Steven Umoh, who goes by the stage name Obongjayar, is a Nigerian artist now based in London. His music bridges the culture of both locales, incorporating Afrobeat and Electonica, and with American hip hop and R&B informing his style.

Growing up in Nigeria was not an easy time for Umoh. He was raised by his grandmother after his mother fled to London to escape his abusive father. He eventually followed her there at the age of 17. As he began to develop his voice, he first tried rapping before he settled on the falsetto that he’s known for today.

He began adding his music to Soundcloud, which served as a launching pad for his career. XL recordings took notice and signed him. He released a handful of EPs before his debut full-length record, Some Nights I Dream of Doors, in 2022. The album received high marks from critics and earned him new fans. He released a new single this month. “Just My Luck” has already hit over 400,000 streams in just a few weeks, and it’s a sure bet you’ll be hearing more from this artist in the future.