#162 - Oso Oso (Jade Lilitri)

Behind the Vinyl

I saw Oso Oso several years ago for the first time in a small town in New Jersey. I was instantly hooked after their debut album, Real Stories of True People Who Kind of Looked Like Mosters…, and always wanted to see them live, but never really had the opportunity. Around 2018, right before Basking in the Glow came out, I took the trek to a small venue in NJ, and saw Jade and his band play in front of a room of maybe 20-30 people. It has been fun being from the outside looking in and seeing Oso Oso grow as a group. They now travel the world and fill up venues to capacity as a headlining act. It was a true honor being able to chat with Jade Lilitri in-person before his Asbury Park gig. I always felt a connection to not only his music but some of his interest. Of course the emo music is a great start, but he’s also from Long Island, where I was born, and has been on record as a huge Knicks fan. I learned during this conversation that he is a die-hard Yankees fan and grew up with the team - Bernie Williams being his favorite player. We really took this interview in several different directions. Jade told us about his dog and how that’s always his chance to decompress when home from a long tour. He discussed how Basking in the Glow was a record where he could finally quit his job at a bar and saw a growing audience. There’s a fun story about when he didn’t receive a positive welcome from a punk show as a teenager and how he was able to bounce back after a gig that could’ve pushed him away from music. How a song on MySpace led to confidence and helped Jade find his voice. Lastly, how life experiences and the loss of a best friend has led to a new meaning behind touring and the band as a whole.