O
Osiella
hear it:
siella’s reputation as ‘the next big thing’ out of Evansville precedes them as I walk into their studio to do our interview. Cynthia Murray’s vocals are known for their richness, flexibility and ear-pleasing twists and turns. She has a range that makes even seasoned artists perk up, determined to figure out where that sound is coming from. I’ve seen Theophilus Akai (guitar) play around town in dimly lit bars before, so I know he has a way of making you feel like you are someplace else. His sound transcends his instrument and goes right through you, forcing you onto your feet. Adding Dene Stephens on intricate percussion sends this group straight into your sweet spot, and I mean that how you think I mean it…which is to say, whatever that means for you! Listening to them play in the studio, I am no longer under fluorescent lights, in a hard-backed chair with a pen and paper in my hand. I am surrounded by my closest friends, a glass of red wine in a clear plastic cup, barefoot and dancing on a hot summer night, their rhythmic sound my soulful guide. But don’t be mistaken—this group is just getting started. They are at the jumping off point, heading out on their first national tour. And I have a notion that this group will be just as down to earth when they are accepting their Grammy as they are sitting down with me in Evansville, IN.
36 Love It Magazine • Summer 2014
by Shayla Spradley
LOVE IT: So let’s just start from the beginning, shall we? Where does the name Osiella originate? TA: Her [Cynthia’s] husband Kenneth [Murray],
our manager/producer, he has a lot of African American blood in his family. So this woman Osiella turns out to be like his great-greatgrandmother somehow. And he was with another friend and they were talking about it and his friend was like, “You know what? That word, ‘Osiella,’ that name would be an awesome band name.” He looks it up, she’s indeed in the family, and we just incorporated it.
LOVE IT: Readers want to know, what makes you guys connect? What’s the secret to your sound? CM: We click really well, man. DS: Chemistry. CM: Yeah, when we’re in the studio, it’s not forced. We just really enjoy it. It’s so much fun.
DS: Personally, it just kind of runs in my blood.
My dad was a musician; drummer, song writer, guitar player. So I can’t shake it even if I tried. I’ve got that rhythmic thing kind of flowing through