Obongjayar is the artist we're most excited about right now. The Nigerian-born, London-based musician has recently released his a series of new, magnetic and memorable pop tracks that we've naturally had on repeat. The artist, who won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically, is starting a new chapter of music, off the back of sold out tours around the UK and Europe, a global hit with Fred Again.., and collaborations with Little Simz, Jeshi, Giggs, Danny Brown and more. It's a good time to be an Obongjayar fan. We spoke to the artist about the new music and what's happening in his world:

I've been listening to your new songs so much. I love them. I especially love the visual for Just My Luck.

Thank you so much.

Let’s start by talking about these songs and why you wanted to release them together and the start of what I believe is a new chapter for you.

The idea behind releasing them together is that sound-wise, they’re very different, right? But in terms of lyrics and sentiment, they’re similar. I wanted to show two sides of the nuance within my music, what I’ve been working on and the direction of the new music I’ve been making. I thought it was also quite fun to do and brave to do, rather than like, trying to step on a path that was just single, singular, or two dimensional.

In terms of making these songs, what was inspiring you and where were you recording this music? What was the vibe of your life at this time?  

The vibe of my life? That's funny. Tomorrow Man was one of the first songs I made after my last record. That was a kickstart into this new kind of era or arc of my music. I made Just My Luck in LA with Yeti Beats and Soraya and the whole gang. The song just sounds like being in the sunshine. If you listen to Tomorrow Man, you know it's probably made in London. You listen to Just My Luck, you know it's probably made in LA. I’m a big believer of the music you make in different places reflecting what those places are like. But I guess at that point in my life I was understanding that certain things - for better or worse - that I have wanted in life haven’t come to me exactly how I wanted them. I was feeing disappointed but then began to realise that those things probably happened that way for the best.

I remember reading in your quote about one of the songs, you mentioned self enlightenment. I know that this question isn't necessarily specifically about the music, but I assume it would inform all your music - can you remember when you began to become conscious of that enlightenment?

I've always had that. Everything has always been deep for me and a huge part of my life for my music. I'm always self aware and critical of not just my environment, but of myself as well, and why I do certain things. I've been very curious about those things and music helps me explore that and try to understand it. But it’s always been part of me, even being a kid and asking existential questions that I didn't even understand. I guess books, poetry, film and art are mediums that open up my mind to other ways of thinking. They allow me to think beyond myself and my direct relationship with what’s going on, in a more rounded way. That’s what these two songs to too, they are reframing certain ideas or concepts and trying to understand them.

It's interesting because when you look from the outside in, just looking at your career, you work with so many artists and creatives and there's so much collaboration. You said Just My Luck is about loneliness and wanting to be part of a crowd. I was thinking about like your creative community - do you have one and do you think that you've found your place within one? ‍

The thing about being lonely is that it's never enough. You can have as many friends as you want or be in as many crowds as you want but I you're always like, ‘Oh, what about there though’? You want to conquer the next thing. So when I said loneliness, I meant not in the sense that there's nothing there because there is always something… We’re just always looking to the next thing. I guess the sentiment of the song, or the core of the song is just being like you know what? This is cool, I don’t have to be at that thing. This is where I’m at and I can make the most of it. I can be happy wit the little that I’ve got. And it's going to sound really cheesy, but it's important that it's not a destination. Like if you’re going through hell, just keep going.

Yeah, that can be so reassuring.

Do you know what I'm saying? You can't run away from it, and that's what the song is [about]. It's like, whatever experiences or unlucky situations you might find yourself in, use it to your advantage.

Totally. What's been the hardest lesson that you've had to learn through your career and doing what you do with writing and releasing music and letting the world experience it?

I think framing how I tell a story. Like how do you communicate an idea well? I'll give you an analogy. So if you go to a different country where they don't speak English, and I stay insistent on just seeking English in hopes they just understand what I’m saying, chances are no ones going to understand apart from the people who really want to. That pool will be small. I think it’s the same with music. If you’re trying to talk to people, you need to work out how you speak to people in ways they can understand. Not being so self indulgent and only focused on yourself.  That’s been an interesting lesson, how I frame my ideas that I’m trying to get across, and how I deliver them sonically and musically and get the point across without distracting. That’s the challenge as an artist, to figure out how to translate your perspective to the world.

That’s a great lesson to be experiencing at this point in your journey. Have you noticed a difference in the way your music is received since you’ve had that thought in your mind?

It’s much more fulfilling for me because it’s challenge you set yourself. I’m not saying I’ve got it figured out yet, I’m working it out. But it’s something I’m working toward. I’ve definitely noticed that they’re being received differently though. I do this thing called Parties in Paradise every month here in London and play these songs. It’s intimate, to 200 people in the room. We play new songs and test stuff out and see their reactions to songs. I’m just gauging how to moves within, how it computes. Everything has been catching instantly. So that has been a confirmation that I must be doing something right. Also, I feel it in my body, playing the songs and not overthinking. It’s electric.‍

Being 10 Magazine, we love fashion obviously and it seems you do too. How does fashion and style play into your music? How do fashion and music coexist in your world?‍

I'm just a stylish guy.

True!

I’m not as savvy as you would be, but I know the things that I know and I like the things that I like. But it’s not from a place of someone who is really about that life. So it plays an important role for me but roe so in a passive way. I have ideas on what things should look like but I would always bring someone in who knows better than I do. I actually used to sell Jordans back in the day, like there’s a point in my life where I worked in retail stores and stuff like that. Growing up is recognising that yes, there are a lot of parallels between music and fashion, but really you don’t have to do anything except do what you’re comfortable with. I think it’s all about telling a story.

Okay, one last question. Do you have any recommended listening, reading, watching?

There are so many things I can pick. I just read this book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. I don’t know if it’s changed my life but it’s a good interesting read. And music wise, what have I been listening to? I recently discovered this guy called Youth Lagoon, which I can't get enough of, and I would recommend people listen to because it's incredible.

Listen to Obongjayar HERE.

@obongjayar