ATO - SIDE A

An artist known for wearing his heart on his sleeve, Side A is an introspective deep-dive into ATO’s experience so far and his ongoing journey of self-discovery, defining his identity, and understanding his heritage. Spanning five sentimental tracks, ATO reflects on past experiences from racism, to relationships, to mental health, family, and illness. Having grown-up in a white city in Yorkshire with no real understanding of his heritage, he also explores what it means to be brought up Black and British. With each track, ATO revisits impactful, often traumatic points in his life. The abstract and dreamlike ‘ziamonds !!’ touches heavily on mental health and healing to move forward, while ‘Garrowby Way’ explores a darker state of mind. For ATO this was ”revisiting the streets and houses that shaped those traumas. It wrestles with those negative feelings and the broader disenfranchisement that hangs like a black cloud over black youth in Yorkshire.” Rounding out the EP on a lighter, more optimistic note ‘Nobu’ is about reimagining self-worth and the pursuit of love. A pivotal moment in the EP, it nods towards a forthcoming project with a rejuvenated mindset, looking towards a brighter future.