Rising Northern Irish hip-hop artist USNA has dropped his debut mixtape ‘OOSHNA‘, and it’s a powerful introduction to his unique sound crafted through a collection of tracks that showcase his previously released singles – as well as three brand new tracks – all written and produced by the artist himself. From the hyperpop synths and free-flowing hip-hop rhymes of ‘SYMPATHY‘ to the punk, drum ‘n’ bass, and alt-pop influences on other tracks, ‘OOSHNA‘ is a genre-defying journey through USNA’s musical universe.
USNA’s production skills are also on full display throughout ‘OOSHNA’. He produced and wrote every track on the mixtape, collaborating with Santino Browne and Hoost on select tracks. The mixtape was mixed by Mike Spencer, who has worked with artists like Rudimental, Cat Burns, and Tom Walker.
As an artist, USNA’s energy and charisma burst through every moment of his music, and one of the notable tracks ‘SYMPATHY’ is no exception, as it features pounding drum ‘n’ bass rhythms and effervescent synths that create a feverish, feel-good sound that belies the vulnerability of its lyrics. USNA uses the song as a platform to open up about his struggles with romantic relationships, the loss of friends, an absent father, bad birthdays, and online insecurity. Through it all, he asserts his independence and self-reliance with the refrain, “I don’t need no sympathy.”
In addition to its musical offerings, ‘OOSHNA’ is also a personal project for USNA. The title is a phonetic representation of his name, which many people mispronounce. As USNA explains, “I view this whole mixtape as a time capsule of me finding my feet in music. In that span of time, I went through a pandemic, got a team to help my music career, finished university and have now released my first official mixtape. I want people to take away from this project that there’s no reason to limit yourself.”
‘OOSHNA’ is an impressive debut from an artist who is sure to make waves in the hip-hop world. With his infectious energy, genre-defying sound, and personal storytelling, USNA is a force to be reckoned with.
