COLD
Leeds’ alt rap powerhouse ATO sounds like a star in the making on icy new cut COLD.
Proud and unapologetic in his persona and Northern identity, ATO has been quietly exhibiting himself as one of the most technically astute and emotionally expressive rappers to emerge from the UK in recent years. Having dropped his genre-defiant and avant-garde SIDE A EP last year, the artist has now reemerged for the next phase of his artistic development with COLD.
Picking apart the difficulties of being a non-London based rapper in the current UK climate, ATO weaves through the instrumental with assured and thoughtful decadence; frustrated but not dramatically so. The ominous, spacey synths, booming bass and snappy drums are the soundscape that ATO both glides over and attacks. Flaunting his vocal versatility, completely at ease singing and rapping, the rapper seamlessly transitions between different tones and flows in a strikingly impressive performance.
Speaking on the single, ATO commented:
“‘COLD’ is a stream of consciousness that addresses my everyday vexations. As an outsider from Leeds, I find the industry politics and exclusive nature of the London scene a bit weird. I wanted to express who I am against the backdrop of these frustrations.
I was working on some other music at the time but was feeling to get a few of these things off my chest, so I hit stevexcooper for something I could rap over... He sent a beat titled ‘reflections’ and the energy was perfect. I wrote the verses that night intended for a freestyle and then ended up adding the ‘COLD’ hook later.”
As the song alludes, ATO is a name that perhaps doesn’t receive the hype or acclaim that some of his peers due to his geographical location. ATO’s lyrical focus and vocal charisma should place him right at the top of the UK alternative scene’s ladder - I think it’s time we let him start climbing.
Alongside this towering drop, the rapper has announced his upcoming UK tour, which sees him performing in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and of course his home town Leeds. Tickets here.