Meet Oscar White

Today we’d like to introduce you to Oscar White.

Oscar, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Playing music is so deeply written in my DNA, that I will find any way to play it. When I was four, my family was on vacation in Cancun. We were on the beach one day and a Mariachi band was playing. I was fascinated by the guitar. When the band took a break, I saw my chance and ran as fast as I could, jumped on stage, grabbed the guitar and started playing to the crowd… it was awful. I’m sure and the Guitarist wasn’t very pleased, but I left that trip with a guitar in my hands. I played it all the time but within a few months I had destroyed the little gift shop guitar my parents had bought me, but my love of music stayed. A few years later, my Mom’s Uncle gave my older brother an electric guitar. He wasn’t really interested in it. He never really played it, but he would get upset if I touched it. I used to sneak into his room when he wasn’t home and play it anyway. Once he left for college, I considered it mine. Music is such an integral piece of who I am, I know that I have to be involved in it. I dive deep into genre’s and sub-culture. I want to understand it and really know it. I’m not going to say I’m an expert because there are more people out there that know more than I do, but I do take pride in the fact that I know music. Not just one genre, but several from Metal to Hip Hop.

I grew up in a predominately black neighborhood where there was a certain type of music that everyone listened to. I actually used to carry a bit of shame over the fact that I actually love Rock Music. The kids in my neighborhood didn’t necessarily listen to it. Even in today’s culture where genre-bending is a thing, it’s still not the norm for a black guy to be into Rock Music. When I was in school, I went over to a friends house one day. He just happened to be white, and his dad brought out his record collection. He was going to teach us about ‘real music’. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting but he played “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix. I remember him showing me the album cover and bringing attention to the fact that Hendrix was a black rock musician. I had never talked to him about my internal struggle between my musical and cultural differences. It was like he just knew I needed to see this. At that moment, I wasn’t the only one. It was a pivotal moment as a young man and as a young musician. “Purple Haze” played on and it was as if I had received a license to shred from the God of Rock himself. I went on to play in garage bands, metal bands, and even church bands. I studied Guitar, Drums, and Bass and at age 17, I got my first Roland beat machine and keyboard. That’s when I started producing. I started making beats, producing and playing for a rap group called C.R.I.M.E. and dedicated my life to music production. I’ve had some incredible opportunities to work with some of the most talented artists in the industry. It’s been a long road, but all of my experiences have led me to want to work with artists to bring their vision for a song or album to life.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
People often compare the music industry to a rollercoaster ride that sometimes catches on fire. It’s 100% accurate. It’s also one of the most exciting things for me because I’ve learned so much. Sometimes you take a risk and it works out, other times you take a risk and it falls through. It’s important to have a foundation that supports you in this industry. For me, it’s my wife. She’s always been my rock and pushed me to keep going, even when I was ready to give up. I learn from every up and down and I get better every time.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a Musician, Producer, and Mix Engineer. I look at music like a cultural anthropologist looks at society. There are cultures and sub-cultures. There are genre’s and there are sub-genres and I love to learn about them all. I can gig with a Caribbean blues band from Guadalupe one day and then jump into the studio with the soul group “Watch The Duck” the next to write and co-produce a new track. Having a knowledge of these different sounds that fall under Indie Music or Pop Music allows me to really hear an artist when we’re in the studio and they’re explaining what they want. At that moment, I’m laser-focused on helping them interpret their visions and goals. A lot of the time an artist will know what they want it to sound like, but might not be able to verbalize their sonic identity. By using their influences, I can lead them to where they want to be. My willingness and ability to adapt to different musical trends and genres is what sets me apart as a producer. I know other genres and I’m not afraid to step out of my comfort zone to produce for an artist whose sound may not align with my personal interests. It’s about the artist, their vision and their sound. I can take the hum of a simple melody and turn it into a fully produced, radio-ready song that really fits them. I just love the process, it’s exciting.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Right now, I am focusing on creating projects through collaboration and artist development. There are a few projects that are in the very early stages and I hope to be able to share more about those in the near future. I’m excited to play a pivotal role in helping artists discover their sonic identity.

I look forward to helping them reach their goals by applying my knowledge and experience to their creative process. Aside from that, I’ve decided to create sample packs and beats for producers and artists to purchase or lease.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theoscarwhite.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoscarwhite/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theoscarwhite/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheOscarWhite

Image Credit:
Dan Kulpa, Julie White

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