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 A New Breath of Joy GOSPELflava.com: What does Onitsha bring to Gospel music and music in general? Onitsha: Well, there's a song on there for everyone, but I believe that there are a lot of young people hurting. God has giving me  a spirit of joy; one of my gifts is joy. When you see me, I'm always laughing and smiling, and I try to bring smiles to other people. So I feel that I bring a sense of joy to the industry. I know that there are other people that are uplifting. Our job as Gospel singers is to be a light. I just want to be added to a line of singers that bring joy to people and make them smile. So I hope that young people and all people get a sense of joy and fun from my record.GOSPELflava.com: People were buzzing about you and the solo that Mary Mary gave you on the Kirk Franklin "Hero Tour". How did you get hooked up with Mary Mary and how has singing backup helped you? Onitsha: I felt as if I grew up with them because I knew their family before I even knew the girls. I had been doing a lot of singing around LA, and in 2001, Erica called me and asked me if I would sing background with them. I've been doing it on and off, and singing with other people ever since then. The Lord just opened up the doors and I just walked in. They asked me if I wanted to stretch out and sing a solo in the "Hero Tour" and I couldn't pass that up. I was so excited about that. Singing background is good! (laughing) I get to meet a lot of good people and even though you are in the background, you're still a part of the ministry. It's awesome to be able to touch people's lives even when you are in the background. GOSPELflava.com: You were afforded the opportunity to work with the legend, Stevie Wonder? How was that experience? Onitsha: I've known Steve for a few years, and every time you see him, it's amazing and you're like, "This is Stevie Wonder!" "I'm singing on Stevie Wonder's record!" I know that a lot of people would love to be there with Stevie Wonder and to have worked with him. I feel really honored and blessed to know him to be able to call him my friend. GOSPELflava.com: Shep Crawford produced the whole Church Girl album, and you must have impressed him for that to happen. How did you hook up with Shep?
GOSPELflava.com: On your Church Girl album, "So Good" has a New Orleans type vibe with the Harlem Globetrotters theme song serving as the melody. How did the song come together? Onitsha: Shep Crawford called me and told me that he had a song that he wanted me to sing. When I heard it, I was like, "Yeah, it's the Globetrotters!" So we just went ahead and did it. GOSPELflava.com: Tell us about the experience of working with some powerful female singers such as Mary Mary, Deborah Cox and Coko all in one song. How did that come together? Onitsha: We just called in some favors. I did some background work for Debra and she's a good friend of Shep, and he asked her to do it. I asked Mary Mary and Shep reached out to Coko and she was down. We all just came together and did our parts. We had fun! It's hard to explain the feeling. You know when something feels real good?! GOSPELflava.com: Who is your favorite singer? Onitsha: I have so many, so I'll pick a few. Mary Mary are my bosses, but they are phenomenal singers. Those girls can get down. The Winans, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Vanessa Bell Armstrong. I will leave it at that. GOSPELflava.com: You stated earlier that you wanted to be an encouragement to young people. What would you like to say to young people and those who are trying to step into the industry? Onitsha: I think it's important to pray (which is something that my mom taught me to do), so that you can hear from God. Keep your head up and stay encouraged. Sometimes you trip up and other things happen that you don't expect. Sometimes it seems that the things that you are believing are not going to happen. Work really, really hard because that's what it takes. You also have to stay focused. Follow and walk in the footsteps of God. Email This To A Friend
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Onitsha includes songs for the staunch traditionalist, while introducing the neo-soul faithful to the "old Gospel style". Following a recent trend, Onitsha sings with the late Mahalia Jackson on the classic "You Know Rather I'm Right or Wrong". Shep Crawford successfully meshes....