Meet Kwesi Oteng of Virginia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kwesi Oteng.

Hi Kwesi, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m Kwesi Oteng, and my journey into music started in the church. I grew up playing piano in an African church from the age of 8, and I was completely self-taught. A lot of my early learning came from simply listening, practicing by ear, and spending hours figuring things out on my own.

In high school, I became really interested in film and TV composition. I started seriously studying some of my favorite sitcoms and going back to analyze the music and storytelling in shows like Meet the Browns, House of Payne, Girlfriends, and Moesha. I was inspired by composers like Joshua Mosley, Elvin Ross, Kurt Farquhar, and many others whose work shaped how I understood emotion and storytelling through music.

Through building relationships and consistently reaching out to people in the industry, I landed my first professional body of work on a Nickelodeon show at just 19 years old. That experience really confirmed for me that this was what I was meant to do, and it opened the door for me to continue growing as a composer and creative.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, especially because I didn’t go to school for this. I believe school can teach you the systematic and technical side of the industry, which is extremely important. Since I was self-taught, I had to learn a lot on my own through experience, trial and error, and constantly asking questions.

I’m still young and still learning every day, so there have definitely been challenges along the way. One of the biggest struggles for any composer is the inconsistency of projects. There can be seasons where you’re extremely busy and seasons where things are slower, so learning how to stay creative, disciplined, and motivated through all of that has been a huge part of my journey. But every challenge has helped me grow both personally and professionally.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a film composer specializing in music for television and visual storytelling. My work focuses on creating emotional, character-driven scores that help bring stories to life.

I’m most known for my ability to connect music with emotion and storytelling, especially inspired by classic sitcoms and Black television culture. I’ve spent years studying how music shapes comedy, emotion, nostalgia, and character in shows, and that influence plays a huge role in my sound and creative approach.

One of my proudest moments was working alongside Joshua Mosley, one of my favorite composers who has worked on many movies and shows that inspired me growing up. As a self-taught composer, that was a full-circle moment for me and a reminder of how far I’ve come. What sets me apart is my emotional approach to music and the musical foundation I developed growing up playing piano in an African church.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that relationships are everything. Reaching out to people, networking, and building genuine connections is what helped get me to where I am today, and it never really stops. It’s always important to keep up with and follow up with the people you connect with. Especially in this industry, it’s not always just about what you know — it’s also about who you know and the relationships you build along the way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wasgkwezo/
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm17277499/?ref_=fn_t_1

Image Credits
Young Dylan (Season 5) Nickelodeon
Sitas (Season 9 ) (B.E.T) Tyler Perry Studios.
Friends and Lovers (Lifetime T.V) Part 1 &2