Aquarian Moon sees a departure from the usual Osunlade-style remixes as he explains, “The album is meant to be a soundtrack. It’s a sort of back to roots album. Most know me for house-based material but I’m a jazz and soul artist by nature.”

“I’d love to use Greek, but its not as erotic.”

This soulful, laid-back approach (particularly on the title track) has been influenced by living on Santorini, “Yes, it is definitely the soundtrack to my experience living on the island, which is very serene and peaceful.”

An ideal place for a priest of the traditional African religion of Ifa perhaps? He tells us “This is not a religion of sorts, more culture, and personally, I do whatever the day calls for, be it prayers, meditation, offerings, shopping for supplies… I mean it’s not anything particular in my routine that goes on except for my personal seek for balance.” Joining the spiritual to the album, he says of track ‘Music For The Gods’, “the song is a dedication to the gods,” and its vocals are in French explaining, “I’d love to use Greek, but its not as erotic.”

Osunlade is synonymous with clubs and house music, but it is an album that crosses over to become a great listen in the home or car, he says (imagine this), “sitting on my terrace watching the sunset or just cleaning around the house, it works perfect. In making every album, I aim to keep in mind to create something that can play at home, the car, the club, parties, family events, everywhere.” I’m sorry, I just can’t see him wearing Marigolds somehow but I suppose he must.

That wouldn’t have kept him from the album launch in LA but, “actually I wasn’t at any of the release parties, a shame, but unfortunately I was just closing the US DJ tour and the dates just didn’t coincide with my being there, although Carlos Mena was there to represent in a big way. The listening parties were actually his idea as he’d had gigs lined up cross-country and thought it great to add the release party.”

He knows Carlos from his appearance on ‘Tambores Te Llaman’ on the HVW8 Presents: Music Is My Art and I can see that a listening party fits in with that vibe. Somewhat different to the Neighbourhood and Cargo gigs coming up with the 7-piece Yoruba Soul including the former Arrested Development singer, Nadirah Shakoor (check the great flyers). Also on the two-date East/West gig in London is the band Tortured Soul (see links below). We really liked Osunlade’s remix of their ‘I Might Do Something Wrong’. He says, “I have played with them and seen them perform before. Absolutely amazing to see what three musicians can do. A really great show!” Thus backing up Gilles Peterson’s oft used quote that Tortured Soul are “The future of house music!”

Osunlade is a remixer of the highest order and I could have asked him about loads like the soon to be reissued ‘Trazan’ (Roy Ayres) but another remix that I’m mad on is the ‘Gwotet’. He explains how he got involved, “Well, the label contacted me about the remix, I’m of course a huge fan of David (Murray) and Pharoah (Sanders), so it was a great opportunity for me to get my hands on something original from them, to have their spirit joining mine.”

There are even more remixes in the pipeline after the London gigs, Ben Westbeech’s ‘So Good Today’ is one of the first (hot news this, Peterson’s not even got his hands on it yet!) and a five-year commemorative compilation for his Yoruba Soul Jazz label. One thing is for sure, he won’t be on that patio for too long and you’ll be hearing lots of Osunlade this summer.