Summary: Psyche Origami Commercially accessible without compromising the fundamentals of the underground Hip-hop scene from which they emerged, Psyche Origami is a dynamic meshing of "Part man, part machine"- DJs Dainja and Synthesis, and MC Wyzsztyk (wiz-stick) whose rhyme flow is 2 parts Native Tongue/1 part Carl Sagan. On stage and on wax, Psyche O strikes a chord with purists and newcomers alike, putting a state of the art spin on the cornerstone of Hip-hop music: the exchange between the MC and the DJ. Emerging from the same Atlanta "underground"/progressive Hip-hop circuit that gave rise to other nationally touring groups the likes of Micranots (Rhymesayers) and Mars Ill (Gotee/EMI), Psyche Origami puts in the work and furthers the new sound of Atlanta's underground movement. Dubbed "head-change music," Psyche O's material walks the thin line between "conscious" music and "party" music. Opinionated but not self-righteous, the listener can nod his or her head to the tracks without his or her intelligence being insulted. Their live show brings the content of the records to a still higher level, as Wyzstyk, a lyrical one-man army, drops written rhymes and freestyles over beats spun by Synthesis and Dainja, whose turntable gymnastics further separate the act from the majority of their peers. At the end of 2002, P.O. tested the waters with "Perspective," their independently released, internationally received 12-inch single (featuring the tracks "Amnesia," "No Negotiation" and "Perspective.") In 2003 the forward-thinking crew unveiled "Is Ellipsis," the first full-length manifestation of the crew's "4 Turntables: 1 Mic" format. Released on Atlanta indie label ArcTheFinger Records and driven by turntablism, jazz/funk influenced beats and smart wordplay, "Is Ellipsis" made the splash it was intended to make, charting for several weeks in the College Media Journal (CMJ)'s national top 40 most played Hip-hop albums and earning them top billing at respected Atlanta venues as well as opening slots on bills with artists the likes of Talib Kweli (Okay Player) Blackalicious' Gift of Gab (Quannum) and even an unlikely pairing with alt-rock heroes They Might Be Giants. In January 2004, "Nuff Teef," the first single to be released from "Is Ellipsis" won P.O. the attention of college radio and prestigious record pools coast to coast, including New York's S.U.R.E. and California's Heavyweights pools. During this time, the video for "Nuff Teef" was completed. The frenetically paced video, produced by Atlanta's Ganymede Press, has been praised by critics and fans for its use of cutting edge computer imaging, complementing and further animating the single. Increasingly in demand in US markets from California to Florida and having done mini-tours throughout most of the southeast, Psyche O had attracted the attention of a national booking agent and begun a career as a full-time touring Hip-hop act by the end of 2004. The "At Last" tour, in promotion of the 12-inch single by the same name, (now officially released on ArcTheFinger Records), took Psyche O through Utah, Idaho, Montana, Colorado and California. 2004 would also bring a sponsorship from Mountain Dew/Amp Energy Drink as a part of their "Amp Sixpack" program, and would find P.O.'s instrumentals featured as theme music for the Cartoon Network's cult-hit programming lineup, "Adult Swim." The "At Last" single also includes the track "Seconds Count," which will appear on P.O.'s sophomore effort, "The Standard," due to be released in Fall 2005. A national winter tour in support of "At Last" (and to lay the foundation for the release of "The Standard") is in place for January through March of 2005. Be sure to check www.arcthefinger.com and www.psycheorigami.com for updates!
