Obongjayar releases sophomore album PARADISE NOW via September Recordings. The follow-up to his critically acclaimed debut album Some Nights I Dream of Doors, which earned the artist an Ivor Novello award, represents a brilliant shift in his creative process and expert songwriting. On PARADISE NOW Obongjayar melds the wide-ranging world of influences that inform his artistry as a means to construct his own definition of paradise.
Speaking on the concept of PARADISE NOW, Obongjayar shares:
“Paradise Now is intended as a reminder that there is no past, there is no future, there’s just now. We’re always here, for better or for worse, so remember to take it all in.”
Recorded between London and LA with Kwes Darko, Yeti Beats (Doja Cat) and Beach Noise (Kendrick Lamar, Baby Keem, Bakar), PARADISE NOW promises adventure while showcasing OB’s most intimate storytelling yet. He grapples with everything from self-acceptance and transcendence to grief and loneliness, FOMO, procrastination, and never-ending nights, proving why he is one of the most thrilling voices to come out of the UK to date. From the bubblegum synths on “Just My Luck,” to melodic yet vulnerable affirmations of “Born In This Body,” to “Talk Olympics” featuring Little Simz, the last of which Rolling Stone said “excitingly elicits the commotion of a dense West African market, but mirrors the similarly incessant and overwhelming chatter that can spill from the internet into real life,” PARADISE NOW is both emotionally complex and truly singular to Obongjayar.
Earlier this month, Obongjayar announced a string of shows across the US set for this summer. Starting July 24th, Obongjayar will bring his acclaimed live show to the US, marking his first US performances ever outside of SXSW in 2023. He’ll perform 3 shows across the country, including an appearance at this year’s Newport Folk Festival, in addition to his headline dates. Following his shows in the US, OB will take this dynamic stage presence across the UK and EU starting November 14th for a string of shows in Berlin, Cologne, Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester and London, before playing his largest London show to date at the O2 Kentish Town Forum.
Last Summer, Obongjayar launched his intimate party series PARADISE NOW, which has since seen guests and friends alike pass through to perform, including Little Simz, Pa Salieu, Kwes Darko, James Messiah, Dean George, Peter Xan, Lava La Rue, Chi, Kwes, Bikoko, Fredwave, Jeshi and more.
