Today we’d like to introduce you to Anastasia Osho.
Hi Anastasia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
First, thank you for the opportunity to share my story! It’s really the funniest thing! Growing up in my hometown, Beaumont, TX, my older sister, Stephanie and I used to make up silly songs about any and everything. I wrote my first song at 7yrs old about how much I loved ravioli! At 12, I wrote my first serious song titled “Just Keep on Tryin’”. It was a song I wrote to encourage myself during a time when I was experiencing a deep depression. I literally sang my way out of a depression. I believe songwriting was given to me so I can express the things that I couldn’t verbalize any other way. At 15, I shared an original song at my church, Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, during a Wednesday night bible study. Although, I was singing in church since the age of about 7 years old, that night was the first time I shared an original song in public. I continued writing as an outlet to express myself. It wasn’t until I was a college student, studying Fashion at SFASU in Nacogdoches, TX, that I decided to pursue a career as a singer/songwriter. My close friends inspired me to develop my voice, so I started taking voice lessons from a couple of students that were Music majors. In 2002, I shared my original song “Power” with a local church. I was blown away by the crowd’s encouraging reaction to my song. A middle-aged woman came up to me afterwards and said that my song, “woke something up” in her that she hadn’t felt in years. That’s when I realized that my music could inspire others. I began singing at various local churches in Nacogdoches and Beaumont. In 2005, I had an opportunity to sing overseas with PIFOM, a marriage ministry based in Nigeria, led by Rev. Olufolake Ike. I was able to sing at events in Lagos, Ibadan and Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all. The road has been challenging but I have overcome many obstacles because of my faith. I remember when I moved to Knoxville, TN, after evacuating from Hurricane Rita in 2005. My husband joined me in Knoxville a year later. In 2006, I got pregnant for the first time but suffered a miscarriage at 6 months that caused me to spiral into a dark depression. That experience brought up old wombs from my childhood that I thought I healed from. I got pregnant again 3 months later. My husband and I decided to move to Nashville, TN in 2007, where our son was born later that year. There’s something in the water in Nashville because I’ve written some of my favorite songs there. I recorded and released my first EP, “Stasia Osho” before moving to Minneapolis, MN in 2009. In Minneapolis, I served as the Worship leader at a local church. I released my holiday single, “Merry Christmas” in 2010. I later learned that my boss was playing my Christmas single in the office in the middle of July! It was very encouraging to know that people were enjoying my music. In 2011, tragedy struck again. My oldest sister, Loretta, was the victim of domestic violence and lost her life to her boyfriend. That plunged me into a deeper depression. It was then that I pinned, “Holy Spirit Fall on Me” featuring Kenny K’ore, produced by Wilson Joel. This song was very dear to my heart because it was a sincere cry for help. Also, in 2013, I was diagnosed with leukemia and was hospitalized for 6 weeks. It took about 6 months of chemotherapy for me to recover. We moved back to Houston that year to be closer to family and I continued chemotherapy at the Medical Center. Once I was in remission, I started serving as Worship leader for a local church in the Houston area. I would like to say that life got better after that but that’s far from the truth. In 2014, my sister, Reba passed away in a house fire. I was utterly devastated. I struggled with my faith during that time but managed to keep going despite the heartache. In 2014, we moved to Huntsville, TX where I re-released my original songs on my EP titled “Metamorphosis”. A year later, my father passed away. That whole experience was surreal. I felt numb and couldn’t grieve him properly because I was still in shock from losing two sisters in the span of 3 years. In 2016, I was diagnosed with kidney cancer and had to have surgery to remove the tumor. Things are starting to turn around for me as I have been in remission for 9 years now. All these experiences humbled me and shaped who I am today. Those times were difficult, but I am grateful to be able to share that there’s hope, even in the midst of the storm. In 2017, my family moved back to the Houston area and settled in Cypress. At that time, I was serving as Worship leader for Phileo Community Church in Houston, led by Pastor Desiree Churchman. I’ve also collaborated with a songwriting collective and with other songwriters on their projects. I’m looking for another songwriting collective to join in the Houston area. I currently attend The MET Church on Jones Rd in Houston, where Ky Faciane is the Lead Pastor. I hope to start serving in the Creative Arts department as a songwriter and possibly join the Praise and Worship team.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My passion is using all forms of art to inspire others. I’m also venturing into acting. I’m taking an acting class at Tri-Wen Productions owned by Charnele Brown and Andre Pitre. I’m currently working on a musical inspired by the many experiences that some women in my life have endured during their romantic relationships. When I’m not writing, I provide Graphic Design services for small businesses and non-profit organizations. I’ve designed logos and marketing materials for various start-ups and chapters of my sorority around the country. I’m limiting new clients right now because I’m currently working on a full-length album titled “Glad”, produced by Jason Norfleet, that I plan to release within the next year, to coincide with my upcoming album release party. I also work a full-time job. When I’m not working or creating, I’m volunteering with my sorority. I’m a proud life member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. I’m also passionate about fashion and am known for my fashion sense. I’ve studied Fashion since I was 9 years old and graduated with a degree in Fashion Merchandising from SFASU in 2005. I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish in many areas of my life but what I’m most proud of is how my husband and I have raised our son. He’s so brilliant and talented and has the biggest heart. I’m also proud of my ability to overcome adversity. I owe that to my faith. What sets me apart from others is that I genuinely love people of all backgrounds. I don’t have to agree with you to love and respect your humanity. I strive to bring a message of Love, Light and Life to all I encounter in any given situation. The message is more important than the music. The music is just a vehicle into the hearts and minds of the listeners and is designed to inspire them to love God, themselves and others.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is God, my husband, son and family for their continuous support. I also value my close friends for inspiring me to develop the gift that God has given me. I want to be remembered as someone who loved everyone dearly. I strive to encourage others to be the person they are called to be. This matters to me because I believe that everyone, especially children, needs to know that they have worth, and that they are here by design and have a unique purpose. I wrote a song called, “Heart’s Desires”, that sums up this message. It’s my mission to spread love, encourage others and to inspire others to see the value in their gifts and talents.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.anastasiaosho.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AnastasiaOsho
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572843232310#
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/anastasiaosho
- Other: http://www.aodesignconcepts.com
Image Credits
Jerome Delafosse II
