The musician created the release during Sydney's recent lockdown.
Image: Vasili Papathanasopoulos
African-Australian musician BLESSED has shared the first mixtape in a two part release, LOCKDOWN TAPES VOL.1. The release follows up the artists debut mixtape, Music Is The Medicine, which arrived last year.
Continuing his fusion of rap, rock, punk and alternative sound, BLESSED intricately weaves together each sonic thread to create a versatile and captivating body of work, heralded by masterful lyricism. The musician shared the first taste of the mixtape with the release of Not Sorry, following it up with eleven new compositions.
Of the release, the musician details, "The Lockdown Tapes are a compilation of songs that I made in my bedroom during Sydney's most recent and current lockdown. I decided to start a Tiktok account and record myself making music everyday as something fun and distracting to do.
From this isolating lockdown, I've been able to connect more with fans old and new, as well as with artists and producers all over the world that have been a part of this project.
The cover art speaks to the forced self quarantine happening all over Australia, while most of the world moves freely. The cracks in the walls represent the cracks in the system, while the hands in cuffs feature a tattoo of an ancient West African symbol (fawohodie) symbolising freedom and emancipation."
LOCKDOWN TAPES VOL.1 is out now! Read our interview with BLESSED below.