Onsra calls himself a “wannabe popstar,” and right now, that description fits in more ways than one. There’s ambition in it, obviously, but also an acknowledgment that the version of Onsra people are meeting right now is still very much under construction. He isn’t presenting himself as a fully realized artist with a neatly defined sound or carefully mapped-out path. Instead, he’s allowing people to find him somewhere in the middle of becoming one.
That process is currently unfolding through oftentimes Artemas-inspired darkwave, alt pop, and dark pop tracks where distorted sounds, energetic production, and darker aesthetics give Onsra plenty of space to experiment. His recent releases have increasingly settled into that world, with “i could be your lover” becoming part of a run of music that feels noticeably closer to the version of him as an artist that he’s been trying to find.
In this World Of conversation, Onsra reflects on falling in love with making music, finding a sound that finally feels like his own, and what he hopes to build alongside the people becoming his earliest supporters.
This interview has been edited for clarity and flow.
You can find this post on Creating Romancivity as well. Subscribe to Creating Romancivity to have World Of posts delivered straight to your inbox!
Matilia, World Of: You describe yourself online as a “wannabe popstar,” which feels self-aware, ambitious, and slightly self-deprecating all at once. When you use that phrase, are you joking about where you currently are, declaring where you’re going, or both?
Onsra: 100% a combination of both and some more! It was actually a phrase I saw Artemas use a lot, but it eventually related to me more than ever over time. I don’t feel like a pop star; I still feel like just some dude that makes music for fun that somehow is gathering an audience that loves hearing it as much as I love making it. I’m nowhere near being as talented as most people I know, but working to a higher level is something I always work towards day by day, even if it’s just small little details that only I will hear in a song. Maybe one day I’ll feel like that actual ‘popstar’, but the time for that definitely isn’t now.
World Of: What has your musical journey looked like so far? When did you first fall in love with making music, and what inspired you to pursue it seriously?
Onsra: Weirdly enough, my love for music as a whole didn’t come into fruition until I was about 16. It was always just something I kind of had playing in the background for noise. Though growing up in my small child days up until I was about 7, I believe, my dad had a cheap laptop that he would use to record his vocals for rap music. Growing up in LA gave him a lot to talk about, so I remember him writing in notebooks and playing beats over and over again in his free time. He did eventually give that up to support family instead, but a question like this always makes those years and the late nights when he would just write while I sat next to him, observing, replay in my head.
Around the time I turned 17, there were other kids near my age in my town that started releasing music, so I figured “hey this seems fun, lemme give it a shot.” I started with just a cheap HP laptop that I was given by my school – which you could only imagine how crappy it ran. Then a $50 Blue Snowball microphone I got from Walmart, a program called Audacity, and a sock I put over the microphone as a “noise filter.” But after recording vocals for just one song with no music background, something about it just felt like me.
So I kept making more and more, kept learning tricks and tips, just educating myself, and for the first time ever in my life, I enjoyed learning and practicing something new. I treated it as a hobby for years and years, using that time to absorb information, keep teaching myself, and meeting very talented artists along the way. The decision to pursue music seriously came to me in February of this year due to a combination of a few things.
One being that I’m tired of being stuck in a construction life; it’s just not for me. Another being that I felt like I was running in a circle in life by not chasing something I truly loved. But, as weird as it is for me to say it, the final nail in the coffin that made me lock in my decision was going to an Artemas concert earlier this year. I never went to shows due to not having time, but something about that atmosphere, the emotions flowing through my body – I never felt more alive in my life.
I couldn’t help but stand in the crowd and hear everyone singing, thinking to myself, “Up there on that stage is where I want to be.” So I decided it was time for something better for myself, picked up my phone, and started posting every day. Best decision I ever made in that moment of stress.
World Of: And what is it about Artemas’ music that draws your attention or inspires your own sound?
