Oxymorrons are a band that thrive on paradoxes. Members Jafé, Okay.I., and Dee stay within the areas between the extremes, combining punk, hip-hop, metallic, and the rest that shouldn’t coexist however in some way does. Based and cast in Queens, New York, the band’s love for town’s music scene runs deep. They spent summers at Warped Tour, witnessed rap battles at Union Sq., and caught exhibits throughout Brooklyn. “New York has grit, a uncooked honesty,” Jafé explains. “It doesn’t sugarcoat something, and neither can we. Our lyrics, our power, our perspective, it’s all straight from the center, unapologetic and unfiltered. We converse our fact as a result of that’s what New Yorkers do.”
Now absolutely impartial, the band simply launched Create. Destroy. Rebuild. Repeat., a set of 12 tracks that embodies their dedication to create one thing totally different with each launch. “The title itself is in regards to the cycle: You create one thing, it breaks down, you rebuild from the items, and then you definitely do it over again,” Dee says. “That’s music, however that’s additionally life. We wished the interludes to spotlight every stage of that cycle, constructing these sonic textures that pull you deeper into the Oxymorrons world.”
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We sat down with Oxymorrons to speak about New York’s affect, what modified after they went impartial, and their new EP, Create. Destroy. Rebuild. Repeat.
As one other (genuine) New Yorker, how do you suppose town has formed your sound, message, and perspective?
JAFÉ: Rising up in a metropolis that’s a melting pot of cultures, kinds, and sounds gave us the liberty and the arrogance to blur the strains between genres. In a spot the place nothing is off limits, we discovered early on that we didn’t should field ourselves in creatively. But it surely’s extra than simply the music. New York has grit, a uncooked honesty. It doesn’t sugarcoat something, and neither can we. Our lyrics, our power, our perspective, it’s all straight from the center, unapologetic and unfiltered. We converse our fact as a result of that’s what New Yorkers do.
What are your early musical recollections within the metropolis? First exhibits you went to, scenes you frolicked in?
Okay.I: A few of our earliest musical recollections within the metropolis have been linking up with the band Sport Rebel. Their lead singer, Netic, embraced us as he understood what it meant to be POC in rock and navigating NYC tradition. The primary time we ever met, there was a loopy rainstorm within the metropolis. We had a present deliberate, and actually, we have been most likely the one ones loopy sufficient to nonetheless present up. So we ended up performing only for one another, and it was superior. A kind of moments that reminds you why you do that within the first place. Additionally going to Dangerous Rabbits, Ninja Sonic exhibits, Afropunk, Brooklyn Hiphop Fest, Warped Tour, and rap battles at Union Sq.. We will go on and on… New York is particular like that. We’d bounce round from exhibits and bars throughout Brooklyn and the Decrease East Facet, simply chasing the power and the music.
Style apart, how would you describe your music and sound to somebody who hasn’t heard it?
JAFÉ: Our music is just like the love little one of Rage In opposition to the Machine, Linkin Park, and OutKast. Excessive power, loud, and daring. It hits arduous, speaks fact, and carries a giant sound that instructions consideration. Our sound is one thing that may really feel acquainted, however you’ve by no means heard it. It’s precisely what the identify says: Oxymorrons.
What’s the largest false impression about Oxymorrons?
JAFÉ: One of many largest misconceptions about us is, actually, simply recognizing what we’re, a band. We get known as a bunch, a crew, or all types of different labels, however not often simply say the apparent: we’re a band. We nonetheless get these double-takes once we hit the stage; individuals don’t anticipate the sound we carry or the power we stock. We all know why; it simply blows our minds, as a result of it’s 2025. At this level, you must anticipate the surprising. That’s what our world is all about.
Miguel McSong
You’ve labored with so many legends, spanning scenes — from being within the studio with Feldmann to touring with Corey Taylor and Dangerous Omens. Are you able to converse on this fluidity that’s made you so becoming to be in a metallic area, rock, rap, and so on.?
DEE: We’ve been extraordinarily fortunate getting the prospect to tour with artists like Dangerous Omens and Corey Taylor. The John Feldmann session was dope. Creating “Definition” was actually career-changing. Engaged on that with Feldy and Zach Jones was nice! None of that might’ve even occurred if it weren’t for Jason Aalon Butler of FEVER 333. To be actual, we have been comparatively unknown within the scene till he shone a lightweight on what we have been doing and backed us via 333Wrecks. As for the best way our sound strikes via totally different genres, that’s simply who we’re. We grew up loving and listening to so many kinds of music, so when it got here time to make our personal, it naturally turned this genreless factor, however nonetheless rooted within the genres we beloved, blended collectively in a means that feels just like the pure essence of Oxymorrons.
