The second instalment of the Trace Music Awards will take place in Paris next Wednesday. One of our own upcoming musicians, Oshri Elmorich, is billed to perform at these awards after winning the prestigious Trace Stars competition for his song Wake Me Up. His prize? He got to work with the esteemed muso, Wyclef Jean.
“He is the main producer of the album. He wants to create at least 40 to 50 songs for us to choose from,” said Elmorich from New York where he is working with the former Fugees legend.
“You know, sometimes when you are experiencing something so extraordinary you just stay in shock. I tell myself, ‘nothing is happening, everything is cool. I am just recording a couple of songs’, just so I don’t get overwhelmed because this is huge. Ten years ago when I was in the car, driving to the sounds of Hips Don’t Lie, which he’s featured on, there was no way you could have told me that I’d be in the same studio with him. I’d never have believed you. Yet it is happening right now,” he said
Coming from a humble upbringing, Elmorich has learnt that dreaming beyond the possible should be everyone’s practice.
“Sometimes you just have to believe. I grew up in a very small village. I was born in Israel and growing up there, the biggest dream is to have a nice family and a nice job. We really dreamt of going overseas (and making a) breakthrough in the music industry. I now live in Cape Town and from there I entered Trace Stars, which I was humbled to win,” he said.
As for the Trace Awards, the singer let it be known that he had been invited to perform and could not wait to show the world why he was the best in the Trace Stars competition.
“Actually, in a few hours I am going to Wyclef’s house to see if we can convince him to come to the awards. I was asked to perform there so it would be nice if he was there. We could do a song together. From Trace Stars in South Africa, to recording in New York then performing in Paris, that’s really huge, man.
“I am happy that Akon is coming through, though, and a whole lot of other French artists,” he said.
Whether Wyclef makes it or not, Elmorich has a plan of his own when it comes to what he has prepared for this Trace Awards performance.
“First of all, I am half French, although my French is not that good. I will see if I can sing something in that language for the people there to enjoy. I have family and friends in France who will see me on TV for the first time performing and that’s exciting. We will see a if I will do an original song or a cover, we’ll see how it goes when we get there,” he said.
Apart from his South African performances, Elmorich has not done anything elsewhere so this is his opportunity for worldwide exposure.
“I want to meet all the great artists who are attending the awards. I am really hoping this chance will change my life even further and that something comes out of it. I have less than a week,” he said.