On May 13, Nigerian-born, London-based multidisciplinary artist Obongjayar will release his highly anticipated debut album Some Nights I Dream Of Doors via September Recordings. Today we get another glimpse of the record with the release of ‘Tinko Tinko (Don’t Play Me For A Fool)’– a perfect combination of his influence; tropical afro-beat rhythms, warming tones, and coolly casual vocals all delivered with a coherent, singular vision. LISTEN HERE + WATCH HERE.

Launched by Clara Amfo on her BBC Radio 1 show and accompanied by a Milo Blake-directed video that sees Obongjayar employed within the ‘OB Dream Corp’ organisation experiencing the surreal occurrences whilst on a night shift. Speaking about the track and video Obongjayar writes “Tinko Tinko is about role reversal. About putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. There’s always a moment in a relationship where you start second-guessing yourself, this is me writing from the perspective of a former partner – sometimes it’s good to imagine yourself on the outside looking in.”

Having garnered attention throughout 2021 by drip-feeding music in the shape of singles ‘Message In A Hammer’ and last month’s ‘Try’, as well as show-stopping collaborations with Little Simz on the track ‘Point and Kill‘, Pa Salieu on ‘Style & Fashion‘ and a full EP with influential Nigerian producer Sarz entitled ‘Sweetness‘ – it’s hard to believe that Obongjayar is yet to release a full-length album. 

Across its twelve tracks, he skillfully navigates through rich soundscapes and subcultures while navigating a wealth of personal and political topics. Speaking about the album’s inception Obongjayar writes, “This album dives into the idea of opportunity and tries to explore what that means, what lies behind those doors, and asks if we’re ready for it. The pursuit of success, what happens when you achieve it, and what happens if you don’t?  What does success mean? The head, the body, and the end of a dream. Opportunity is looking forward, and in that lies the question of time. What is your place in it? To know the future, or to fully be aware of your present, you need to analyse and understand your past. It’s an endless loop that continuously piles on itself.”

In the years that have passed since he released his first single, Obongjayar‘s music still defies easy categorisation. His musical palette is expansive, with a nod to the rich musical textures of his Nigerian roots, he adds a multitude of influences and on ‘Some Nights I Dream Of Doors’ his sound is more potent than ever. Recorded over 12 months with producer Barney Lister (and from J Rick on ‘All The Difference’), he’s created an album that transcends its influence, creating an innovative and fresh body of work that is ready to define 2022. 

Later this year, Obongjayar will take his incendiary live performance to stages across the UK and Europe, following on from his support of Little Simz’ tour that closed 2021. Tickets and more information can be found here.