HIP-HOP artist and poet Otis Mensah has announced the release of his new single and visuals for Breath of Life.

Produced by Brelstaff and featuring a guest verse from Hemlock Ernst, (the rap alter ego of Samuel T. Herring from the critically acclaimed synth-pop Future Islands), Breath of Life is a chilled, introspective soulful hip-hop single infused with a zestful flow.

Hailing from Sheffield, Otis Mensah combines vivid storytelling with atmospheric and experimental Hip-Hop sounds. Titled Sheffield’s poet laureate in 2018, Otis has worked and toured with heavyweights such as Benjamin Zephaniah, KOTA the Friend, Open Mike Eagle, Mahalia and Blu & Exile.

Otis has also received praise and support from The Guardian, Earmilk and The Noise Gate among other outlets.

Breath of Life explores anxiety, fear and claustrophobia set against a chilled jazz-inspired production. Breath of Life is part of Otis Mensah’s forthcoming project, #OtisMensahExists, a visual and audio compilation exploring the talented wordsmith’s relationships with isolation, technology and society. 

Breath of Life is the first release from #OtisMensahExists, with a planned new single to be released every three weeks commencing Tuesday 26 May, accompanied by original animations from Sheffield illustrator Jim Spendlove.

Watch here: