SMM : How did you come up with the name “Orisha Sound”?
Orisha Sound : Hey, Orisha is my birth name – my mother gave it to me. Second name Sound developed later when I was finishing school and started working at the studios as a singer/musician/writer. Cus of my ability to play instruments people started calling me sound – I could come into any song and just bring something to it. I don’t limit myself by playing an instrument traditional way – any musical instrument is a phenomenal invention – it can produce so many sounds. I know music cus I started playing/singing when I was 4 years old. And it always was very serious – for some reason – even when I was that small it was like a mission type thing. Music is fun but its not a joke. So basically grew up living music, so my body/mind and soul developed through the music I was learning and playing.
SMM : What was it like as a child growing up in the music industry?
Orisha Sound : Hmmm… Industry and music is two different things – For example I grew up in one bedroom apartment wit my parents and my sister. It was too small to have a piano – but I had a violin and my dad brought me a baby a canary bird. I was learning to play and the bird, which was silent at first, start singing some beautiful riffs that were resembling the songs I was learning. So I copied the bird and the bird copy me – after the first year. We both could do some amazing things. Maybe that’s why I hear music as choir of sounds – any sounds – as long as them fit and touch the soul. Industry is more of a lonely thing – its about waiting in a cold room to hit the stage, its about traveling far to do a show… Its about people telling you – you not good when you are actually great. Lol – industry is ruff. But I’m used to it. I actually like it – it fits my competitive side. And Im very competitive;). My first tour was at the age of 9 – we traveled from Russia all the way to New York city. We did about 20 shows in 30 days – just
a group of protégé kids. It was phenomenal. The reception, stage rush, traveling – I loved all of it. Coming back home – its just doubled the determination. I didn’t care if my fingers bleed, it was all worth it.
a group of protégé kids. It was phenomenal. The reception, stage rush, traveling – I loved all of it. Coming back home – its just doubled the determination. I didn’t care if my fingers bleed, it was all worth it.
SMM : What made you choose reggae as your primary style of music?