Updated: 4 days ago
What is paradise to you? What does it look like? Feel like and smell like? Would you recognise paradise if it tickled your nose? And most importantly when you reach your paradise, how can you stay there?
To Obongjayar, paradise is simply: “no rules, total freedom, total acceptance, total confidence in self, in body, in mind. You’re not restricting yourself to an idea of yourself, you are yourself.”
Opening with ‘It’s Time’ on his sophomore album Paradise Now, Obongjayar begins the journey as he searches for his own definition of paradise on his album.
Low synths and a laidback dance electronic instrumental are the perfect backdrop for distinct, sharp, melancholic vocals that are both probing and regretful as Obongjayar meets us at the point when he starts his transitional phrase.
Seemingly, the sound of knocking reinforces this enchanting world that Obongjayar has made. Expressive and dynamic drums filter in and out, chiming and guitar chords move in on ‘Life Ahead’ as the vocalist changes between a musky raw vernacular as he expresses his own insecurities before switching to a sweetly sung chorus that encourages warm-heartedness.
He wishes the best for a loved one, with who he has a complex relationship on ‘Piece in Your Heart’, pleading for them to get over the trauma from a past relationship that he is falling victim to. He croons, “There’s blood in your hands. Knife in my neck.”
In Calabar, Nigeria, he was raised by his grandmother as a child until he was a teenager, and would often hear neighbours on Sunday mornings, singing songs, gospel in particular. Woven into the very fabric of this project’s being, Spirituality and Christianity are especially found through ‘Holy Mountain’ and ‘Prayer’.
More upbeat ‘Holly Mountain’, is a song dedicated to his relationship with faith, possessing an acoustic guitar pattern and addictive bass, it can however, be seen as a love song. “There’s peace in religion, it’s grounding,” he says. However, we cannot forget that before peace, there is turmoil. Whilst the endearingly personal ‘Prayer’ is a warm, comforting draped blanket across your shoulder.
Paradise is also somewhere that you cannot get to on your own. UK’s Kwes Darko, Californian producer Yeti Beats, Grammy-winning production trio Beach Noise, Danny Brown and Afrobeats producer Sarz all heavily contributed to the project, which followed his Novello-nominated debut album Some Nights I Dream of Doors.
Speaking about his mindset going into the project, he said: “You can’t think about breaking barriers,” he says. “The barriers you break are ones you built yourself.”
Chaotic in nature, and easily the most experimental on ‘Jellyfish’, you can find clashing elements of Baile funk, pop, afro-fusion and rap all genres that have inspired Obongjayar as he reveals his bravado and anti-establishment political views.
These themes of rebellion are also expressed on ‘Talk Olympics’ featuring Little Simz, which is the only feature on the album and also sounds of punk and grunge on ‘Instant Animal’.
An honest expression of deep love and adoration, ‘Moon Eyes’ is a softly sung record that threatens to drown you in a tender embrace that carries traits of a traditional ballad.
Before pivoting swiftly to the thrilling and blood-raising aspects of romance, the flirtatious ‘Sweet Danger’ explores young, reckless love over West African grooves and bass.
The Prince influenced ‘Not In Surrender’, which is the unofficial part two of ‘Just My Luck’. Examines the uncomfortable experience of growing into your skin, and seeing the world open up for you.
Now, stepping into the world, he demonstrates the endurance and strength needed to chases his dreams on ‘Strong Bone’.
“Don’t make yourself small”, he orders himself, returning to the patient and gentleness from before. The message of the song on ‘Born In This Body’, being to be kind to oneself.
On the funk-pop influenced ‘Just My Luck’ that experiments with electro-pop inflexions and synths. Exploring the time he felt like he couldn’t fit in as a teenager in London after moving from Nigeria.
“It’s about loneliness and FOMO,” OB explains on ‘Just My Luck. “When you think you’re losing out on something and it might just be giving you an opportunity to do something else.”
“When you’re a kid, you have all these ideas, the things that you think you want…All these things you might not have had, but they in turn add to what you become. And you don’t recognise that until you’re further along.”
Ending with the breathless and guitar-based ‘Happy Head’, Obonjayar enjoys a sense of peace as he reflects on the personal growth, his acceptance of who he is, and the cautionary warning to slow down.
This project is forever-reaching affirmation, and a colourful sketchbook that pulls sounds together seamlessly and allowing them to overlap and criss-cross to create visceral art.
Paradise Now is intended as a reminder that there is no past", Obongjayar said. "here is no future, there's just now. We're always here, for better or for worse, so remember to take it all in." So enjoy.
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