Onsra: I’ve always been so in love with his mix of super punchy drums and unique melodies. Something about a kick just slamming itself into your face speaks to me on so many levels. Plus I’ve always loved that he always seems to have some ability to make whatever comes to his mind with some ease. But punchy drums, distorted sounds, and melodies are for sure the big 3 I get from his style!
World Of: You’ve made it clear that you’re a big fan of Artemas, that he’s influenced your music, and now he’s a visible reference point within both your music and the world you build around it online. But when someone immediately hears the Artemas influence in your music, what do you hope they stay long enough to discover that is specifically yours?
Onsra: Artemas has always been a huge inspiration for me. Not just in my modern music style, but going back to 2020, even. He was actually the first music artist I talked to and connected with. Hearing him talk about music and his way of going about it was very entertaining to me. He talked to me a lot about tips for my mindset for music, which was basically to keep practicing what I love, and everything else will come with it. Been holding onto that since it was told to me.
But while the inspiration is very obvious, everyone should definitely expect to hear me experimenting more and more with songs in the future. I’m always trying out new effects and cool experimental ideas that even surprise me. It’s definitely hard to say what is specific to me yet, since I don’t see this version of me as a final product at all. Which, who is ever the final product, y’know? But I’m excited to see where my music keeps evolving, and anyone that supports me should fully expect a very wild journey ahead with sounds.
World Of: You know what it feels like to support an artist before the wider public arrives. How does being an early Artemas listener shape the kind of relationship you want to have with the people who are becoming “day ones” for Onsra?
Onsra: I wish I had the ability to put into words how thankful I’ve been for all the new people who are randomly popping up and showing me love and putting my music on repeat – I’ve only ever been good with words when it comes to music. But I 100% want to grow with everyone as a whole, since I can’t just grow on my own.
It’s all a mixture of their love and support that makes me want to keep posting content, keep making music, and making it possible for me to see an opening into a bigger world for myself. I want to find ways to give back to them for sure; it’s just a matter of finding a good way to do so.
It’s funny to me when I go onto something I posted recently and can go into the comments and just be like “hey, there’s Noelle” or names like Rhianna, Ari, Ale, Hosi, Bella, just to name random ones off the top of my head. But as long as each person that has been supporting me knows how thankful I am for them, that’s a good starting point.
There’s an interesting full-circle quality to Onsra now finding himself on the other side of the kind of early support he once gave so freely himself. The audience may still be small enough for familiar names to repeatedly appear in his comments, but that seems to be part of the appeal. Before there’s any distance between artist and listener, there’s room for the people finding the music now to become part of how this version of Onsra takes shape! And with that kind of early connection already forming, each new song becomes another piece of the version of Onsra they’re getting to know in real time.
World Of: i could be your lover is your most recent single. What’s the story behind how this song came together?
Onsra: Honestly, I didn’t think much of it when originally making it. It was just another idea in my mind that I recorded in my voice memos somewhere and put it onto an artboard. I remember only recording a hook in the pitched-up little style I did for the final version and was thinking, like, it was alright.
Luckily, I’m forcing myself into a habit of working more on songs, even when I’m not a huge fan of them at the time, which is paying off hugely for me with this single. But once I saw that people were really digging it, I put the extra time into it to create what it is now, and that’s basically the full story to tell. I’m a mess when it comes to actual planning, so everything just kinda comes and goes in my mind.
World Of: What’s your creative process usually like? Does it tend to follow the same pattern or is it different each time?
Onsra: I’d say it can vary here and there. It usually starts the same way: creating melodies in my head, then just mumbling words to put those melodies into a mic. The only thing that really changes each time is me trying to figure out the tone or vocal cadence I want to use, or what sounds best. Then after that, trying to figure out what I want the ‘big’ moment in the song to include for a small drop. Vocal chops and distorting sounds have been my big go-tos for stuff like that. But I’ve really just been loving experimenting and learning on the go.
World Of: You’ve been releasing music for several years, but this recent run feels especially focused. What has changed in your creative life that’s allowed these songs and this clearer version of Onsra to emerge now?
