Aliyah Otchere

Name, where are you from?
Aliyah Otchere, I’ve never known how to answer that. Born in London, raised in Turkey. My heritage is Ghanaian and Pakistani.

Describe your style in three words?
A hot mess.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Paris Summer Jam in 2018. The line up was Brockhampton, N.E.R.D. and Kendrick Lamar all back to back, and I don’t think it can get any more legendary than that.
There’s something about seeing your all-time favourite artist perform that will never leave your side. Music is already something so surreal, imagine getting to experience that physically. It’s intense but it’s beautiful. I definitely felt more alive than ever that night and maybe for the first time. Being in the crowd isn’t always an option for me as my job doesn’t always allow it. (Due to the cameras on my back) But at one point I think I became so lightheaded from the lack of oxygen that I swam to the top and as the cold air hit me for the first that night, for a second all I could see was an endless sea of people who were all just in heaven with me. Thankful I even had two of my close friends by my side to experience that with me. If I ever had to define euphoria, it’d be that moment.
To even add a cherry on top, when I got to tour with Raye a few months later, we were listening to Kendrick Lamar outside of the tour bus in Paris and this guy (bless him, I never got his name :( ) who was touring with Halsey overheard us just roaring Kendrick’s tunes. He came up to us and mentioned that he had toured with Kendrick and was at that very gig (as I was excitedly telling him the story) so he ran off and a few seconds later gifted me a jumper from the very same gig. Shout out to my hero, I honestly cherish that jumper like no tomorrow!

If you could collaborate with any artist in history?
What a hard question. I mean it could only be a collaboration if they’re also interested in working with me. God that would be unbelievable. I’d love for a script of mine to be directed by Santi because I think he’s got a very interesting visual eye and I love what he’s created thus far. I’d also love for a movie/tv of mine to be soundtracked by Duval Timothy because his music… Wow. His music are stories, I don’t listen to them, I watch them. I feel them. And I think he’d understand creating music for visuals on another level so I trust he’d really take my work to another height. As a photographer, I’d love to work with Rihanna because she’s got a vision that I think would challenge me and teach me a lot. I think her team works at a rate that I aspire to and I have an idea I’d be interested to see if she’d f*ck with.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Undeniably I think the noughties influences me. I pick up a lot from the industry gold mine and it inspires me a lot as I feel like it was a high that is incomparable. But at the same time, I think the subculture we’re apart of is a continuation of that. So I guess I would say the subculture we/I’m apart of now. What better influence than the one we're surrounded by, are consuming daily and learning from and creating for and with. I think it’s incredible to be able to be apart of something bigger and to think this is a subculture movement in itself. That we’re history and the movements we’re making, however big or small, are already creating their ripples in time.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Gil Scott-Heron. My favourite book was gifted to me by my aunt and she gave me 'The Vulture' written by the legend himself. It changed my whole perspective on storytelling and writing and introduced me to a new world so far from the one I was living. I feel like I could learn a lot from him and I think being around the circles that he’s been around is already incredible enough so I feel like it’d be a cute little reunion with everyone to be able to spend an hour at a dinner table catching up and talking about anything and everything. And probably Sun Ra just for sh*ts and giggles.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
KOKO Camden which I miss very badly. It was really beautiful for lighting and it was one of the venues I spent most of my time in both shooting and having the best nights of my life. I knew the backstage like the back of my hand and even had a little spot in the crowd for myself by the railings at the back which I’d sit on. Security were also fairly nice which is rare!

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
First and foremost my parents. I think getting to navigate this industry with them by my side is the greatest wish I could have ever asked for. I love that we inspire each other and we learn together. I love that there’s so much history within them that I partially live through them and understand them. And I guess they live through me too. From their support, to their knowledge, to their understanding of the hardships this industry has to offer they’ve supported me regardless of their own experiences. Allowing me to navigate freely in my own way and supporting me as I write my own story. I couldn’t thank them enough for the safe space they created for me, my friends and the creative community we surround ourselves with. Giving room for us to grow together and teach each other. It’s my community. My family by blood and by choice.

Aliyah Otchere is Visual Director. Follow her on Instagram and Vimeo.