Interview: Michael Oso Discusses His Debut Album "Where The Wild Ones Roam and other songs of Hope and Freedom""
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“My creative process is simple; I play and I sing. I find my creative skills work best when I just let myself go and give in to the feeling of the music. I let the music take the reigns and I always love the path it takes me on. Through knowing myself and my fight for a more just, equitable world - my creative process flows. ”
What are some things/places/people that inspire your creativity when developing new music?
Everything influences me and my music is the summation of 27 years of that experience. Every moment of every day there is something if you listen. There are so many places, people and events in my past that have influenced me I can only say that I am truly blessed for this life (though it hasn't always been easy).
Though I do not ascribe to any particular religion, and never have, I am incredible spiritual thanks to my own powerful experiences. To put it one way; I do not believe in god, I know god. Not personally, of course, but my relationship to "god" - our truest self - what is right and what is wrong - good karma and bad karma - the beauty of this world and the love that we can share and give to others -- that is was influences me and my music. Oh, and liberating all peoples, creeds and cultures from the barbarity of injustice and oppression. Not until each individual is free shall we all be free.
Congratulations on the completion and release of your album "Where the Wild Ones Roam and other songs of Hope & Freedom". Tell us about your creative process for the album's 18 tracks.
Thank you! I'm very proud of my first release and so excited that this is the first in a life-long dedication to music. "Where the Wild Ones Roam and other songs of Hope & Freedom", is a collection of songs that reflects not only of where I am now as a singer-songwriter/music producer but the current socio-political times.
Many of the originals were written over the past few years, born out of my own experiences traveling North & South America as well as my socio-political activism, and solidarity against all tyrants. To complement my og work, I included a fair amount of re-worked covers, to further showcase what I not only envision for myself as an artist but important themes and messages I wanted to share to the wider audience.
My creative process is simple; I play and I sing. I find my creative skills work best when I just let myself go and give in to the feeling of the music. I let the music take the reigns and I always love the path it takes me on. Through knowing myself and my fight for a more just, equitable world - my creative process flows.
For this album, I kept it real simple; one track myself and guitar, another track for a 2nd guitar and an odd-bass track for a few songs. Very little mixing/mastering (all done by me), just enough to bring the levels up and brighten what I wanted - and voila! Under confinement, it took me just four days.
Tell us about the album's title "Where the Wild Ones Roam and other songs of Hope & Freedom", and what it represents to you, specifically the "Hope & Freedom" part.
I chose the title, "Where the Wild Ones Roam and other Songs of Hope & Freedom" for three reasons. The first, "Where the Wild Ones Roam", is one of my favorite original tracks which is very much based on my travels in South America.
The second, it's a play on Pete Seeger's collection - "If I had a Hammer and other songs of Hope & Struggle" - Pete Seeger is my greatest musical idol, as a human being too (though Sam Cooke is the greatest singer of all time).
The third and perhaps most important reason is that today's times is in sore need of hope and freedom. 45's presidency disgusts me - I could go ON AND ON about it, but this album is a rebuke, a challenge, a call-out to not only 45 but all oppressors and degenerates across the globe; solidarity against all tyrants.
To me, I am the hope and freedom. I truly believe that we are the keys to our own salvation and by being an example of such - others may realize; "if he can, I can too." I want people to know that they're ok, they're alright, they can be happy, there is boundless hope in the world as there is freedom; the keys are in our hands.
How has the time you spent in South America, or your travels in general, impacted you as a music creator?
Hugely. The year-and-a-half, two-years I spent traveling and working on farms in South America was life-changing in so many ways. After I graduated from UCLA, I went to South America to work on WWOOF farms, but it ballooned into such a grander adventure. I never sang until I went down south! I had been a musician for well over 10 years at that point but I was always way too shy to sing; I never sang a note.
But then, while hitch-hiking around and hanging out with many other South American travelers, I started busking on the streets with various groups to make some money as we went town-to-town. It wasn't long until I was singing too! First in Spanish, then my first-language French (mom's French), and finally in English (and Portuguese eventually).
South America is not only where I had my incredibly powerful spiritual experiences (a culmination of experiences at that point, if you will), it's also where I realized; "somos todos americanos" - we are all americans. I had always been a fierce activist (what's up Occupy Oakland!) but this elevated me onto a grander pan-american level.
When someone listens to the album for the first time, what do you want them to take away from the experience?
I want my listeners to feel something. I want them to get goosebumps as they listen to something true. My singing needs work, I know that, but I can hear the music in my head and I know that by working at something - anything - with a true heart and true intention, anything is possible.
Our most recent Buddha (Siddhartha) said that to achieve enlightenment was like carving through the Himalayas with a handkerchief. Sounds impossible, right? Well, if he could do it why can't we?
With the album now released, what are some of your goals musically for the remainder of 2020?
Goals for 2020: surviving.
Lol, just kidding. I have lots of goals, to be frank. I'd like to put a band together, record more, hit those high-notes just like Paul, sing like Sam, be like Pete, tour (no pandemic?), make music full-time, make people laugh, make people dance, make people sing, be a better person, help everyone that needs help, save the world.. the list goes on and on!
But really, if there is one thing that I can accomplish it would be this: to serve others.
Truly, that is what I desire above all else. That is why I make my music, I believe that my music can help people and make their worlds a little brighter. Maybe not today, right now, but some day - even if it's just one person then it's all worth it. I believe in myself, in us and in this universe, and as long as I know I lived my life dedicated to the betterment of others and serving what I believe is the foundation of this universe - then rich or poor, I will die a happy man.
Stream and Share “Where the Wild Ones Roam and other songs of Hope & Freedom” on Soundcloud
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