Onsra: I always made music that was more Indie or Pop focused, which always felt forced in a way with my vocals. I couldn’t ever fit into a pocket with it and was struggling with every song, which made me slow down my creative process a lot, making me feel more and more uninspired. But this year, when it came time for me to plan how to take this all more seriously, one of my first steps was to remove many of my older tracks. I know people aren’t a fan of artists doing so, but they really didn’t feel like who I was anymore, so I didn’t want to paint the wrong picture. And since starting this new run, I found that love and adrenaline for music again that I haven’t felt in a long time. The creativity is just flowing so naturally to me; sometimes I question if I’m still even the same person. But everything about it truly feels like me, no limits to myself anymore, just letting creativity take over in a pocket that I love.
Finding that pocket doesn’t seem to have made Onsra more interested in defining himself too quickly. If anything, finally making music that feels natural has given him more freedom to stay curious about where it could go. There’s a difference between recognizing that something finally feels like you and deciding it has to represent you forever – and right now, Onsra seems much more interested in the former.
World Of: Are your recent singles gradually building toward a larger project, or are you allowing each release to exist entirely within a space of its own for now?
Onsra: For now, I’m allowing each release to sit in its own area until I feel like it’s time for something bigger. I think letting songs settle on their own first while trying to figure out where my true pocket for music lies is important for now. I don’t want to rush myself into anything I’m not ready for yet. But I’m definitely looking forward to putting together a mixtape in due time!
World Of: What have you learned from releasing songs individually that will influence how you eventually approach an EP or album?
Onsra: That promotion is such a huge key for success. It was something I lacked HEAVILY before pursuing something more this year. I was always kind of throwing my music into an empty field, expecting something out of it. I was very stubborn (about promotion) in the past, to say the least, but these past few releases have taught me so many lessons that I will continue to refer to in the future.
World Of: Which part of creating music currently feels most natural to you, and which part are you most determined to improve?
Onsra: Honestly, I haven’t really found that “natural” part yet. Even though I mentioned that I get into these streaks of being able to flow with my creativity, I always hit bumps and struggle about the next step. I’m a lot better about going forward now than I was maybe a year or two ago, but it’s definitely still a challenge at times. At the moment, I’ve been really focused on a few things with creating that I’m actively trying to improve. Some of them being mixing, finding melodies more naturally, and mostly production. I only dream of creating a beat one day where I’ll be like “woah, this is mental!” But it’s one of those things that I’ve been building towards each day; I can taste it.
World Of: When you picture performing these songs live, what kind of atmosphere or emotional experience do you want to create in the room?
Onsra: I think my music creates a lot of excitement and high energy, which anyone with that type of inside feeling can definitely relate to. My goal for performing right now is just to be able to connect more with the people who have been supporting me and maybe catch new eyes along the way. As long as the vibes are up, you’re in the right spot.
World Of: And as your audience grows, what kind of connection do you hope people form with you beyond simply enjoying individual songs?
Onsra: I’m fully planning to open a Discord server soon to connect with everyone more easily. I would love to share part of my creative process and open the doors to behind the scenes of how my weird little mind works sometimes. Also, connecting with what type of art or interests others are involved in seems great to me. My goal is truly to grow with everyone rather than thinking of it as I’m the one that’s growing; the feeling so far has already been unreal.
That distinction (growing with people rather than simply growing an audience) keeps coming up in the way Onsra imagines what comes next. The bigger career goals are there, but so is the desire to keep the process visible: the experiments, the ideas that work, the ones that don’t, and whatever his music becomes along the way. The point isn’t only to arrive somewhere bigger, but to stay connected throughout the process of getting there. So when the numbers are removed from the equation, his idea of progress becomes surprisingly simple.
World Of: What would your ideal next year look like creatively if you removed follower counts, streams, and outside expectations from the picture?
