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"Sister Power in the Sound Hole"
By P. Natema Bey

Oshun Photo Courtesy of Artist Management

Tunnel to the Sound Hole Stage Photo
Courtesy of P. Natema Bey

January 13th 2018, a weekday, I was being dropped off at the front door of a brick row home with a porch full of youth of all ages in West Philadelphia when I realized my "Sound Hole" experience would be interesting. I was unsure of the address and so was everyone else attending yet they were certain they would go. It was one of the most brisk evenings of the winter months, a gathering of 200 or more Assembled to bare witness to the empresses somewhere near 45th & Osage; The sisters of Shea, Oshun.

I became familiar with them 2 years prior acquainted with the song "Stuck" which features lyrics like "maybe I need one more loc, a little more shea, another headwrap, or maybe just a day. To sleep, meditate"  this recording was spinning on the concious of the millennials, those who wish they were of age when neo soul and concious hip hop had its debut and floor before Mumble rap and trap music could dominate air waves these sisters and there audience are reminiscent of the 90's and the rare grooves movement yet they were barely old enough to recall it in its prime.

There was an opening act with the oddity of Erykah badu without the unique talent yet held the floor enough to not put everyone to sleep and make attendees appreciate the eventual surfacing of the headlining act. 

The timing of this duo arrive when folks are in need of the depth of spoken soul and spoken word over hot beats and sound in these complicated times. As floetry fell short from feeding the people beyond the first album attempt before breaking up, Oshun has been consistently performing as a team elevating the persona spreading there brand of "Woke" to the people.  

Hip Hop, Hip Soul and conciseness all wrapped up in a sunflower is a good way to explain the vibrations of Oshun. They actually perform in front of large life size stage prop sun flowers. 

In reference to the vibration in the atmosphere everyone entering the environment was torn on how to classify the venue and all they could say was "House Party", a majority of attendees that evening were of various ages, backgrounds and educational levels, couples singles and groups. 

The Atmoshere was filled with Incense, not the traditional kind. The type that made you think of Tahitian temples, yoga and meditation on the beach. The essence was coming from A woman who herself happen to be an artist, Poetica in the middle room who was selling assorted scents of Champa even soaps with Canaibus sativa and a woman selling soft vegan tacos, freshly grilled with mushrooms, onions, green peppers, citrus representing what she called Abenas kitchen. 

The venue's performance space is a gutted basement with a hand built stage platform and added lighting effects. The dozens were Squeezed in the narrow corridor leading to the basement stage and all of a sudden, the sweet sound of women power, self assurance and indie music filled the building. Oshun was on stage. The vibe was high and sound was great. Then I realized why so many crowd themselves in this venue to enjoy these shows, the sound is excellent. It took me back to the real house party days with minimal ambiance and maximum substance. Our sound and lighting design was always on 1000 percent.

Just as Will Smith was able to parlay a career sprung from West Philadelphia basement parties into pure superstardom. The Sound Hole is well on its way to being able to becoming a star making machine if they can continue to produce quality sound and acts like Oshun.

Artist/ Writer Poetica pictured with Oshun during an impromptu meeting at West Philadelphia's cultural forum: ACAF where the artists found out they were listening to each other's music. Photo Credits: Selfie by Poetica Bey