Osunlade biography examples

A: Prince of course. I loved the fact that he did most of it himself.

Osunlade biography examples

Being in bands early on I learned fast that the drummer and bassists are always gonna be an issue so I learned what I could to solve that problem. Prince was the beacon for that. A: Yes, in Chicago. I spend most of my teenage summers with my cousin there. We would listen to house on the radio. As well some older cousins would go clubbing to hear Frankie Knuckles.

Do you think the music industry is still stuck in its traditional modus operandi? Do you think it has evolved at a fast or slow pace? Wax is so important to me as it stands the test of time. Q: Did these experiences inspire you to create your label Yoruba Records? He and Silvio Tancredi took me in, showed me the ropes and we did great numbers back then you could sell 10k a release.

Q: What do you look for when releasing new music on your label? You have a very diverse roster of musicians and producers on the label. What is essential to the Yoruba sound? A: Mentorship. It usually takes years before something is released tbh. I rush nothing. Q: Besides the sound, tell us about the artwork that goes with each release.

Are there visual artists with whom you regularly collaborate? Q: Have you felt the music flow right through you when producing? Is there an album or track that might describe this experience? A: Lights lots of them. My bubble is otherworldly with the universe in the ceiling. Q: In your opinion, is it possible to return to that organic state of being without enslaving ourselves with technology?

A: Impossible…those days are gone… We are already too far ahead and behind. Q: What is a must-have food staple in your fridge or pantry, and why? Q: How would you describe your cooking skills? Q: What do you enjoy doing in the kitchen? Q: What is your least favorite thing to do in the kitchen? A: My pasta and citrus chicken pot pie are winners.

Q: Do you think when food is cooked with love it tastes better? A: Nah…nothing! Q: What role did music play in your family, and how important was it? Q: What was the best part of performing in church? Q: During your formative years, who influenced you musically? To maintain his passion for music, Osunlade left the business and took a two-year break.

This marked the start of a spiritual journey that led him to Ifa, an ancestral religion that originates in Yoruba culture from present-day Nigeria, widely practiced in West Africa and among diasporic communities in the Americas. It also triggered a move to New York and enabled him to achieve the dream of founding his own label, Yoruba Records , as a place to release his own organic, vulnerable and mellow brand of music and introduce new talent to the world.

With 20 albums and countless singles to his name — including collaborations with the likes of Salif Keita and Cesaria Evora to name a few — he is one of the most prolific artists in the game. Beyond his production and label work, Osunlade has also become a revered deejay who performed at leading venues the world over. We are blessed to connect with the man — comfortably dressed in his robe, hanging out in a park with his dog — ahead of his headlining at the Offering Gotsoul Online Weekender.

Is this a legacy you recognize and identify with? So yes, I recognize it, much in the same way that I recognize my own forefathers. My creative responsibility is limited to myself in keeping the integrity of my music. We know your connection with Africa is deep, on many levels, including your spirituality. What role does African culture play in your artistic journey?

First rhythmically. My music was always about the incorporation of African rhythms. And while my sound is rooted in soul, African influences are everywhere. In starting the label, for me it was always about introducing the Yoruba language and ceremonial songs and sharing this folkloric dimension of the African diaspora. House music to me is the beat.

And when you think about the beat, you think about the drum, immediately you think Africa. That was always the primary element for me. I also love performing on the continent. When I am there it just feels right. Kenya blew me away, because I really felt the diversity of people, the beauty and just the nature. You know a lot of the world is the same, but there is no place like Africa.

Yoruba culture and Ifa religion are very present in house music throughout songs, labels and events. How do you explain this connection? I think many people who create house music are actually Ifa practitioners or are connected to it, like they have had a reading from a priest for example. I am also loving the new African house music, with vocals sung in their own dialects.

In , he released an album titled Aquarian Moon , in , he released an album titled Elements Beyond on the revived Strictly Rhythm Records , and, in , he released the album Passage. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikidata item. This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification.

Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous.