Ohtis’ debut album Curve Of Earth is buoyed by a darkly brilliant sense of humour. 15 years in the making, the record documents a decade and a half of heroin use, rehab and the conflicting emotions that come with the combination of those things. Bleak though the subject matter may be, though, it’s continually bolstered by a stunning musicality, and that aforementioned sense of humour.

With the Full Time Hobby-signed group bringing their wares to TMR’s Alternative Escape stage this Friday 10th May, in collaboration with our friends Hand In Hive and CALM, we thought only right to pass the mic to Ohtis themselves. They, however, then passed it back, with their ‘Best Of Backing Vocals’ playlist. Get stuck in below, and catch Ohtis at the Mucky Duck in Brighton this Friday.

***

1. The Smiths – ‘Bigmouth Strikes Again’ 

I’ve heard that this backup vocal is just Morrissey’s lead vocal, pitch shifted up. We tried to directly borrow this for the backup vocals in our song ‘Settling’.



2. Johnny Cash & The Carter Family – ‘Where You There’

The Carters have some of the best blood harmonies out there, along with the Everly, Wilson, and Louvin brothers. And the Drinkard sisters.



3. Sean Nicholas Savage – ‘Gemini Heart’

I got to go on tour with Sean, when I was in another band. He told me that he thought Grimes sang these backup vocals but he couldn’t remember for sure. I guess when you make three albums a year some of the details start to blur. This excellent album has disappeared from the internet and it needs to come back!



4. Kendrick Lamar – ‘Real (feat. Anna Wise)’

Kung Fu Kenny’s got a million secret weapons and one of them is his backup vocals. Whether he’s mimicking a rhythmic delay effect (“ya bish (ya bish...)”) or collaborating with Anna Wise, as is the case with this song, it’s always interesting.



5. Fred Thomas – ‘Altar (feat. Anna Burch)’

My two buds singing together! Anna’s voice can take the spotlight, or shine in the background like it does here. A wonderful collaboration from an excellent album.



6. Tricky – ‘Tricky Kid’

Sam and I grew up hanging with an older friend who once told us that Tricky was his love-making music. It’s funny to imagine any love-making happening to this song. This is about as unhinged as a backup vocal can get before you just call it a lead vocal. Like a little demon singing on Tricky’s shoulder or something.



7. Bill Staines – ‘Midway’ 

I love when the backup vocal in a song goes off and does its own thing.  This is a prime example of that. A mighty fine counter melody.

8. The Breeders – ‘Little Fury’ 

Kim Deal’s lucky to have a twin sister to provide backup vocals. That’s the best ‘blood harmony’ one could get. Kelley Deal could probably even double Kim’s vocals live, which I imagine only twins can do without it sounding ugly.



9. Silver Jews – ‘New Orleans’ 

Ohtis used to play this live, with me singing Steven Malkmus’ part. It was fun to belt the funny lyric — ‘we’re trapped inside the song!’



10. Leonard Cohen – ‘Ain’t No Cure for Love’

Featuring the legendary Jude Johnstone on backup vocals.  Sam and Jude became good friends living in the sleepy little seaside town of Cambria, California before they both moved off to big cities. Jude is now East Nashville royalty. She played piano and sang the high octave on our song ‘Junkie Heaven’.



Curve of Earth is out now and catch Ohtis’ set at the free Hand In Hive x TMR x CALM Showcase on Friday 10th May at The Mucky Duck in Brighton.

-Tom Connick