Obongjayar and the Art of Surrender
Obongjayar and the Art of Surrender
There’s something both seismic and serene about Obongjayar. You hear it in his voice, feel it in the rhythm of his music, and, if you're fortunate enough to talk to him, sense it in the depth of his introspection.
His latest album, Paradise Now, pluses with a distinctive kind of joy, subtle, simmering, and liberating. It isn’t the joy of instant gratification, but rather that of truth-telling; a celebration of discarding façades and dancing to your own rhythm.
“Immediate, groovy, introspective,” Obongjayar says, summing up the record.
And indeed, Paradise Now is all those things. It’s a visceral, rhythmic body of work that’s simultaneously an invitation to dance along and a journey into self-discovery. Blending Afrobeat, synth punk, funk-pop, and soul, the album pulses with a kind of wild vitality, unconfined and alive.
“It wasn’t choreographed,” he explains. “It was about my taste and instinct. I didn’t aim to reinvent anything. I just allowed myself to be free.”
This freedom is the album’s core. For Obongjayar, Paradise Now represents a departure from self-imposed constraints, a shedding of internal censorship.
“Internal pressures are self-imposed; they don’t actually exist,” he says, referencing the metaphorical glass barrier depicted on the album cover. “Once I stopped curating or constructing, I allowed myself to have fun and be present.” Presence, real, grounded presence, is the heart of this record.
What distinguishes Paradise Now is its delicate equilibrium: groove and depth in equal measure. On first listen, the tracks are infectious and danceable, but beneath the surface lies a tapestry of soul-searching and philosophical reflection. Obongjayar acknowledges this duality with deliberate intent.
“I looked to artists like Bowie, Prince, and Michael Jackson, anomalies in their uniqueness. They didn’t reinvent the wheel. They added themselves to the music.”
This sentiment forms the backbone of Paradise Now. While rhythm and hooks provide the structure, it is Obongjayar’s voice, distinct, unguarded, that gives the work its emotional weight.
“What makes something timeless is the ego being removed. You just contribute something real.”
When asked what he hopes people take away from the album, he responds:
“I hope they have a good time. That the message comes through. Great art should connect. Not everyone will love it, but it should allow people to choose how they feel about it.”
This philosophy spills into his stage presence. I recall one of his shows that I attended, the crowd pleaded for an encore as he left the audience spellbound. “You were incredible,” I reminded him.
He thanks me, recalling advice from a friend: “A friend once told me: ‘We know what we’re doing [performing]. Don’t rehearse it out of existence.’ And that stayed with me.”
The stage, he explains, is where Paradise Now truly lives and evolves.
“It’s an evolving organism,” he says. “If you try to recreate the studio exactly, you lose the essence. You have to let it breathe.”
Raised by his grandmother in Calabar, Nigeria before moving to the UK as a teenager, Obongjayar’s music is rooted in a deep awareness of cultural inheritance. His artistic lens is shaped by history, memory, and sound.
“If you have no history, you have no story,” he says. “The only place you can draw from is the path you’ve walked.”
That path, rich with personal and cultural memory, continues to shape both his worldview and his music. His heritage is not a backdrop, it’s a source. And sharing it, even in contexts unfamiliar with it, he notes, is a necessary act.
“People want to see you rock your roots. It gives them permission to do the same.”
There is a quiet defiance in his refusal to dilute his identity for broader appeal.
“Two people can come from the same place and have very different perspectives. That’s the beauty of it. We’re similar, but different in how we approach life. It’s important to pay attention to that.
Paradise Now is laced with quiet revelations that are intimate, unforced, and profound. On “Just My Luck,” he sings, “I didn’t get what I wanted, it was just what I needed.” On “Holy Mountain”: “I wasn’t looking, but I found you.” These are lyrics born not of triumph, but of surrender to life’s unfolding wisdom.
“That feeling is universal,” he reflects. “We all have dreams, but some things aren’t meant for us. And when they aren’t, it’s often for the best.”
In Obongjayar’s case, choosing honesty over artifice wasn’t just a creative decision, it was a creative rebirth.
“Being myself has let me get to this point. I wake up knowing I’m not pretending. It took years to learn that, but I’m grateful I did.”
Authenticity also underpins his collaborations with artists such as Little Simz, Jeshi, Fred again…, and Pa Salieu.
“Pure authenticity resonated most with audiences. Being myself led to the clearest representation of my voice.”
He reflects further: “When I stopped putting myself in a box, I started enjoying the process more, and being myself, which led to the clearest representation of my voice.”
Obongjayar is selective with collaborators, trusting his instincts. This intuitive chemistry continues to guide his creative partnerships.
“If someone’s work has had an impact on me, I trust that connection. There’s already a relationship in place, through the music. When we finally meet, it often feels like we’ve known each other for years. Your work reflects who you are. If I don’t vibe with someone’s energy, I won’t collaborate just for the sake of it.”
Obongjayar’s artistry serves as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when we embrace authenticity and relinquish self-imposed constraints. Paradise Now is more than an album, it’s a manifesto of presence, liberation, and connection. Through sound, storytelling, and collaboration, he offers a world where creativity is unrestrained and truth is unapologetic. With a clear artistic vision, Obongjayar hasn’t just created music; he’s crafted a lasting statement about the power of living with clarity, honesty, and purpose.
Words and interview by Reem Elnour / Obongjayar's new album, "Paradise Now," is out now via September Recordings
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