You mentioned, “We’ve all the time stayed true to ourselves, however this chapter is about going even tougher in that course… We’re excited to construct one thing that’s absolutely ours — no limits, no filters, simply us.” What do you suppose is the Oxymorrons via line, on the coronary heart of your entire work? What makes it you?
Okay.I.: It’s the steadiness/center floor of our non-conformity with our capability to weave out and in of conformist concepts in music and in “scenes.” Figuring out the moments to let our creativity fly free with no bounds and discover new depths we haven’t earlier than, whereas concurrently understanding when to reel it in and put some parameters on our inventive freedom. There’s a discovered self-discipline that comes with that, and that’s a giant a part of what’s on the root of our music.
Are you able to converse to going impartial, what which means to you as a band? The challenges and the advantages? Did it have an effect on the way you made the album, sonically, lyrically, and so on?
DEE: Going impartial as a band is dope as a result of it offers you full inventive freedom. You name the pictures. Nobody’s telling you ways your artwork ought to sound or look. For those who do it proper, it may be tremendous rewarding, however I gained’t sugarcoat it. It’s not simple. There’s this concept of equal trade, just like the power and work you set in will all the time come again equally, however in music, it doesn’t all the time occur that means. Numerous the time, it’s actually only a labor of affection. Typically you gotta wager on your self sufficient to wager in your imaginative and prescient, however it comes with hurdles and moments the place the payoff isn’t assured. It does have an effect on the way you launch music and issues on the monetary facet. Nonetheless, in case you consider in what you’re constructing, the grind makes the wins imply much more.
What would you say the “theme” of this album is — if there’s one. You’ve talked about the title ties into your expertise as a band, however does this additionally apply throughout every observe’s narrative?
Okay.I: the cycle of evolution. Whether or not it’s as a band, as a human, or as a society. Create, destroy, rebuild, and repeat have been the 4 recurring phases all through our lives and our time as a band. The band’s lineup, sound, and DNA have all the time mirrored the continued adjustments we undergo as individuals, as pals, and as creatives.
DEE: Our new EP, Create. Destroy. Rebuild. Repeat., actually lays out the entire theme of what we’ve been going via as a band and as individuals. The title itself is in regards to the cycle: you create one thing, it breaks down, you rebuild from the items, and then you definitely do it over again. That’s music, however that’s additionally life. We wished the interludes to spotlight every stage of that cycle, constructing these sonic textures that pull you deeper into the Oxymorron world. They’re like checkpoints that information you thru the venture, serving to the observe checklist move so each tune seems like a part of the larger story. Every observe touches on issues we’ve handled each throughout this course of and lengthy earlier than, so the EP turns into extra than simply songs; it’s the story of how we maintain pushing ahead.
Was there a observe on the brand new album that got here particularly simply when making it?
Okay.I: “BLK SHEEP” got here fairly intuitively. Deee had the verse name and response and idea effectively thought out, and we knew precisely what kind of sonic panorama to place the theme of messaging of the tune in. A chaotic ambiance with an unsettling urgency and mania that was achieved by us mixing collectively components of punk, metallic, U.Okay. jungle, and hyperpop. Writing and recording that tune was undoubtedly a enjoyable and cathartic expertise.
Was there one that you simply went backwards and forwards on?
JAFÉ: “Cool Being You” had probably the most notes/edits, primarily on its association. We mentioned in size having an nearly minute-long instrumental intro, then having the primary verse be sung by me was one thing we hadn’t finished on a tune earlier than, in addition to ending the tune on the breakdown. We plugged in a number of totally different variations of the tune’s association till we settled on the one we beloved probably the most, which is the official launch.
Who’s your dream function?
DEE: A dream function is hard to pin down since every of us has our personal private wishlist, however collectively, working with Jordan Fish could be unimaginable. As a producer, what he’s finished with BMTH has all the time been subsequent stage, and now with Home of Safety, he’s proving it over again. That type of collaboration could be a dream for us, simply throwing that on the market, lol.
What are your prime 5 albums that got here out of NY?
This was actually troublesome as all of us have albums from NY that imply a lot and from totally different genres. We aren’t even certain if all of us 100% agree with this checklist, however:
The Black Album – Jay-Z
As Merciless as Faculty Youngsters – Fitness center Class Heroes
Get Wealthy or Die Tryin – 50 Cent
Euthanasia – Stray from the Path
Rocket to Russia – Ramones
