oKAYRACER: SOUL MUSIK
Brooklyn-based, Long Island native OkayRacer has been carving out a lane of his own in the world of electronic and hyperpop music, delivering music that refuses to be boxed in. Raised around music from the start, his father a jazz musician and gospel artist, and his own roots in chorus all throughout high school, Racer’s journey has always been intertwined with sound. Still, it wasn’t until a friend introduced him to SoundCloud back in 2017 that he decided to start releasing his own work. What began as curiosity quickly grew into passion, and from there, OkayRacer was born.
His sound is as unorthodox as it is captivating: glitchy hip-hop blended with pulsating hyperpop, introspective electronica, and even touches of pop and rock. Think Radiohead’s introspection, Vince Staples’ sharp lyricism, and Travis Scott’s genre-bending poise, all filtered through Racer’s unique ear. Inspiration for him comes from everywhere: Vince Staples’ pen, Christopher Nolan’s films like Interstellar and The Dark Knight, and even the faceless duality of Batman himself, which mirrors Racer’s approach to separating his artistry from his personal life.
At just 26, OkayRacer has already made an undeniable impact. His debut tracks okayracer! and tea parties marked the start of something special, and his genre-bending catalog has since earned him spots on major Spotify playlists like Hyperpop, and FeedBack. His latest project, Soul Musik, comes from a deeply intentional place. In his own words, “life has been so grim for everyone. This project and the songs included feel like connecting to someone’s soul and joy. I wanted to preach happiness and a lot of color. Cause right now I’ve seen a lot of muted colors and black. Let’s bring back color! And happiness.”
But Racer isn’t just focused on himself, he’s quick to shout out his peers. “Tom of Outerworlds, JP Minerali, Maxxant, Hyveout, IXvolt and gang—they’ve been doing great things in NY. We all been killing it and I hope to shine more light on those guys.”
With less than 20 releases under his belt and already a growing presence in New York’s underground, OkayRacer is a testament to creative freedom and persistence. He’s only just getting started, and it’s clear his vibrant soundscapes are paving the way for something much bigger……
– Snxwdxll
