Obongjayar - “Sugar"

SXSW 2023 - OEB Score: 9; Popularity Index: 8

Pairs Well With…Moses Sumney, SAULT, Yves Tumor

It’s difficult to describe a sound that seemingly gives everything and that’s the case for Obongjayar’s Some Nights I Dream of Doors, an impressively ambitious record of soul, Afrobeat, indie pop, and ambient rock. Both passionate and soft-spoken, Obongjayar constructs songs in constant movement. Not that this is purely a rhythm piece, rather the Nigerian artist finds as much space in breezy R&B than what is normally considered highlife dance music. The movement comes from a constant shifting of mood and sonic density, putting his foot up and down on the pedal at will. At its best, Some Nights I Dream of Doors has an expressive, free-jazz tone, eschewing perfect for melodic pushes and pulls. While there is a serious, contemplative spirit through much of the record, there are some lighter moments like recent single “Sugar” that balance and deepen Obongjayar’s canvas. This is a record that keeps revealing new pockets of invention on repeated listens too, an indicator for a dynamic and far-reaching set come SXSW 2023. (Kevin McStravick)