As we journey through life, we all have that defining eureka moment when our minds open to that discovery that shapes the rest of our existence forever. For Michael Timeyin Igbinosa, that moment came on a hot afternoon at OAU’s pre-degree centre at Moro, Ile-Ife. On that fateful day, he decided to abort the previously lifelong ambition of studying computer engineering and becoming a tech bro. The pull of a career in music was simply too strong, and he just had to give in to its deafening summon. In more ways than one, that was the moment that birthed Aisosa, the stage name by which he is popularly known by a handful of people. And if his talent level is anything to go by, that handful is bound to multiply in geometric proportions.
Currently, a 400-level student of Obafemi Awolowo University’s Department of Music, Aisosa is an exciting artist who simply took a leap of faith. He initially got admission to study computer engineering but was able to make the switch to music. Even at the time he was changing his course, he wasn’t quite sure how he was going to use the bachelor’s degree he was chasing. It was in his second year that the vision became clear. He recognized his talent for songwriting and knew he was going to be an artist in the mould of Tay Iwar, Nonso Amadi, Ed Sheeran, and other musicians he admired.
The monotony of life during the pandemic months motivated Aisosa to post clips of himself singing covers and originals. Although he didn’t have a breakthrough viral video, he did find himself in a small community of creatives that gave him access to the necessary services of production and mixing, and mastering at affordable rates. This was an important moment that helped him rise above some of the limitations of being an independent artist and a Nigerian student. All that was left to do now was create and distribute his music.
In a world where everyone is obsessed with fusing genres, it is refreshing to find artists who still stick closely to the principles of their preferred genre. Aisosa has dubbed himself ‘The Fresh Prince of Nigerian R&B,’ and it’s hard to begrudge him of that nickname upon listening to his debut single. “All Time Low” is as pure an R&B record as you will ever hear, and it is a beautiful and moving introduction to his artistry. That’s not to say that Aisosa doesn’t delve into fusion. In fact, his follow-up single “Abeg” blends in Afrobeat drums to the R&B sound, and it serves as an excellent catalyst for speeding up the listeners’ reception of the track.
For all his good qualities, it is the intentionality behind his creative process that is outstanding. Perhaps this is where the intimate knowledge of music obtained from his professors and lecturers comes in. Closely listening to the aforementioned pair of singles will reveal that Aisosa isn’t one to live much to chance. Every aspect seems to be calculated, from the songwriting to the vocal performance, from the production style to the background vocals. Judging by the stunning high quality of both those releases, it’s safe to say that he is not far off cracking the formula for musical perfection.
Practice is key to perfection, though, so Aisosa needs to test the waters with more singles. He didn’t release any new solo singles in 2022. The stress of the Nigerian university system is likely to blame for the reduced output. He is only months away from rounding up school and bagging his first degree, though, so hopefully, that should mean more music soon. He did put out a joint EP with Undie.Julius last month titled “At Night, You Flood My Thoughts.” The 4-track project is worth checking out as it contains a short collection of peak R&B music and shows yet again what a high talent ceiling Aisosa is blessed with. Stream that and the rest of his concise discography and familiarise yourself with the next best thing to come out of Nigeria’s R&B music scene.