The Get Closer segment is our way of featuring upcoming, independent artists on Naijatastic Publication. It is an avenue for artists to connect with other creators and express their art and craft in an exclusive interview article. We aim to promote awareness and maintain exposure for Nigerian audio contents by Nigerian artistes in Nigeria or the diaspora. Naijatastic supports the Nigerian / Afro music movement, and help artists to cultivate their own fan communities by growing their audience on our platform. We asked Home Boy Stemah Dosh a few questions about his life and music. This is what he has to share:
What is your name?
My birth name Osemen Stephen Osumah, a.k.a Stemah Dosh.
How did you come about the name Stemah Dosh and what does it mean?
Stemah is a merge of the first three letters of my middle name Stephen and the last three letters of my surname Osumah. So Stemah is somewhat my original name. As for Dosh, I haven’t defined it yet, it just blended in. Recently, I also found out it’s a British word used to describe money.
What is your educational background?
I went to different schools for my primary education. For high school, I went to Jane-Nath College in Ebute Ikorodu. I have been an Ikorodu boy since age 5. Got my first degree recently in Ghana at Ghana Technology University College where I studied Information Technology.
Where are you from?
Nigeria, born and raised until 2015 when I was in and out the country due to school. Was born in Lagos, lived in Lagos all my life but by ethnicity I’m an Edo boy.
How did the journey to music start?
I would say my journey of music started as far back as my childhood, I was really fond of the Michael Jackson videos I watched. In high school, I was known for dancing, not singing or rapping.
I picked up the act of writing raps in senior secondary school (SS1) out of curiosity. I remember back then, I used to write without beats and show it to few folks, then get really good compliments but on the low. If you listen to He Grew Too Fast on my project, you’d hear a line where I said Growing up, had no love this rap thing, because back then as a dancer I was more tuned into Afrobeats.
It has been really slower than I predicted, I made my first song in 2016 which was the first time I ever stepped into a studio. The more I go into this career, the more I realise how much money it takes to make money in the industry. My project No Blue No Green for example was created within 2017 – 2018 but due to financial backdraws it wasn’t released until late 2020.
For the best part, I have really grown in my own way and had extremely lit compliments about my music from about 90% of people who listened. Every single day there’s a good comment to motivate me. That’s what I hold on to.
Let talk about your newest album No Blue No Green. What is the main theme behind this EP?
NO BLUE NO GREEN interpretes to NO WATER NO LIFE, NO WORK NO SUCCESS and any other things related to getting a good reaction from and action. It embodies the true Stemah, the day 1 guy. Very raw and very undefined. I call it my seed.
What is your favorite track from the No blue No Green album and why?
(Laughs).. Truth is, my favorite track is whatever a listener tells me is their favorite track. So for example, if someone says my favorite track is 4K, that’s my favorite track. 30 minutes later if someone says my favorite track is Home Boy that’s mine as well. I never could pick one because they carried individual weights, meaning and moments in my life.
At Naijatastic, one of our favorite tracks is Home Boy (a track released in 2019), what inspired this vibe?
Mainly I wanted to create a lazy vibe, a less serious vibe compared to what I used to create. As an introvert, I was speaking on my self as a person, my point of views and stating clearly that I’m also a confused young man on certain things.
What are your challenges so far in the industry?
Networking with people has been hard due to my nature and lack financial state to be at the right place at the right time or even the wrong place at the right time. Getting my songs to radio stations has been difficult, that’s something I’m still trying to break through.
Describe your fashion style…
Stemah Dosh doesn’t have fashion style yet. He dresses regular.
Who are your role models in the music industry?
A lot, I literally can’t mention all. Apart from being an artist, I’m a listener and a very observant person. So many different artist all over the world to be precise, inspire me. Either by sound, way of life, artistic energy, performances and more.
Who are your sources of inspiration in life?
Myself, my family and random people in the world. Every person with his/her way of life, when I see or meet strangers I always take in that new energy, story, and experience to see things from a different perspective.
What should we expect from Stemah Dosh in the next few years?
I don’t know myself, just more music. In First of Dosh track 12 on the project I said What if the first of Dosh gonna be the last of Dosh; What if the first of Dosh gonna be the best of Dosh; What if there never gonna be a next of Dosh?? That’s the big question.
What are your social media handles?
Instagram: @stemahdosh
Twitter : @stemahdosh
Snapchat: @stemah_dosh
Do you have any word of advice to other artistes out there?
For artists in my own range and below, I would say share your music as much and as often as you can. You never know what’s next, for example this is my first official interview ever as an artist hosted by Naijastatic and I mean it.
Do you have a word for your fans?
Yeah, NO BLUE NO GREEN and thank you.
Listen to Stemah Dosh track titled Home Boy below: