Today, Chiedu Oraka unveils ‘Counselling (Orchestral Version)’ to accompany the announcement of the Deluxe Edition of his incendiary debut mixtape Misfit released on Launchpad+/EMI North out November 15th. The news marks the latest developments in a remarkable year for the Hull hip-hop titan: supporting Skepta, headlining The Line of Best Fit’s showcase at SXSW in Texas, opening for CASISDEAD, performing for the packed-out BBC Music Introducing Stage at Glastonbury, a coveted nomination for Best Newcomer at the Northern Music Awards and a UK headline tour this autumn.
Photo: Luke Hallett
Born from the belly of the beast in Hull’s council estates, Oraka’s bars are unflinching social poetry which portray the Black, working-class experience from the frontlines of the north – with lashings of colourful slang for good measure. “The Black Yorkshireman” is a representative of a new sound and a fierce amplifier of stories which are yet to be told in the depth they deserve. Oraka is a force to be reckoned with in the northern arena, but his successes chart on both a national and global scale.
Counselling (Orchestral Version)’ is an elevated reimagining of Misfit’s lead single and fan favourite. ‘Counselling’ is an unflinching confrontation of his past traumas which he learned to express in a safe space, giving a voice to the silent crisis of Black men’s mental health. Heightened by a live orchestra, the track takes on a new depth of gravitas.
Speaking on the live version, he says: “You don’t often hear of many UK rap artists making songs with a live orchestra. I wanted the challenge and believe it paid off. ‘Counselling’ is such an impactful song in itself, so creating an orchestral version has taken the track to a different stratosphere, both in meaning and in sound. My vulnerabilities are laid bare, even more so than the original release with the lyrics standing out, almost unfiltered, against the strings. The live instrumentation has enabled me to create a raw, stripped back moment that will hopefully give the listener the same goosebump feeling I got myself whilst performing it.”
