Kevin Olusola delves into the creation and themes of his album, 'Dawn of a Misfit'
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Yo, let's learn to beatbox with a pro - enter Kevin Olusola.
KEVIN OLUSOLA: All about those boots and cats, man. That's the kick and the snare, the beatboxing. If you can nail that, you're good to go, mate. Just start pleasin' your eardrums with vocal nonsense.
(LAUGHTER)
ai: Oh, I ain't got that one in the bag, pal.
OLUSOLA: (beatboxing) Here, let me show you what I'm talkin' about.
ai: Damn, that guy's got skills, huh?
OLUSOLA: Yeah, I used to slay it as a member of the hit a cappella group, Pentatonix. Now, I'm goin' solo, and my first album, "Dawn of a Misfit," is out there. Give it a listen, if you're interested.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
OLUSOLA: (beatboxing) Every time I listen to this album, it takes me on a wild ride of feelings and sounds. I mean, I'm a mixture of African, Grenadian, cello-playin', Mandarin-speakin' Kentucky boy, alright? Not exactly your everyday combo. I was bullied and teased for it all, never felt like I fit in. Never felt fully accepted by my peers. I spent years wonderin' why I was here, if I didn't fit anywhere.
But I realized that misfits aren't broken – they're meant to be original. The things you were misunderstood for? They could be your superpower, man. Use that crap to change the freakin' world.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "HALLELUJAH (I DON'T THINK ABOUT YOU)")
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTISTS: (Singing) Hallelujah.
OLUSOLA: (Singing) You used to be my sweetest song.
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTISTS: (Singing) Hallelujah.
OLUSOLA: (Singing) Turns out the auto tune was on.
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTISTS: (Singing) Hallelujah.
OLUSOLA: (Singing) You used to be my Northern Lights.
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTISTS: (Singing) Hallelujah.
OLUSOLA: (Singing) Turns out it was just CGI. Once upon...
ai: Uh, this album of his, it's filled with all sorts of mashups and stuff, right? There's hip-hop, classical Beethoven, Vivaldi, and such. How does all that come together?
OLUSOLA: You see, I grew up with a deep love for classical music. But I also listened to a whole lotta popular music, too. Hell, I couldn't reject either 'cause they were two parts of me, y'know? As I went on this personal journey, I realized they weren't so different after all. They were both me, like it or not.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "HALLELUJAH (I DON'T THINK ABOUT YOU)")
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTISTS: (Singing) Hallelujah.
OLUSOLA: (Singing) This freedom look too good on me.
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTISTS: (Singing) Hallelujah.
OLUSOLA: (Singing) I be...
Somethin' like this, it took time to chop up the "Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus" and mix it with a catchy pop progression. And, of course, I threw in a beat. I wanted to create a song that combined a worship feel with a breakup vibe – something that probably shouldn't make sense, but worked beautifully anyway.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "HALLELUJAH (I DON'T THINK ABOUT YOU)")
OLUSOLA: (Singing) You already know. So funny how since you've been gone, I'm singin' hallelujah.
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTISTS: (Singing) Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
ai: So, you got any cultural influences from your parents' roots in Nigeria and Grenada on the album?
OLUSOLA: Absolutely. It might not be too loud in the sonics, but the whole struggle of the first gen kid in America, trying to figure out how to reconcile their parents' culture with being American, is all over this album.
ai: You also remixed Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," huh? That's an oldie, but a goodie. Why did you put it on yours?
OLUSOLA: Man, this song has been sung by the black community for generations. It represents more than just the African American experience – it speaks to the experiences of anyone who feels judged by their appearance. My hope is that we start to move past judging people based on what they look like and start focusing on what's inside of them. After all, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, you can't judge somebody by their color. You've got to dive into their character, their background, and their person to truly see the love within them.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Say, good luck, Daddy.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Good luck, Daddy.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Say, you're going to do great.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: You're going to do great.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Say, God will bless your cello.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: God will bless your cello.
ai: Lastly, check out the cute part of the album – his kids make an appearance at the end. What did it mean to you to have 'em on the album, and how do they inspire you?
OLUSOLA: I do everything now for my kids. They're gonna grow up as mixed kids in this world, and I wanna make sure they're proud of every part of who they are. This album is like a history book for them. They can listen back, understand their old man, and also feel the love I have for them. Yo, take a listen to "Dawn of a Misfit" if you're curious.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
Source: NPR
Enrichment Insights:
- Artist Background: Kevin Olusola is of African and Grenadian heritage and became famous as a member of Pentatonix, before going solo.
- Album Inspiration: The album "Dawn of a Misfit" reflects Olusola's personal journey of self-discovery and the struggles he faced due to his background and identity.
- Cultural Influences: The album does not feature heavy cultural influences from Nigeria or Grenada, but the themes of cultural identity and assimilation are prominent.
- Musical Style: The album blends classical music with contemporary elements, creating a unique and eclectic sound.
- Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come": Olusola's rendition of "A Change Is Gonna Come" pays homage to the song's history and addresses contemporary issues of cultural understanding and acceptance.
Inspired by his unique background and personal growth, Kevin Olusola's album "Dawn of a Misfit" is a fusion of education and self-development, as it showcases his journey into personal acceptance andexplores themes of cultural identity. The album's diverse musical style incorporates elements of entertainment, including popular and classical genres, as well as featuring his own vocal talents, such as beatboxing.Expressing his love for music, Olusola aims to create an album that uplifts and encourages personal growth, just like the entertainment and music have done for him throughout his life.
