O is for Osunlade

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" Musically, I want to explore some different places, and do a lot less with sound but a lot more with emotion."

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This is an exclusive interview with Osunlade by Nokusoul Dj jojo(pictured right). It is the most recent and up to date publication available on the highly acclaimed artiste.I discovered it two days after it was published. Dj jojo himself has collaborated with Osunlade and other famous names from the house scenes such as Timmy Regisford, Louie Vega, Joe Claussell, Danny Krivit, Joe Negro, Kerri Chandler... He presents Osunlade with some very direct questions which gives an interesting and open view on one of my favourite figures, in the world of music.

OSUNLADE INTERVIEW....TALKS ABOUT ...... HIS FUTURE PLAN..... THE DJING.....AND HIS SOUND........CHECK THE WHOLE INTERVIEW.....

Osunlade Biography
Born in St.louis in 1969.His backround was one of an innercity child of multi-ethnik backrounds , however he had the African American experience for the most part.Ifa is his life.It has transformed and balance him...in every way.

Yoruba Records Bio
Recognized as one of the most important dance music labels worldwide,Yoruba Records is a pure source of music created to elevate the spirit. Founded by Osunlade in 1999, Yoruba quickly became known for its danceclassics Closer I Get, Dont Change, Cantos a Ochun et Oya & Latina Caf. With the support of DJs and fans worldwide, the label has become synonymous with quality.Osunlade producing and remixing for a multitude of labels and artists, his passion remains with Yoruba Records, and in maintaining their reputation for unparalleled quality in music. With its own family of talented producers and artists, the labels evolution is endless and bright.


*Osunlade? Are you a good person?
-I’d like to think so.

*Tell me why you think that?
- Because everyone else thinks so. Because God says so. Ha ha!

*Have you ever been in a band?
-I have and I am, with a few guys from the south of Italy; jazz band. 9 pieces, horns. I try to control everything and have them do what I want. We all play multiple instruments and we kinda rotate so it’s very interesting. We all evolve as one unit and it changes per song, per situation.

*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.


*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 Iwanna educate people. For me the things that are so obscure and different allow me to appreciate the music and not getbored with it. It keeps you fresh. What matters is good music, it doesn’t matter what type it is. It should always be aboutthe music and I always want it in its purest form, so that 10 years, 20 years down the line it will be around. You know you just gave me the Strictly Rhythm compilation? Those records will last forever. They are a part of people’s lives and thosepeople can say they were a part of something.

*Do these lyrics have any relevance to your past: ‘Oh Mickey, you’re so fine!’?
-The relevance to my past was that the lady who sang that was a very fast mentor for a couple of years of my life. Weworked on the Sesame Street project together. I guess she was the first person to give me a job. I lived with her for about2 months, which was a really interesting situation cos then I was experiencing the Hollywood side of the industry withagents calling her everyday and stuff like that. She was the first person I guess to believe in me, and I got to see thatside of the business that I really, really hate now.

*So how important is spirituality to you, and if not, how do you think people should lead their lives?
-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.

*Are material goods important to you?
-Sometimes I think they’re important to understand the essence of this world. I think that sometimes you need to appreciate what you have achieved. About 4 years ago I had something very scary happen to me, but it was also like a blessing. My house flooded and I lost everything’ studio, records, everything. I tried to salvage what I could, and during this time, my car was stolen with the rest of the things that I owned. It took away from me the desire to own or take anything with me, because it means nothing. I used to have a thing that when I made a record I would take 50 copies just to have for myself for stock and whatever, but I learnt that it’s just a fucking format, it’s a thing. Once I’ve done it, I’ve released it and it’s in the world then that’s fine. So I don’t even have any CD’s, I don’t have these things in my life anymore.I can unpack my house in 2 hours. It’s just what I need, very simple.

*Where are you from originally?
-Earth. Ha ha!

*You’ve recently completed a year of cleansing, during which periods you had to wear white. Can you tell me something about that?
-It’s called an Iyawo, which means literally ‘Like a baby’. There’s a ceremony where you become a priest which I’ve done several times. The ceremony is called Ocha 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. Afterthose 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.

*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 time. 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 an 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, ‘QueensBattle’ 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.

*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.

*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.

*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!

::Related Links:

::OSUNLADE http://www.myspace.com/osunlade
::YORUBA RECORDS http://www.yorubarecords.com/events/events.html

::SOUL JAZZ RECORDS http://www.souljazzrecords.co.uk/discography/index.php?l=2

::NOKUSOUL DJ JOJO music experience http://www.nokusoul.com/portal/index.php

Milk Audio's Archives:- OSUNLADE (Yoruba, Soul Jazz, Gotsoul, USA)
recorded live @ una mas november 22nd, 2002 in Toronto, Canada
supporting dj's - dee jay nav, jason palma, jojo flores... Listen here:- http://www.milkaudio.com/web/live_osunlade.php