Next Wave #676: Ossie

Former Funky don with a breakout house sound...

Chances are that you’ll have heard the name Ossie before, but maybe not for the music that he’s making now. When UK Funky was making waves around 2011, Ossie was there with his debut EP 'Tarantula', a gloriously sunny affair with clear afrobeat influences and a solid focus on groove throughout.

These days, however, he’s making his mark as a house artist and DJ, with appearances at festivals all over the world last summer, plus his latest release 'I’m Not The One' taking over the airwaves for the last month or so thanks to its pop sensibilities and catchy vocal. Ossie’s sound takes in elements of a huge, varied and international range of genres and styles, and blends them together with more traditional house stylings to create a slightly twisted version of the genre.

A recurring theme in his music, is interesting percussion, straying away from traditional house beats. “I would say that my sound is very percussive,” he tells me, “I don’t play drums, but I don’t always like to make my tracks straight up 4/4”. Describing his sound, he says “it’s gotta be funky and have certain elements where it’s not gonna be straightforward, you’re gonna have to move your body in a certain way”. Ossie’s new self-titled EP is a continuation of this. You might hear classic house synths, but over a beat inspired by samba, bossa nova or afrobeat. “My parents were into so many different styles and I took it all in,” he says, before adding with a laugh, “there’s so many 90s ballads that I listen to, and stuff like Spandau Ballet!” His first focus, however, is on establishing himself as a house producer and DJ.

Looking ahead, Ossie plans to release two more EPs this year, both on his own label SuperCali. “I’m aiming for a summer single, in May,” he tells me, “I’m enjoying being the artist and the label manager and I’m taking it a bit slow but if I can release them on my label then that’s an accomplishment”. The main purpose of setting up his own label is to operate with more freedom for his music, “it’s a bit selfish really,” he laughs, “if I have a track and I want it out instantly, then I can do that”. Along with this, he’s going to keep on shutting down The Alibi in Dalston with his club night Free Delivery.

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Ossie's new EP is out now on MTA Records – purchase LINK.

Words: Paul Gibbins

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