Get To Know: NO11

With his breakout song ‘HOW FAR’ hot on the charts since its release on the last day of 2025, “bangers, straight bangers” is what to expect from NO11. Still on the come-up, the Nigerian musician is determined to reach the top. 

Born Nnamdi Odom in Houston, Texas, and raised predominantly in Abuja, Nigeria, alongside his twin brother and six older sisters, NO11 is on a path of redefining the music scene in the capital city he calls home. New Wave sits with the rising artiste to discuss the sonic impact of his multicultural background, juggling the spotlight and school, and forthcoming projects. 

Concerning his peculiar stage name, he says “people think it’s ‘number eleven’, but it’s not. The ‘NO’ stands for the initials of my actual name, not number. NO11 is pronounced N-O-eleven. But people have just been saying ‘number 11’, so I’ve just been like ‘okay’. One day, I will change it to 11”. 

When asked what 11 stands for, he responds with “I just like the number 11, I like the way it looks. It looks clean, it looks nice. I feel like it is something that I will be comfortable being called”.

Interestingly, his childhood years weren’t necessarily shaped by music, particularly Nigerian music. “Growing up, I listened to a lot of Drake and Lil Wayne. My primary school was the American International School of Abuja. The school gave all of us iPads, but they didn’t allow us to play music. Somehow, one person unlocked it and we would always go on YouTube. I remember ‘Look At Me Now’ by Chris Brown was a hit at the time. I didn’t listen to Nigerian artistes much. We wanted to be Americans so bad,” he scoffs.

It would seem that tables have turned, as the Shima crooner prioritises Afro-music now. “In terms of Nigerian artistes, Asake is up there. I listen to Wizkid, Burna Boy, Boj, and Odeal. I listen to Amapiano as well. But I listen to myself the most.” 

Originally from Imo state, he credits Abuja for both his upbringing and sonic awakening. Not only is Abuja the capital city of Nigeria, but it is also next to Lagos when it comes to the musical atmosphere in the country. 

“Abuja touched my music in a lot of ways,” the youngster pays homage to his city. “First of all, the community and my guys. You live how you want—the freedom, your guys, the cars. It’s like a playground and that’s what I talk about most times. I feel like it’s home, it feels homely. Living there is predictable in the sense that you create your own motion.”

Music fell into 11’s lap some years back when he saw his friends trying a hand at it. “I wanted to be a politician,” he mentions his initial ambition before rerouting the sonic way. “Now, I no longer want to be a politician but I want to remain involved. I’m leaving it to my (twin) brother who is going to be the (future) governor of Imo state.”

Educated between both Nigeria and the US, 11 attended a primary school in Abuja, moved to the States for middle school, then returned to Abuja to complete his secondary education. “I think I’ve been exposed more than the average person. I like to say I’m someone that is very aware and very observant”, he explains the impact of his multicultural upbringing. 

“So, anything I put out right now is an emulation of a lot of sounds, a lot of things that I’ve heard. That’s why I feel like it (my music) is very distinct because it is a combination of a lot of things, and people haven’t really heard it before. So, yeah, I think the fact that I’ve been around definitely impacts my sound.”

Because he really likes Amapiano, the remix of ‘HOW FAR’ came about as “a personal thing, nobody influenced my decision”. NO11 wanted to see how close “we” could get to Amapiano, so he “hit up Foca and Ciza. Focalistic sent his verse in one day, Ciza also didn’t take time”. 11 then felt that another one of Nigeria’s emerging talents was needed on the track, and Famous Pluto was brought on. 

“South African people love their own music. They make music for themselves. Even when they are hopping on another song, they stick with their style.” NO11 commends South Africans’ commitment to their roots. “Both features brought their own energy from South Africa. Ciza literally changed the beats and Focalistic went off. I went there and, in the club, their music is all they listen to. They are cool.”

Having returned to the States to pursue his tertiary education as a political science major, he intends to complete his degree in spite of the limelight. Still a student, he explains that it’s been a tough process juggling school and creativity, but his folks couldn't be more supportive. 

“My parents have been saying they don’t want me to overwork because they know how intensive everything has been. So they told me if I want to take a gap year, just do it. I’m the one telling them that I know if I take a break now, I won’t continue later. So, let me just finish, do what I need to do, then go full time (into music). Because I believe I can do it,” 11 asserts. 

The Abuja resident plans to remain an independent artiste in the meantime. He further explains that it “doesn’t mean I wouldn’t work with a record label, but I want to be independent for now.” 

“I don’t think I can be boxed into a genre,” he describes his music. “My sound is a fusion of a lot of different sounds. Like I said, I feel like I’ve been around. It is melodic to start with, that’s number one. I don’t really like rapping, but I feel like there’s a kind of hip hop/rap-ish undertone—because I used to make a lot of American/hip hop songs, but it was always melodic. I feel like that’s why now that I’ve tapped in more into a Nigerian sound, it’s different. At least, that’s what people tell me.” 

NO11 enunciates that he has barely scratched the surface. “Sonically, I don’t think there’s anybody that’s really touching me,” he ascertains. “I don’t want to sound like that but, genuinely, the music I’ve made these past weeks, even me I’m surprised. Just finding a way to execute it and get it out. Once that’s done, I’m not going anywhere,” 11 reinstates his claim. 

“I want to work with Bruno Mars, number one in the world for me”, the Composure songster speaks on anticipated collaborations. “Other artistes who I would like to work with, I’m already talking to them—except Asake. I would like to work with Asake too.”

When it comes to what the future holds, NO11 is “looking forward to cementing my name. I want to be different, I know that I’m different”. He concludes confidently.