BBC Music’s Sound of 2019 winner Octavian is a French-British rapper and producer who has shot to fame over recent years with his unique sound.
Born in France and raised in London, Octavian attended the Brit School but later dropped out to pursue his own music career path. After a tough few years when he was homeless and struggling to make ends meet, he had a breakthrough with single Party Here. In 2016 when he was just 20 years old he released his first mixtape, 22, and a year later put out Essie World. He has since collaborated on tracks with numerous high profile artists including Mura Masa, Diplo and Skepta, and signed a record deal with Black Butter Records for the release of his 2018 album Spaceman. Octavian has gained attention in the media and from fans for his unique mix of different influences and sounds, melding together his French and English roots and drawing on hip hop, rap, grime and R&B. His distinctive sound and fresh approach haven’t gone unnoticed, and in he was awarded BBC Music’s Sound of 2019 for his genre defying style.
Octavian has already gained a huge following, with his recent single Papi Chulo being streamed over 14 million times on Spotify. His latest studio album, Endorphins, was released to critical and popular acclaim, and he now looks set to become one of the most influential rappers of his generation.
