Start Listening To: BOSS
We caught up with Oscar Lane from London based band BOSS and were blown away by new single Monkey Thoughts.
Can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?
My name be Oscar aka BossOLa aka Mr. FP. I play guitar and sing alongside my brothers Franklin Dawson and Elliot Batten. Together, we make full power music under the guise of ‘BOSS’.
How did it all start?
After playing and producing solo down in the ends of the earth Cornwall for a couple years throughout uni, I started writing songs that required Kings of Men to help bring them to life. So, I called on old riders Franklin Dawson to rip the 4 strings and Adam Rogers Johns to bang the pans. And we been aboot since, morphin’ and turnin’ as a unit.
We love your new single Monkey Thoughts. Can you tell us a bit more about how this single came about?
The music came together a few years back from a 30 second demo I put together. Just was looking to write something immediate and short. I then bought it to practice and we finished it up structurally together. But it only came together as a full song with lyrics, a proper outro etc last year March when we got our new drummer, musical hero and dear friend Elliot Batten in on drums.
We recorded it with Elliot and his brother Max aka Sorority, at their studio ‘The Drive’, in August. Just took a day to bash out the whole thing and have everything sounding righteous. We then put some more BOSS goodness into it, the brothers Batten mixed it magically and what you hear is the grand sum.
How do you produce your music?
Hitting voice memo and jamming, one of us bringing forth a set song or idea, producing at home on our musical toys and the fear of not doing enough breathing down one’s neck helps too haha.
What inspires your music?
The internal and external. The kings and queens that we surround ourselves with and the stuff they produce. The pagans recycling what’s been and reminding us what we don’t wanna be doing. And Playboi Carti.
How has living in London influenced your music?
The daily occurrence of rubbing shoulders with people and cultures from all over the world has definitely subconsciously made us open-minded to different styles, attitudes and practices in music. It’s what makes London one of the cultural capitals of the world.
We’re also very fortunate and lucky to have grown up in close proximity to other great artists and bands in the South London area and be able to consider them as friends.
You also run Full Power Records. What’s it like juggling BOSS and Full Power?
It’s got its peaks and troffs. It’s a wonderful feeling to help push your friends and this music you are in love with and see other people digest it positively too. Whether it be from giving a positive review of a release or going nuts to their stuff at a show, it’s very rewarding to be a platform to those making wicked music, no matter the style.
It’s tough too though as it can feel like you’re organising multiple bands while trying to sort your own band. And on top of that, you’re trying to run shows, find new music, hype others to put stuff out. All the while working long days 5 times a week and…. It’s hectic doing it all by yourself. But I strangely thrive off powering through the towers of responsibility and coming out on top despite the self-imposed odds and daily existential crisis’s.
What advice would you give for anyone trying to achieve a similar sound to you?
Don’t. Do your ting.
If your music were a film or TV show which would it be?
Our drummer reckons it’d be ‘Tetsuo’, an old Japanese horror where a man merges with a machine. I’d agree.
Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s important to you?
Recently I’ve been returning to Modest Mouse’s ‘Lonesome Crowded West’. Really brings me back to skating round Falmouth town summer time after 1st year and feeling really inspired to put together a 3-piece band and bring da ruckus. Definitely wouldn’t be here doing this if it weren’t for that album.
What do you hate right now?
Machine Gun Kelly.
What do you love right now?
Skating around Lewisham Leisure Centre at night. Real meditative time for me atm.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever played?
Hm…… I think the Old Blue Last show we played in July is definitely up there. It was packed, we had the crowd looking baffled but on our side, we were freestyling amongst the chaos of things breaking during our set and yeah, was feeling calm before, during and after which is seldom. Was very affirming. Thankyou to king Tal Williams of events company ‘Friends Serene’ for that one! Look up his events if you want to discover sick music!
What comes next in the BOSS story?
Just wanna continue getting better as a live band and as songwriters, come up with more interesting songs as a unit aswell as supporting one anothers ideas and just keep bringing it to these carbon copies we’re surrounded by.
What upcoming 2022 music releases are you most excited about?
More BOSS material hopefully! My man Tony Njoku is sitting on a beautiful album, can’t wait for everyone else to be in awe of it too.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Anyone reading this and wanting to put us on, has music they want releasing, or needs help recording, producing etc HOLLA! We on that ‘Scenius’ tip.
