It was a Wednesday evening when the glitterati of Montreal's house scene converged at the Mongolie Bar and Grill in the Plateau.The occasion? the launch of Gotsoul, a new soulful house label that will be run by Therapy's JoJoFlores and involve New York heavies like Osunlade and DJ Smash. I managed to snatch them from their consumption of shark meat and martinis for a little chit chat.

D/V: What is the state club music these days from your standpoint?

Osunlade: Its growing and branching out into world music with the beat being the common ground.

D/V: How did you get get involved with Gotsoul and JoJo?

Osunlade: JoJo has been a great friend and a supporter of my music since he first brought me and Wunmi to play here. He has been an adopted brother I am honoured that he ask me help in his situation. I love the scene in Montreal, the people, the diversity, there is a great sensitivity here. It was a no brainer being involved in this label. You will be seeing me here a lot.

D/V: Let's talk about what's happening did you come back from any tour?

Osunlade: (Laughs). I just came back from the beach, I live in Puerto Rico now, just relaxing. Later there will be some touring in Europe, will be working on albums by Wunmi, there will be new material from Yoruba, several projects.

D/V: What was involved in your very first project?

Osunlade: Actually it was a score for a really awful movie called "Rockula" when I was 17, it was a good learning experience. From there I started doing lots of tv stuff for Sesame Street. The House thing didn't start until maybe three years ago.

D/V: Are you working on a following up for the Paradigm LP?

Osunlade: No,working on a second album but not a follow up.

D/V: It will be totally different?

Osunlade: Nothing that I do, will hopefully will ever be the same. Paradigm in itself the word means blueprint. It was something I wanted to do as a ground print to show diversity, an electronic bridge of various styles.

D/V: Growing up what were your influences?

Osunlade: Prince, Bill Evans, Sly & the Family Stone, Beatles, Parliament, growing up in St-Louis - lots of Jazz and Blues and pop, mainly Prince.

D/V: You were born In St Louis?

Osunlade: Born there but came to New York as a teenager.

D/V: Was there any N.Y dance club in particular that shaped your influences?

Osunlade: None, just my house (laughs). I came up after the Sound Factory and all those clubs. But I did venture to Shelter, Body And Soul and Sound Factory.

D/V: One of my favourite tracks is the "Pride" one.

Osunlade: That's coming out in August. The track is called "Set" (will be released on a Paris based label) Looking forward to it. Editor's Note: At time of publishing, the track has already been released on the Set Records _label_ out of Paris. Sorry for the confusion! ;-)

D/V: Was at Shelter on Memorial day weekend and Timmy Regisford was rocking it. It's one of his main cuts.

Osunlade: Really? Cool. He supports me a lot. I'm glad.

D/V: Are you selectful in your projects ?

Osunlade: Yeah. I try to do things that are simular but not the same. As well as things that are pretty much the opposite of what I do. You have to look out for this girl here Wunmi, if you like "Pride" her next single is dance but also very spiritual.

D/V: What are your plans fo the summer?

Osunlade: To start to rule the world... I don't know man. Sit on the beach and create. Should be working on the next album within the next 3 to 6 months. By next March ('03) I will have something people will be able to appreciate.

D/V: Wunmi, how did you get in the music biz?

Wunmi: It all began with me dancing, I love to dance. Being born in London, raised in Africa but spending most of my years in London in the rare groove scene with Norman Jay, Soul to Soul, Gilles Peterson. In London, going out is about dancing. I used to sneak out of my fathers house. That's how I got my start.

D/V: Your first record you were involved in, tell us about it.

Wunmi: My first record was the "In The Eye Of The World" by Soca Speak followed by "More Expensive" which is a tribute to Fela by Masters At Work, which brought me to the massive of the underground dance world, and that felt good because up to that point I was pretty much underground in New York as an artist doing show with my band and had my songs that I recorded with some of the guys from Attica Blues and a few British Producers. It was blessing when the Fela record came out.

D/V: Give us a run down of up and coming projects.

Wunmi: Well, right now I'm sitting next to my bro over here, Mr Osunlade! Our relationship has been a blessing, there was a connection from the day we met. Osulande remixed a track I did with Ras from Sonar Collective from Germany. I basically got a bunch of singles coming out including "Time Is Now" with Masters @ Work, stuff from Europe with Ras and my album that I'm working with Osunlade. Even though my breakthrough came about because of dance, I love music, I am happy that I can be me and that is what is going to come through in the the stuff that's coming out. You will hear me first as well as my relationship with Osunlade.


Peter Lightburn peter@deepvibes.org Copyright 2002. All rights reserved.
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