Today we’d like to introduce you to Osé.
Hi Osé, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started singing in church as a kid. I always loved following my mom to choir practice because there was something so enchanting about the music that flowed throughout the room—from the clicking of keys on the piano the melodic voices of the choir, I loved it all. There was one particular day after practice that I went to sit with the pianist and started singing “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” and from there it was over. The following Sunday, I was singing solos in church, leading the children’s choir, and also started performing around my elementary school a lot more. Getting to where I am today has honestly been through a lot of grit, determination, and hard work to say the least. I was a huge theatre kid in high school. I participated in a lot of drama club initiatives, helped paint sets, design costumes, and had lead roles in our school musicals.
In 2019, we did Hercules, and I got the lead role of the muse. My mom came out to watch the show and she always tells me that something about seeing me on stage stirred him to want to support me in actualizing my dream. She always tells me, “seeing you on that stage made me realize that this stage is too small for you.” Growing up as well, my dad constantly told me stories about my late grandmother and how she never had the opportunity to share her gift of singing with the world. According to my dad, she had her own band, and they used to make records and do mini-tours around town that were electrifying. She would tear up the stage with her voice and dancing but unfortunately couldn’t live out her dream to the fullest due to the environment she was in. The gift died with her but came alive in me. With the help of my mom, my passion for music, and grandmother’s story as my driving force, I am where I am today and continue to get closer and closer to my dreams.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Haha, I only wish that it was smooth sailing, but of course I never expected the journey to be easy. The biggest challenge I faced during my career was the pandemic. I look at it as a challenge that I turned into a stepping stone—an angel in disguise if you will. I started my career in January 2020, and I knew absolutely nothing. A lot of the knowledge I acquired along the way I got on my own by seeking it out or by attending things like seminars, artist development programs, and books. I remember I had my first gig in March 2020, and at the time I only had one song out and was getting ready to put out my second one. Literally a week after my show, everything was shut down. This event really taught me that it’s important to have songs stored in the vault so that when situations do occur when you can’t go to the studio, it doesn’t change how you operate your business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an 18 years old R&B/Soul artist hailing from Toronto. The thing I would say I’m the most proud of at the moment is being invited to speak at Harvard University to their students about my music. When I got the email in the summer for the event happening this fall, I was in shock. In my head I was like, y’all want me? And this isn’t to saying that I thought I couldn’t do, or I doubted myself, but more like I didn’t think it would be happening so soon. Opportunities like that don’t come for everybody, especially people my age, so for that I’m very proud of myself. I’d say what sets me apart from others as an artist is that in my music, I love to take on the role of being a translator for the people. I feel as though having the ability to write my music gives me the chance to tell stories with my writing, and why not tell the stories of others too? I see so many things on TV, social media and in the world around me that I take it upon myself to be that bridge which connects the listener to different experiences, thoughts, feelings and worlds, to create this journey, and shared human experience.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Two of the most important characteristics I feel are important in my success are humility and authenticity. It’s so important to me to always remain humble and remember where I come from. My upbringing in the church and culturally as a Nigerian both keep me grounded in this sense. As well, being your authentic self is something I always repeat to myself. Being who are freely is the most liberating feeling in the world. Not caring about what others think of you and just being you is always what I strive to do. The best thing about being me is no one can do it better, so embrace it, love it, and keep doing it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/theofficialose/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/theofficialose
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrAamfMFyKxu_4dE5NykuVw
- Other: linktr.ee/officialosee
Image Credits:
– The Mind of Andre – Isa Visuals – Amber Aisha