Onsra: To just keep creating and learning. It’s exactly what got me this far, and I don’t plan on shutting that down anytime soon. I am yet to find another hobby or activity I love as much as making music; nor do I see myself finding one. It really does have a hold on me that I don’t want to let go of. It’s become the main thing I think about on a daily basis, about what the ‘next step’ will be; even while I’m at work, I’m thinking of new ideas almost every day.
If music is already occupying that much of his mind, then the next step is less about waiting for inspiration to strike and more about giving all of those ideas somewhere to go. For now, that means keeping the releases moving and continuing to let each one teach him something new.
Onsra: My goal is to release a new single at least once a month, with my upcoming single “luv my brunette” being next up on that everlasting list! So if anyone loves music that creates excitement or makes your imagination run wild, I would love it if my music had the chance to be on your future playlists, and maybe I can learn more about you along the way! Looking forward to the growth going forward with everyone, and forever blessed for what I have already.
For someone still figuring out exactly what “Onsra” is going to become, there is already something remarkably consistent in the way he talks about getting there. He wants to keep making things, keep learning, and keep the people who found him early close enough to experience that growth with him.
With this kind of mindset (and the extremely catchy music he’s releasing on a monthly basis), it seems inevitable for the “wannabe popstar” tag to expire and be replaced with the official “popstar” stamp – probably sooner than later.
For now, though, there’s something exciting about catching Onsra before the title fully fits – while the sound is still evolving, the audience is still forming, and every new release feels like another step toward it!
“i could be your lover” by Onsra is out now, with “luv my brunette” arriving soon.
Connect with Onsra
⭐Artist Support⭐
Get Featured
- Join the World Of series – Want to be featured? Reach out!and tell me a little about yourself, your work, and what you’d like to highlight. Features can take the form of interviews, profiles, project deep dives, origin stories, and more. If you’re not sure what format fits best, I’m happy to suggest one based on your story and goals.
- Join the Are You Listening Yet? series – I’ve been receiving a lot of incredible music and World Of submissions lately. Love it! So, alongside full features, I’m also curating ongoing round-ups highlighting artists I’m listening to. If you’d like your work considered for that as well, feel free to mention it when youreach out.
- More Coverage – I currently contribute to a few independent music publications, so there may be opportunities for additional coverage beyond World Of. Feel free to reach out with any inquiries.
Services
- Narrative Writing & Creative Consultation – If your music is strong but people still don’t fully understand who you are, what your project means, or why they should care…If you don’t know how to convey your identity, your message, or the world you’re trying to create…If your artist bio feels generic, your visuals and music don’t seem connected, or you struggle to explain the story behind your work…I can help bring it all together! I help artists transform scattered ideas, influences, visuals, and experiences into clear, compelling narratives and immersive creative worlds that audiences can understand, remember, connect with, and fully immerse themselves in. Whether you need an artist bio, EPK, brand and identity writing, release storytelling, world-building, social content, or long-form content, I’m happy to help you communicate the story behind your work in a way that’ll resonate with your audience and draw them into your world.
Check out my Narrative Writing Services here! - Fan Engagement Support – If you don’t feel connected to your audience, don’t have time to actually engage with them, or constantly release yet hear nothing but crickets when you do, then it sounds like you need to upgrade from having casual listeners who barely interact to having actual fans who are invested in you. I can help with that! Check out my Fan Engagement Services here!
Free Support for Emerging Artists
There are a ton of emerging artists who have incredible music but don’t have the resources to invest in artist storytelling, publicity, or release prep.
So I decided to offer a bit of assistance!
I’ve just launched my Lift-Off Partnership Program, where I’ll be partnering with a small number of emerging and independent artists to provide free support with things like artist storytelling, PR, streaming profile optimization, fan engagement, and more while I continue expanding this side of my portfolio.
If you’re an artist (or know one) who could benefit from this, I’d love to hear from you! 🚀
Let’s Connect
Community is important to me, and I’m always open to connecting with artists and music writers! Feel free to reach out any time, for any reason.
Connect with me on LinkedIn, email me, or shoot me a message!
Thanks so much for reading! Much love <3
Keep Reading
