We now live in a world where the lines between musical genres are fading, slowly but surely. As more artistes and producers experiment with the fusion of genres we find ourselves needing to come up with new names to describe the eclectic sounds we’re hearing. But some artistes have so nearly obliterated the lines between genres with the music they’re creating that we, knowing we can’t possibly find a name for the sound, are forced to just sit back and enjoy the melodies. One of such individuals is Obongjayar.
The 26 year old London-based Nigerian-born artiste has mastered the art of making music that listeners connect to on a very spiritual level. This is not to say there is an abundance of religious content in his music – he no longer identifies with the Christian faith he was brought up on by his grandmother back when he was in Calabar, or any other faith in fact. But between him slapping elements of various genres together, crooning lyrics in his rasping singing voice, rapping or doing spoken word, and exploring common themes from a darker perspective, he successfully creates a sense of calming spirituality on his records. Be it on 2016’s “Home” EP, 2017’s “Bassey” or 2020’s “Which Way is Forward?” album, you will find those beautiful and peculiar qualities that defines Obongjayar’s music.
This sound and style Obongjayar has now settled into is at odds with this early life and upbringing. Back in his early days in the Southern parts of Nigeria, when he was only known by his birth name Steven Umoh, he grew up consuming the best of American hip-hop. The musical influences told on him and he quickly picked up the skill of rapping. At 17, he set off to the UK to join his mother and there, he continued making rap music which he sent to blogs back home to get featured. But it didn’t take too long for him to find his true voice and style. Even more importantly, he found his true self and poured all of it into his first two EPs. His works caught the eyes, or more accurately the ears of Richard Russell, an executive of Britain’s famed XL Recordings, and he is now living out the “the rest is history” phase of his life.
His days in England might have changed the direction of his music – and there is a British accent to the way he speaks now – but the core of him remains Nigerian and he makes sure to keep that part loud and proud in his music. His July project, a 4-track EP titled “Sweetness”, was a collaboration with the legendary producer, Sarz. Together they made…well, the short and easy way to describe it is magic. The long way is a fusion of Synthwave, ’80s music, Afrobeats, and Pop. Not different genres on 4 different songs, but different genres into each of the four songs. Guided along by the sounds cooked up by Sarz, Obongjayar sings about love and relationships, particularly the complexities encountered in its early stages. The lyrics are simple but pack a lot of meaning on closer inspection, and of course, that signature ethereal feel Obongjayar oozes is ever present. Just listen, really listen, to “Gone Girl” with quality speakers or earphones in a dark and quiet room and experience the uniqueness and unmistakable quality that is Obongjayar.