Another OCULA original on This Never Happened was long overdue. Just over a year since Crossroad—his debut album—arrived through the Lane 8-founded label, that reunion has been realized. But in between his run of Monstercat outings—which would eventually make up his On The Run EP—OCULA had still crossed label lines, making a pair of a remix album appearances for both Reviver and Reminders. And after appearing alongside Jerro for the Foundations tour this spring—with a string of Summer Gathering show slots in the coming months—OCULA is fittingly back on This Never Happened for his first original release of 2023.
It’s surreal to process that Crossroad had just celebrated its first anniversary at the end of April, but it was more than fitting that OCULA commemorated the occasion with a return home to This Never Happened. But that’s not his only reunion on “Come Around,” with OCULA matching back up alongside Tailor for a “Be There” successor of sorts. And on “Come Around,” the two find themselves replicating that same melodic house harmony between producer and singer-songwriter from a year prior. As the clock ticks closer to that first This Never Happened Summer Gathering on June 3 at Forest Hills—with OCULA, Sultan + Shepard, Jerro, Massane, and Lane 8—stream “Come Around” below.
Featured image: OCULA/Instagram
