Upcoming 100: How do you approach the process of recording your music, and what equipment or techniques do you prefer to use?
Ossy Oneal: I use a weighted MIDI keyboard and the DAW I use is Studio One 5 (I still haven't upgraded).
Upcoming 100: Can you discuss your live performances, and how you create an engaging experience for your audience?
Ossy Oneal: I'm a hip hop dancer, so I like to combine singing, dancing and alot of creativity!
Upcoming 100: How do you handle creative differences or disagreements within your band or collaborative team?
Ossy Oneal: I always work alone, I've been doing it that way since I was 12 years old, and it works for me, though I am open to collaborating with other artists in the future.
Upcoming 100: How do you stay true to your artistic vision while also adapting to the ever-changing music landscape?
Ossy Oneal: I've always experimented with multiple genres, so trying new styles or combining multiple is always fun.
Upcoming 100: Can you share your thoughts on the importance of music education and how it has impacted your career?
Ossy Oneal: I took music theory in college and it open the doors of production wide open, though I have been producing since I was 12, I did everything by ear and that just doesn't cut it in this musical world that we live in today, it is best to learn the basics, and I would recommend a music theory class, even if you don't get a credit for it, it is so important.
Upcoming 100: How do you maintain a connection with your roots and your fans as your career progresses and you gain more popularity?
Ossy Oneal: I listen to the old stuff whenever I get the chance, as 90's music is where it all started for me, I many times find myself reaching way further back in history than when I was alive, because so much about music was discovered before my time.
Upcoming 100: How do you handle the pressure of expectations from your fans, critics, or the music industry itself?
Ossy Oneal: I make sure I enjoy the finished product before I take criticism, because aside from mixing and mastering, it's all a matter of opinion.
Upcoming 100: Can you discuss a specific project or album that was particularly challenging, and what you learned from that experience?
Ossy Oneal: In my song, Funky Friday Night, the trumpets, my favorite part, was very challenging to coordinate, because it incorporates a lot of swing, but after playing the trumpet piece, I was motivated to have an incredible bassline because I knew in my heart that if I composed the bassline correctly It would 'make' the song and give it that rich funk sound.
Upcoming 100: How do you stay creative and avoid burnout, and what self-care practices do you employ during periods of intense work or touring?
Ossy Oneal: I've created over 1200 songs over 5 years and what keeps me motivated is turning up the song and truly enjoying the song, and hearing my professionalism and creativity grow with each song. I work with speed to keep from burning out, I try to create a song in about 45 minutes, from the instrumental to the vocals, and if it takes longer than an hour and a half, I step away from the project, sometimes to never work on it again unless I really like how the project was going.
Upcoming 100: How do you see the future of the music industry evolving, and how do you plan to adapt your career to these changes?
Ossy Oneal: I see a lot of artists trying multiple genres more often, to the point that that ideology becomes more of the standard.
