Oxlade's journey: from grief to musical success

"Growing up, I was raised in the slums of Muchini. I lost my mum when I was three. I then moved to my grandmother’s side – my mum’s mum. She happened to be a devoted Christian, and her family was musically inclined. My mum was the first of five siblings. My grandmother still had four other musically inclined children – instrumentalists and vocalists. Watching them make music helped me grow. That’s how I fell in love with music," Oxlade adds.

As Oxlade introduces himself, it’s easy to see that his upbringing wasn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination. However, it was in this difficulty that he found himself – and eventually, he found music, which would go on to change his life forever.

Recalling his first song, a cover titled It’s Okay, Oxlade shares the story of his first time recording music. "I really liked the instrumental, and I liked the artist. Back in the day, I was inspired by that type of sound."

As we delve deeper into his personal life, Oxlade offers insight into his mindset and the ideology that drove him to where he is today. "I wasn’t really looking for heights; I just wanted solitude and freedom. I wanted to do something I was made for – something I was born to do – not what others wanted me to do. In the early part of my life, I was doing things to make others proud, not to fulfil my own dreams. I found music, and music found me. Eventually, I found freedom."

Along with this mentality, Oxlade was always fighting against external factors that could have hindered his development as an artist. He shares that his come-up wasn’t the easiest route. "It was tough, I won’t lie. Losing your mum at an early age is one of the most difficult things anyone can experience. My grandmother played a major role in making sure we didn’t really feel that void. She had to work so hard to put food on the table. Thanks to God, that is history now."

Discussing his latest project, OFA, Oxlade shares what inspired it. "It was inspired by me finding myself – self-awareness and identity as a Black person. Before anyone sees the superstar that I am, I felt they needed to know who I really am – someone from Africa. They say charity begins at home, so I’m showing the music I grew up listening to and incorporating it into my own music. That was the ideology behind the album."

When asked about his favourite song from the project, Oxlade jokingly says that if he had a favourite, he wouldn’t release an album.

Speaking about the features on the project, Oxlade gives us insight into how he works with other artists. "I only feature people because they are needed on the song – not because they’re big or because I need the numbers. It’s the art first, you know? Everyone featured on the album was handpicked and meant to be on those songs."

As we begin to wrap up our interview, Oxlade reflects on the challenges he’s faced along the way. "There will always be challenges. The bigger the level, the bigger the devil. It’s inevitable for challenges to be part of the story. The story wouldn’t slap if there was no downside to it. I just take every challenge one step at a time. We’ve got this."

To conclude, Oxlade shares the motivation behind making music every day, despite life not always being easy. "I came from poverty, and I don’t want to go back. That’s the biggest inspiration a man can have, you know? Also, realising that an entire generation sees you as a beacon of light – that I am an example to so many people – I don’t want to let them down. I also don’t want to let myself down. Those are the reasons I keep going and keep elevating the best way I can."