by Jodie E. Saueraker
The TLA has always induced a certain feeling from artists in Philadelphia- it’s giant marquee, grimy backstage area, the smell of weed wafting through the building, the brilliantly placed stage and its iconic location on South Street. For the thousands of fans who pass through its doors each year, it’s also the place to worship their favorite artists and discover those on the cusp.
In the case of OCD: Moosh and Twist, they have been on the receiving end of fandom in both scenarios. Having met in 1st grade at a Philadelphia school, they began on their artistic path through sharp rhymes and smart beat selection. I had the pleasure of getting to sit and chat with them at the TLA on Wednesday evening. Stopping back home in Philadelphia was part of their Living Out Loud tour that has since spanned numerous cities with more on the horizon.
Here is where being an artist manager myself and journalist sometimes don’t mix. I knew they had to be on stage at 10pm. Part of me wanted to say “Go to your happy place and get ready”. The other part of me wanted to grill them under hot lights for a few hours. Instead, I settled for a happy medium. I interviewed them until I could see they were ready to get in show mode.
First impressions are everything. In talking to their team throughout the day I got the sense that this was an organized bunch. From their publicist and attorney to their tour manager and beyond, they made things easy breezy which I can’t be more grateful for.
As I entered the upstairs green room area of the TLA, I was reminded of the years back when it was a big deal to be backstage. This time however, I just felt old and wanted a beer. When we entered their dressing room, I was struck at their welcoming and pleasant demeanor. Oliver “Twist” Feighan and DeQuincy “Moosh” Coleman-McRae have now entered another dimension in the music industry. No longer dependent on free mixtapes and dash board videos, they hit #1 on the billboard charts and are headlining their own tour.
Earlier in the day I had messaged their on and off tour DJ, Bear-One, to get some info on them. I learned they love Skittles. That was my ice breaker. Then we began our conversation.
