Ossie doesn't need a break. The UK dance music producer has already completed a stint at the Red Bull Music Academy and headlined at Pasha, with no need for the pause button.
Ossie Aneke first appeared in 2011 thanks to the track "Set the Tone". His irresistible latin influenced percussion and warm melodies caught on fast, landing him a spot in the thriving UK funky arena. Following his exposure through Kode9's influential imprint Hyperdub, Aneke released a series of EPs for other labels such as Lightworks, 2020 Midnight Visions, and Wolf Music Recordings. It was at that point that the UK club scene knew Ossie was one to keep a close eye on.
The London-based producer's familiarity in the music studio well predates his first experiences with the club. "I've been producing since I was 12, so that's about 13 or 14 years now," explains Aneke. Factor in his seven-year relationship with the piano and a brief encounter with the sax, and you have a recipe for a producer who truly understands the art of melding rhythm with melody.
However, though he's heralded as a UK funky stalwart, it was by producing R&B and hip-hop that Aneke first found his passion in the studio. He was inspired by the work of The Neptunes and Timbaland, and was determined to crack the producing code. "I remember when Destiny's Child had 'Get on the Bus', even if that song came on today, it would be so relevant," he says. "The sounds that Timbaland uses to make that track are incredible. I was blown away by that. I was always intrigued by how sounds were made and what to use."
By the time Lightworks signed the budding producer to their label with "Tarantula", it was apparent that a move away from the computer to the decks was in order.
Around the same time, Aneke began frequenting nights at Pacha, London's outpost of the Ibiza superclub. Listening to the sounds of his friend Petchy, who held down a residency at the venue, Aneke found himself captivated by the art of mixing. It wasn't long before Aneke landed his first gig at the renowned establishment. "I had four months to practice," he says. "I had to get myself to a decent standard so I could play for an hour and a half."
Aneke worked tirelessly to bring himself up to speed, rehearsing for nearly four hours a day. His work ethic coupled with a healthy nudge from the managers of Lightworks helped to foster Aneke's skill level and confidence. He was well on his way to adding another notch to his professional belt with his consistent, catchy tunes.
Last year, Aneke was invited to attend the world renowned Red Bull Music Academy (RBMC) in Tokyo and join the ranks of the illustrious RBMC alumni. Placed alongside other current musical talents such as Zebra Katz, Mumdance, and WIFE, Aneke underwent a series of lectures, workshops, and collaborative projects with fellow artists. The Tokyo class of 2014 heard from legends such as Marley Marl, Benjamin Wright Jr., and Kerri Chandler. "He was such a cool person, so humble," says Aneke of Chandler, the New Jersey house music pioneer. "He was there 'till the end, like 'till he literally had to board the plane and leave. It was so good having him there." To top off the experience, Aneke played alongside Chandler at the opening night event of RMBA's first term.
"The Red Bull Music Academy was awesome," reflects Aneke. "To me, by far, the most outstanding part were the lectures...in terms of the people that they had come and speak to us for two hours a day. I say it was quite intense. But at the same time, for a musician like me who is still honing his craft it was just perfect."
Ripe with potential, Aneke couldn't have been a better fit for the RBMA student body. He says that receiving that music education in another part of the world was an enlightening experience and opened his eyes to the possibilities that await beyond the borders of the UK. "It was really good to kind of come out from under the covers and be like, 'OK, there's much more to me making music than it just being in London, England.'"
This month, Aneke will release his latest EP The Buzz on Meno Records. The album opens with a commanding 4/4 snare heavy beat and sampled vocals that repeat, 'I can do what the fuck I want'. The Buzz shows no mercy for those ready to lose all inhibition on the dance floor. "The basis of that track...I had been a fan of Basement Jaxx and around the time they were having singles come out in the charts it was very housey but it also had a lot of soul to it," he explains. "I just tried to make something as energetic and as wacky. Even with my Hyperdub stuff that I've released, it's always just been my aim to make things really weird."
As of late, Aneke feels he's rekindled his love of producing. "I kind of fell out of having fun making music. I got caught up in the want to progress and make money and, in a sense, making a certain sound that wasn't really me. So, I've gone back to that now. I make music to have fun and for people to enjoy it after I've finished it. That's the most important part of it. I think once that happens then everyone is happy."
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