contact Michelle or Rory for more info.