Today we’d like to introduce you to Obii.
Hi Obii, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I am Obii, and I am a singer-songwriter currently living in the DFW metroplex. I moved to the area a little under two years ago, and prior to my move I had been living in London (UK) for eight years. My story begins in Northern Italy, which is where I am originally from. My parents are Nigerian immigrants and I was born in a little Italian countryside town called Reggio Emilia. Growing up, I was always a very creative and artsy kid; my love for music comes from my father, who is an avid music collector and connoisseur. Thanks to him, I was exposed from a very early age to music masters such as Nina Simone, Johnny Nash, Otis Reeding, Billie Holiday, and Bob Marley. My childhood and formative young years were spent immersing myself in all the music I could be exposed to. To tell you the honest truth, there was never a moment where I consciously made the decision to become a singer; at the same time, however, there was never a time when I wanted to be anything else other than a singer. In order to pursue my dreams, I left Italy straight out of high school, and I moved to London in 2012 to become a professional singer. I consider my time in London my formative years, during which I completely got immersed in the London music scene, singing and performing wherever I was given an opportunity to showcase my music and my material. I have had the privilege and honor to work with a myriad of different artists as a backing vocalist, composer, songwriter, and session singer. Some of the musicians that I had the pleasure of working with include Brandt Brauer Frick, Beaver Sheppard, Lee “Scratch” Perry, The Supermen Lovers, and Ebony Bones. Around two years ago, and in dire need of a change, I made the decision to move to the US. Dallas-Fort Worth is what I am currently calling “home”, and I have been enjoying discovering the local music scene, which is inundated by visionaries and beyond talented artists.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has been far from smooth. From the very beginning, I knew that I had to work extremely hard since the music business is one of the toughest sectors to break into. From a financial standpoint, being a professional singer meant that I had to find a way to sustain myself financially while simultaneously allowing myself the time to work on my craft. I moved to the United States in March 2020, just when the world went into lockdown. That was a very tough period for me, as I found myself in a completely different environment, without any of the resources that I had been diligently cultivating throughout the years, and without the opportunity to make a living through singing. I went as far as a full year without performing live, though such period was ultimately essential for me to truly understand what are my ultimate dreams, my aspirations, and my goals. However, as the world around me is slowly opening back up, I am finding solace and encouragement in the opportunities that I have been able to secure so far, and I am looking forward to see what the new year has in store for me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a singer and songwriter. I am jazzy, yet I do not consider myself a jazz singer; I am soulful, yet I do not consider myself a soul singer. I suppose my artistry lies at the crossroad between Donny Hathaway, Sarah Vaughan, and Amy Winehouse, which are my biggest influences. In addition, my art is deeply influenced by blues, spirituals, African music, opera, and reggae. I consider myself of having a deeply personal vocal instrument, which I have fine-tuned through years of both listening and attempting to replicate what my idols do. I am proud of every opportunity and chance that I have been given to showcase my craft; one of my proudest moments has been the opportunity to perform regularly at the Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London, which is one of the most prestigious jazz venues in the world.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I have learned along my journey is to only look to my path, focus on my journey, and not to concentrate on what my peers are doing. As artists, we often find ourselves comparing ourselves with our colleagues; however, I have learned through the years to only focus on my journey, my story, and my book of life. By doing so, I will maintain my uniqueness and I will continue to perfect my craft.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisobii
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisisobii/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMJoU5cSTzafoqaMuwGkjww
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/thisisobii
Image Credits
Seye Isikalu
Stefania Okereke
Piotr Images
