Sosha O'Shaye

1. Who is Sosha Oshaye? I am a girl from Kansas City, Kansas who still calls Kansas City home. I was raised in a two-parent Christian family home with two brothers and two sisters. Our parents taught us at an early age that we could be great at whatever we wanted in life if we keep God first. They instilled in me to "reach for the stars"! I'm a mother of two beautiful children. My aim is to instill in them the same morals, values, and the importance of having goals and aspirations that you can achieve when you dare to believe and are willing to do something about it! 2. Any formal training or are you naturally talented? I have no formal training, however, I began singing in the church choir from the age of three. My mother was my mentor and voice coach, who pushed me to stand out with my singing. She made me sing although I didn't always want to. 3. What would you say played a role in you becoming the fine artist you are today? I would say the values and votes of confidence I received from my parents and village as a child prompted me to push for what I wanted. Also, after I found out I had a gift, I aimed to fulfill purpose. Gifts are meant to be shared and I want to share mine with the world. 4. Who are your influences musically? I love all types of music, therefore, I have several influences. I love Jill Scott, Dorinda Clark Cole, Andre Crouch, The Hawkins Family, Phil Collins, Nina Simone, Erykah Badu, Steven Tyler, and the list goes on. 5. Are there any particular topical issues that you address in your music? Life brings with it many ups and downs (divorce, loss, love, joy, pain, happiness). My music is about life and love. Some songs are about my experiences, others are about friends and family. Lyrics and songs that offer messages about self-love, truth and how to simply make sense of it all, is what I believe can inspire a nation and change lives for the better. 6. Do you have any affiliations with South Africa in terms of your work among other things? Yes. I have collaborated with Exalted (producers in South Africa). They produced two songs for me. The first was "You Should Be Dancin" which is the last song on the album, and the second is"The Journey" which I performed live at the Durban Jazz Festival in December 2012. Rahim Ndabe Mbili worked hard to bring me to South Africa and we are currently working on a project to bring me back in 2014. 7. Who do you work with in production and who would you like to work with? I had amazing producers on my first album. My brother Stephen Oran, M80, Darius "Crow" Pouncil, and Kevin "ChurchBoi" Johnson all produced great tracks for my debut album Heavy On My Mind. I would love to work with Timberland and Missy Elliott! 8. What are your distribution channels and who are you signed with? As of now, I distribute my music via digital distribution ( i.e. CD Baby, Amazon, Itunes, etc . . ). I am an unsigned independent artist. 9. Do you have official projects or albums? Yes. My debut album is entitled "Heavy On My Mind". I am currently working on my second album. 10. What lead you to the making of "Haters"? Do you think people will misinterpret the message? I wrote "Haters" at a time in my life when people either didn't believe in what I was trying to accomplish or were trying to stop my flow. I would hope others will listen to the lyrics and believe that no one can stop you, if you keep pushing. 11. I understand you hail from Kansas USA. Do you think your music will be relevant in South Africa and if so, in what way? Whether you live in South Africa or the United State, we are living in a time when oppression, recessions and uncertainties compete for our attention, while leaving us so burdened down. My music aims to build you up and allow you to breakthrough the madness and sadness. I believe music is universal. My music comes from a place of honesty and from the soul. Because of this, I hope to be received all over the world. 12. Please list your five top role models musically and why? A. Eloise Anders (my mother) was a daily example of what a true singer should be. Always giving her best. B. Jill Scott - Her music moves the soul. C. Nina Simone - The message in her music is thought-provoking and life-changing. D. Donnie Hathaway - His music is beautifully pure. E. Walter Hawkins, Dorinda Clark Cole, and Andre Crouch - They are true gospel legends, and my foundation is in gospel music.