Quick update: Me and Johnny are in Lucerne, Switzerland at the moment (top secret reasons... ssh! :) ), but I've recently been turned on to a new, emerging artist... Osunlade.
If you're not familiar with him yet, I've a feeling you will be! He's a DJ, producer and vocalist, and his sound is really light, ethereal chillout music... it's following along in a new trend I've noticed, which is combination of latin and African jazz elements merging with electronica. Very cool... love it! He's about to drop his new album, Elements Beyond. It's amazing... he's a really spiritual guy, and the music reflects that kind of sound. Plus, you have to love anyone who was discovered by Toni Basil... you know who I mean: "Oh Mickey, you're so fine! You're so fine you blow my mind! Hey Mickey! (CLAP CLAP)" Haha. I know, not exactly the kind of pairing you would imagine, huh?? Anyway, since we're pressed for time on our current trip abroad, I thought I'd let Osunlade speak for himself. Check out a cool interview with him below :) He talks about everything from his spirituality to house music... plus he's got a good sense of humor about him. Lots of love, guys!
JADE
Q: Osunlade is musician, producer or DJ?
All of those things in that order. Djing was actually a hobby, I never did a DJ set before I made Paradigm. I got a call about the record, saying they wanted me to come play, and I was like ‘Really?’ I mean I DJ’d when I was young, you know rap and hip-hop and that kind of thing, but I’d never owned and I still don’t own turntables. It’s literally a hobby for me, I don’t play outside of the gigs I do, I don’t have a set up at home, I don’t practise. It’s just not my thing.
Q: You’re known as having a very distinct sound when you DJ…
Yeah, well you know I come from funk, soul, jazz, that kind of thing, but my upbringing is about music first and foremost. Electronic music and house music was another form of that expression. Djing for me is the same thing; you know I wanna educate people. For me the things that are so obscure and different allow me to appreciate the music and not get bored with it. It keeps you fresh. What matters is good music, it doesn’t matter what type it is. It should always be about the music and I always want it in its purest form, so that 10 years, 20 years down the line it will be around.
Q: How important is spirituality to you?
It is everything to me. There is nothing that exists that is not 100% ruled by you essence and your soul and your spirituality and your beliefs. I have a saying; ‘If you ever want to make God laugh, show him your plans’. I really believe that. You don’t create anything. You know, you can work towards things and aspire for things, but the key is undying, blind faith. I believe everything was written before you even arrived. I believe in that. My life is a testament to that. Don’t make it hard, life is so simple. Going back to why I’m a good person, I think that my view and my reason for being here is to change peoples views, and to communicate with people in a way without preaching, through the arts.
Q: You’ve recently completed a year of cleansing, during which periods you had to wear white. Can you tell me something about that?
done several times. The ceremony is called It’s called an Iyawo, which means literally ‘Like a baby’. There’s a ceremony where you become a priest which I’veOcha which means ‘rebirth’ and during this period there are very specific ceremonies which are done depending on which element of nature governs you. During this time you have seven days of being like a newborn baby, you can’t move, you can’t speak, you are fed you are bathed, everything just like a child. After those 7 days you have a three month period of very humbling things, like you can’t have any contact with anyone. You have no contact with anything, cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, sex, anything that has to do with impurities of your soul, your spirit. It’s basically to keep you from picking up negative energies from things.
Q: Can you tell me about the inspirations behind your forthcoming album?
This album was just thrown at me. I wasn’t planning on making an album, especially an electronic or dance album, because I’ve been working on the vocal album for such a long. I recently took a trip to Turkey and spent lots of time trying to learn the instruments, reading the Turkish notes and all that. I started thinking ‘Ok, I’ll put out and EP’ you know three songs or something and then over the next two or three months the album came into fruition. A couple of songs, ‘Queens Battle’ and ‘139th Street’, are actually from ’97. I just felt they were ready to release now. The universe said ‘This is what you have to do now’ and for me it’s really important to give what I create to people who will look after it and protect it. And when I finished this album I said to Simon (Dunmore) ‘Let’s do it for Strictly Rhythm’ and he thought it was great idea as well. It’s an eclectic record, it’s not very commercial but there are some potential singles on it, so it just felt like the perfect time and situation and place.
Q: Are there any stories behind any of the songs on the album?
‘Mamma’s Groove’ is strictly a song about my mom. When I was growing up my parents used to have these weekend long parties. They would start Friday and ended Monday. I would wake up stepping over bodies! I used to play record for my parents while they were playing cards, so I have pictures of me when I was like 4 standing at a turntable. When I was growing up I didn’t have an allowance, I had a trip to the record store with my father every Saturday. So my entire life was based around music, introduced to my by my parents. So the song was homage to my mother, because I used to see so much fun in that house. No-one does that anymore you know, have a party for the entire weekend. So that song is about hardcore partying! ‘Frequencies’ is an electro, Eastern influenced song, but that’s inspired by the album cover. I’ve been painting now for a few years and the album cover is a painting called Frequencies, so the track was inspired by the painting.
Q: What are you passionate about outside of music?
Life. I love every breath and every moment of life, the good as much as the bad. I’m at a stage in my life that I’m just grateful for everything that happens. Like I said it’s so simple.
Q: What’s next for you?
Travelling outside of this realm. Musically, I want to explore some different places, and do a lot less with sound but a lot more with emotion. Make sure you hear this next album. It’s gonna be totally different. Hopefully I’ll be able to able to expose myself without exposing myself!
