Xclusive Interview with Sossick

Prolific producer and artiste SOSSICK of Classick Tunes and Omo Ita Entertainment is a talent that is undisputedly one of the best in the Nigerian music industry. In this interview, he shares his childhood, his relationship with late Da Grin and his passion for music.

Xclusive: We know for sure that your birth name isn’t Sossick, so could we know your real name?

Sossick: (Laughs) Yeahh… of course. My birth name is Esosa Douglas Osemwengie.

Xclusive: That’s really different from Sossick. Uhmm… so why “Sossick?”

Sossick: I chose “Sossick” because I wanted a name that will play out something different, you know, abnormal but in a good way. “Sossick” reflects on my kind of music. It is not the normal kind that is done around here. I also call myself “Sossick” because I am so sick of things being done the “normal” way in this country; sick of the roads, sick of inconsistent power supply, sick of traffic…

Xclusive: How do you differentiate your music from others’ in the industry?

Sossick: My music is different from others’ because of my approach; I try not to follow or do what is out there already.

Xclusive: Can you tell us some of the artistes you’ve produced for?

Sossick: I have a lot of them; like Ruggedman, Naeto C, Gino (No Be God), Shank (Julie), the late Da Grin, Muma Gee, Dipp (Pop Off Selecta), YQ amongst others.

Xclusive: So what are your hobbies, besides music, that is?

Sossick: I love playing and watching football. My favorite football team is Liverpool. I am a hardcore fan.

Xclusive: Can you give us an insight into your childhood and family?

Sossick: I had a very fun childhood. Growing up, for me, was fun you know… I used to be one of those children who used to roll tires on the street just for fun. I am the last boy of four children; three boys and a girl. I have two elder brothers who are also in the entertainment industry; Owen Gee and Gino, followed by me and my younger sister who isn’t in the industry.

I attended St. Paul Primary School in Lagos, got my secondary school education at St. Francis Secondary School, Benin and moved on to Yaba College of Technology to study Surveying and Geo Informatics

Xclusive: We understand you had a very close relationship with the late Da Grin. Can you tell us how close you both were?

Sossick: He was attracted to me through the work I did on Gino’s album. Da Grin was my partner in crime and music…when I say crime, I don’t mean wielding guns…I mean we used to play pranks together. He was like my brother, especially with the fact that people usually told us that we have a striking resemblance. The resemblance was so pronounced that even my dad mistook me for him on some occasions. Some of his characters however rubbed off on me. We were very close.

Xclusive: You were very close indeed. How much did his death affect you?

Sossick: The feeling was indescribable. I felt like I was in a bad dream from which I had to wake up.

Xclusive: How would you describe your road to the spotlight?

Sossick: It started with the work I did on Gino’s album, because that is what attracted Da Grin to me and then, he took it to the next level. He was the one who gave me the major push. He always identified and gave credit to me on all of his tracks.

Xclusive: Talking about giving credit, have you received any award for your works?

Sossick: Yes, I was recently awarded Producer of the Year in the 2010 Soundcity Music Video Awards and most recently Producer of the Year in the 2011 Future Awards.

Xclusive: We understand you are now moving on from being a producer to a musical artiste. Why is that?

Sossick: Well… I have always been an artiste even before I started producing. It was my first passion, so I just decided to pay more attention to it now. I am not going to stop producing though.

Xclusive: What are your latest projects?

Sossick: I just released a five-track EP; kind of like a pre- album thing and I am currently working on an album which would be coming out in the first quarter of 2011. The album will be featuring artistes such as Gino, EJ, YQ, Tuface, Young Soss and the late Da Grin. I also have a music video for two of the tracks on my EP: “Back It Up” and “I Git It.” They are both almost out on screens.

Xclusive: You are quite a talent! From where do you get your inspiration?

Sossick: I get my inspiration from God.

Xclusive: What is the future for you after music?

Sossick: I might venture into business because I love being independent. I also love writing books. I even got one that I am almost done with, it is a book about power, you know super-hero kinda book.

Xclusive: Can you put down a word or two for your fans and youths?

Sossick: First, you should know how to use your talent. Be real, be conscious, do stuff for the right reasons, and always think of the good side. Stand for something, live for something; Fela for example, lived for truth, and most of all, BELIEVE IN GOD.