Nick Osin: From Ukraine to the US
Article written by Alexander Rodriguez, host of On the Rocks with Alexander
Singer/songwriter Nick Osin spent his childhood in Ukraine, being raised by his grandmother. Showing Nick true unconditional love, she would help him follow his dreams by taking him to his singing and dancing lessons. By the young age of 15, he appeared on a popular television show in Moscow and his career took off. He appeared in live performances throughout Russia and Ukraine but as his sexuality emerged, he knew that living as his true self was literally a matter of life or death. He came to the US as a foreign exchange student and never went back.
In moving to the US, he had to restart his career from scratch but quickly found a home in the LGBTQ community of Southern California and has established connections and partnerships within the entertainment community. He is currently a fixture of the Los Angeles nightlife community and, armed with new music, is hitting the circuit with live appearances. His latest singles “Get High” and “Better Yet” have become fan favorites, with new music on the way. In addition to promoting his music, he is working with Influencetheworld.org to bring awareness to and raise funds for the war in Ukraine.
Are the men/women sexier in Ukraine or the US?
Although people in Ukraine are very beautiful, I think men and women are hotter in the US because of its diversity. There are so many people in the US from all over the world, which makes me very happy living here.
When did you first realize you were gay?
I am not someone who uses labels. My sexuality is very open. I am attracted to the person for who they may be. I like men, I like women, I like who I like. I get attracted to any race, color, gender, trans, gay, bi, non-binary, etc. depending on a person and connection.
What was your first sexual experience like?
I was in a wild and sexually open Berlin, Germany. The rest is up to the reader's imagination, haha! It was fun and scary at the same time, but it was natural and freeing at the same time.
What do you love most about living in Los Angeles?
The thing I love most about living in Los Angeles is the people, opportunities, and diversity. There are so many amazing and truly inspiring people. Los Angeles is the place where so many people all over the world are coming to pursue their dreams and passion. It makes the industry very competitive, but there is no fun if there is no challenge :)
You started performing at a very early age, what did you learn most about performing from those early years?
My vocal coach always told me to have fun and enjoy my performance because my energy will affect the audience. She helped me to get used to the audience and present myself in the most confident yet humble way.
You came here as an exchange student, was it hard getting used to living in the US?
Throughout my whole journey of being in the US, I was always blessed to have amazing people around me, who were always guiding me and helping me to understand culture and people, which helped me adjust there faster. Understanding cultural differences and language was undoubtedly the hardest part, but that grew me as a person so much, especially, it gave me a lot of maturity and work ethic that people often notice.
What do you love most about the culture of your hometown?
Ukrainians are very kind and welcoming people. Most people care a lot about each other’s growth and success helping each other to reach goals, at least that’s what I got to experience while living there. People love to cook for each other and gather for singing and dancing.
Are you currently dating anyone?
I am not dating anyone, I am single. My career is my main focus.
What do you love most about songwriting?
Songwriting often helps me to be in touch with my emotions and lets me express myself rather than bottle up my feelings. I love to be able to tell a story and see people relating to it.
What is the story behind your last single “So High?”
I wrote the song “So High” imagining two people at the music festival holding hands and looking at the stars and connecting and letting the song take them high in their feelings. It’s a very intimate and personal moment for many people and I hope my song will deliver that feeling to my audience. Love each other more.
What do you love most about performing for a live audience?
What I love about performing live is an audience who enjoys the energy and has fun. There is no better feeling when I see people dance and enjoy my music because it makes them feel something, relate to it, or realize something. That’s the influence and impact that I make on people and it comes with responsibility because I have to be careful what I represent and what message I am delivering to people.
What are the top songs on your playlist right now?
One of my favorite songs is “The Motto” by Ava Max, “Future Starts Now” by Kim Petras, “There You Are” by Zayn, and “Lost Myself In Loving You” by Jamie Miller.
Do you think being an openly gay artist limits a singer’s career?
No, it doesn’t. There are a lot of famous gay artists who are world-famous and inspirational to so many people. It’s very important to be accepting of yourself and embrace yourself no matter if you are gay, straight, bi trans, non-binary, etc… the more you love yourself, the more it inspires others around you to be confident and accept themselves, even if you don’t notice it.
We see a lot of shirtless selfies on your IG – do you ever feel the pressures of maintaining the perfect body?
I always feel the pressure of maintaining my body, primarily for myself and my own mental health, who doesn’t like to look good, right? I love to be healthy and look healthy. Good looks give me a lot of confidence. My Instagram started from looking sexy and selling looks. Now I am slowly shifting my audience towards appreciation of my talent and wishing to see more of my work. Sex image combined with good music is a powerful combo that can attract a lot of people and that’s what I am going for at this stage of my career.
Who is your dream celebrity duet?
The first dream celeb collab would definitely be between Ava Max and Ariana Grande. Both of them are my favorite artists. Zayn and The Weekend are my favorite male singers, so I am certainly manifesting collabs with all of them!
Who is your celebrity crush?
Ava Max, Mila Kunis, Ryan Reynolds is a dream husband, and Ariana Grande.
If you were to design a pair of Andrew Christian underwear, what would they look like?
Minimalistic collection of plain colors like beige, white, black, pink, green, orange, and blue underwear with a comfy front pouch for balls and an elastic thick band to define a waist and give the butt a little pump.
You can follow Nick on IG: @Nick_Osin