A new resident of Queens is taking Motown and adding contemporary elements to the music to create his own sound.
Originally from Connecticut, Blessing Offor lived in Nashville for two years after high school. However, he said that when he learned the “ins and outs” of the music industry there, he realized it wasn’t where he needed to be.
He decided to “move to the top of the world” and has now settled in Astoria. Offor has been in New York since early March.
When he was just seven yeas old, Offor started listening to jazz and Motown. He soon decided that was the sort of music he wanted to make.
“What I like about music from that era and what I think music is missing now is there was a pop element to that music that was catchy…but it was socially and culturally relevant,” the 21-year-old said. “It was politically intelligent and it spoke on a great and deeper level.”
Offor, who sings and plays the piano, started taken music lessons at nine and writing songs when he was 13. He said music was “what I needed to do.”
Although his songs have a romantic element, Offor said that, because of his interest in social issues, there is always some sort of social commentary.
“I’m definitely a love kind of guy, as per my idols,” he said. “All of what I do is anything to do with peace and love and all around perspective on the world. It’s a very happy, positive kind of thing, relatively speaking.”
Offor is currently putting the finishing touches on his first full studio record, “Guilty Pleasures,” which he expects to be released in June. He said recording the CD has been a great experience and that it has given him the chance to use all the skills he has learned in music classes.
Since coming to New York, Offor said he has “hit every open mic in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens” and that he is “just trying to play.” On Saturday, May 8, Offor will play in is own neighborhood during a performance at 10 p.m. at Waltz-Astoria, which is located at 23-14 Ditmars Boulevard.
“I like to have places around where I live where I can basically call home,” Offor said. “Waltz has always been that for me. It’s just like you’re playing in front of your living room.”
On June 8, through the VSA Young Soloists Program, Offor will make his Kennedy Center debut. He said he is definitely excited for it, although it is still sinking in.
“I don’t know who wouldn’t be excited to play The Kennedy Center,” Offor said.
After Offor finishes “Guilty Pleasures,” he said he will start another project and let his career continue to “build steam.”
“Music is what I do so I’m just going to keep doing this,” he said.
For more information on Offor and his music, visit www.myspace.com/blessingoffor. He is also on Facebook and Twitter.
