On Valentine's Day 2020, Nickel City hip-hop artist Mickey O'Brien released Twin Flame: The Honeybear Saga, an EP exploring love, loss and relationships.
In contrast to his grittier debut, My Drift, the EP established the emcee from Greater Sudbury as a multi-faceted artist, and not one to shy away from matters of the heart.
And then the world was in the grip of COVID-19. The live music community took a major hit, but O'Brien continued to sharpen his lyrical sword.
Once able to emerge from isolation, he brought together some of Nickel City's finest players for an energetic rendition of “Sophia,” the third and final single from Twin Flame.
Both versions of the tune feature acclaimed Sudbury jazz/soul vocalist Sarah Craig. She plays keys on the “Live off the Floor Band Mix,” which also features Matt Saroka on guitar, David Cameron on bass, Christopher Dardick on drums, and DJ Seith on the wheels of steel. The performance was recorded live off the floor in the old Northern Breweries building, a well-weathered Sudbury landmark, and filmed and edited by Shawn Kosmo for release as a video.
Watch below:
