Some Nights I Dream of Doors
Ever since an early Obongjayar demo first surfaced on SoundCloud in 2016, it’s been clear that Steven Umoh, the man behind the moniker, possesses a completely unique talent. Known to his friends simply as ‘OB’, the Nigerian-born, London-based musician pens stirring and spiritual lyrics, while commanding a distinctive voice that flits between rap, song and spoken word. With afrobeats, soul and hip-hop influences, he has created a bold, genre-defiant musicality. Despite rich successes over the last few years; OB has never felt ready to release an album, until now, and his debut full-length, Some Nights I Dream of Doors represents a real levelling up for Obongjayar. Across twelve tracks, he deftly moves through diverse sounds and subcultures while navigating a wealth of personal and political topics. OB recently featured on the latest Little Simz album and the most recent Pa Salieu project.
His distinctive voice, ranging from guttural lows to a glittering falsetto, is the tool he uses to sculpt out his vast sonic vision.
Obongjayar's distinctive voice and incredible energy guide his debut album, Some Nights I Dream of Doors, but at times it feels restrained.
Some Nights I Dream of Doors, the excellent new album from from Obongjayar, marks him out as a generation-level talent
Obongjayar's 'Some Nights I Dream of Doors' homes in on his Nigerian roots, combining American R&B with African rhythms. Read our review.