Kevin Ossie Akushie

When the CEO of the UK’s largest independent online fashion retailer was looking for new music for the ASOS website, he chose the sounds of Kevin Ossie Akushie.

The twenty-year-old Cambridge University student’s unique blend of intelligent lyrics and infectious rhythms proved irresistible, and can now be heard accompanying catwalk clips seen by millions of shoppers all over the world.
Ossie – or Zeeko Inc, as he is known onstage – has been writing and producing music since the age of fourteen. His MySpace track Just Some Luv Tune has had nearly 6,000 views and his wonderful tribute to his university days I Love College has also been a hit on YouTube. He says his music is inspired by his parents, “who met in a Gospel group and always made sure there was an instrument or two around the house”.

He also produces and works with artists on Grime Daily – an online UK urban network for new artists – and still finds time to study for his Economics degree and engage completely in university life.

He was Treasurer of the University’s African Caribbean Society from 2009 to 2010 and is preparing to be Vice Captain of the Trinity College football team - a team which is currently top of the College Cup Division.

And as if he didn’t have enough to keep himself busy, Ossie not only managed to secure a Sales and Trading summer internship with investment bank UBS through Rare, but also received full time offers from three different desks at the firm. Such a feat is practically unheard of amongst the notoriously competitive banking interns but Ossie has taken it all in his stride. “I wasn’t expecting it at all, especially not from all of the desks, but I’m really excited”, he says. And although he’s settled on the Basis Swap desk at UBS, he has no plans to trade his musical talent: banker by day, beat maker by night, Ossie is all set to cause a stir, whatever time it is.