Charles Kossivi channels his infectious appreciation for life into his music and has developed a dedicated following as NoMaD, a multi-talented musician that blends alternative folk with a pop-rock flair.
Though he may not be a native Plant Citian, Charles Kossivi has slowly, but surely won the hearts of the community with his awe-inspiring music.
Kossivi, otherwise known on stage as NoMaD, has performed in town several times over the last few years and has built up a dedicated following of locals who have thrown themselves behind the young singer in support of his message.
“I write about life, work, kids, wives, husbands, death, love, I try to cover the whole spectrum of life and honestly invite people to see God is in love with them,” Kossivi said. “Lots of people don’t necessarily associate my music with worship and that’s OK. It does come across as love, as a way to tap into the core of why we are here. I’m just trying to say that there is a God and He loves you.”
While teaching high school math years ago, his students found out he was performing in his free time and eagerly spent an entire class coming up with the perfect name for his onstage persona. They came up with NoMaD and while they may have simply thought it was an interesting trademark, Kossivi said it truly struck home.
“It fits my personality,” Kossivi said. “What they didn’t know was I always felt like a nomad. Like I could pick up and make a home wherever I was.”
Growing up in Togo, Kossivi said he never had access to a wide variety of instruments. He would improvise, make use of what he could get his hands on and when he came to the U.S. he quickly channeled his curiosity into learning every instrument he could pick up.
When he took a moment to reflect on the type of music he creates, he struggled to find the perfect genre to place it in. It carries the underlying current of soft and melancholy folk tunes and blends them with the hope and upbeat rhythm found in pop. To be safe, he always labels his songs as singer-songwriter, as he said his true strength lies not in the cords, but in the words.
“When I was growing up I loved the idea of music as a way of communicating,” Kossivi said. “I’m a Christian and I believe when God said let there be light, there was music. There’s an idea of music carrying God’s message across the universe in rippling waves. I think, especially in America where life is so fast-paced, people are looking for a way to slow down… I talk about very heavy things in my songs, so you have to kind of pause and slow down when you listen to them.”
The response, however, is starting to take him by surprise. Though he can frequently be found throughout Tampa Bay performing his music, he said he continues to be shocked when he hears how much people seem to respond to his message. With a soft smile and a shrug he vows it must be because people are searching for the same authenticity he is and finds relief in hearing lyrics that strike such honest cords.
Kossivi is alive, he is loved by his God and he’s refusing to take a second of his existence for granted.
Two days before his 28th birthday, Kossivi was diagnosed with stage IV SDH deficient GIST cancer. He said he was told there was nothing they could do and while he braced himself for a quick end to his story, his genuine devotion and love for God and his community never wavered.
“My wife bought me a sign that says, ‘My life is the story of the favor of God,’” Kossivi said. “I am supposed to be dead and somehow I am still alive. There’s nothing I can do, but here I am. Last time I was at a scan the doctor asked what I was doing. I think I’m proof that God loves us. Growing up in Togo was a story in and of itself. Miracles happen and you’re just left to make sense of it. In Africa it’s impossible to not see God’s plan.”
His raw appreciation for life and genuine devotion to the moments he is granted seeps out of his music. NoMaD concerts, as was evidenced in his performances at Praise in the Park and Krazy Kup, turn into full-blown worship sessions.
One of his more unique offerings is his Patreon page, where Kossivi interacts with his growing following in an intimate setting. People pay anywhere from $1 to $100 a month to be a part of the group and he asks questions, releases original music and will even write songs based on conversations he’s had about the lives of the members of the page.
He said movies often remain lodged in our mind because of the emotions evoked by the breath catching soundtracks that accompany them. His Patreon page allows him to work on the soundtrack of other people’s lives and he said he’s honored and excited to be able to help bring to life some of the experiences his fans have lived through.
You can listen to NoMaD on any music platform, including Spotify and iTunes. You can follow him at the ListentoNoMaD handle on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Soundcloud and almost every other site. Check out his website or Facebook for a schedule of upcoming performances. His very first headlining gig in Tampa Bay is coming up at the Bay Area Church of Christ in Seffner on June 15 at 8 p.m. You can also email him at listentonomad@gmail.com for more information.
