As the music industry expands with room for talent from any and everywhere, it does feel like today’s artists are getting more confident and deliberate. While it may feel a bit congested at times with replay value being very low due to the amount of music that there to be consumed, witnessing so many artists rise with such infectious love and passion for their craft, is impressive.
SMOJ is a Chicago-based singer, songwriter, and producer originally from Lagos, Nigeria who falls under this umbrella. His serendipitous music represents the advent of genre transcendent sounds from Africa. In summary, it can be described as a distinctive blend of elements taken from altè, afro beats, reggae, hip hop, pop, and RnB, a reflection of the exquisite ears of today’s youth. His latest, The Blue Door is an encapsulation of this.
The six-track EP comes two years after his debut single, and on it, he demonstrates significant artistic growth and a more realized vision. While still feeling blessed and excited to be continuing his musical journey, SMOJ is at a point where he finally has his foot in the door, and he won’t stop until according to him, he breaks every single door down to the ground and the world registers his name.
As we tried to demystify the sounds and messages that make up The Blue Door, we also took time out to understand him better and other things that influence it in this short interview.
What drew you to music?
I’ve always been a writer. Before I turned my writing to music, I’d write little stories and poems and whatnot. The things I write are usually my feelings, thoughts, or life experiences. Writing is one thing, but I’m drawn to making music out of it because of the way I’m able to express myself and give life to these writings. And some other times, I just like to listen to beats and create a vibe.
How would you describe your type of music?
I would describe it as a distinctive blend of elements taken from afrobeat, RnB, hip hop, pop, and reggae. Smooth music you can vibe, dance, and drive to.
How are you able to bridge your sound to accommodate those back home and those in the diaspora?
That comes naturally to me. My music experience is extensive and my influences come from there. All these influences are equal and apparent in my music so there’s always a sense of relatability for everyone.
What makes you stand out?
The uniqueness of my melodies, the novelty of the sound, and the way I tell my stories with characters sometimes. Expressing it all in such a way gives you a vivid picture of what’s behind the music.
What has changed since you released your debut single two years ago?
I have been a lot more inspired to work on more music. And not just for the sake of working on, or making new music, but to actually make quality music. It has really inspired me to improve my writing, creativity and make music that clicks! Music that would genuinely make the listener say “rewind that”.
Tell us any stories or experiences behind the creation of The Blue Door?
A common theme that shows up here and there in this project is nonchalance in some of my past ‘situationships’. That’s because I wrote some of the lyrics back when I was going through all that. So in Titanic, I’m talking about a girl who lived in New York at the time. We only saw each other when we were traveling or visiting each other’s cities. We had something fun but it wasn’t serious, so we never talked about serious issues.
What do you want listeners to pick from this EP?
I want people to just vibe with me. I don’t expect that you’ll be able to relate to every aspect of the EP, but there’s definitely something for everyone. So just vibe with me. Take a ride with me.
“A lot of people have told me that I was the first person that made them feel at home and accepted. I want to make people feel the most authentic and show the world the best version of themselves that they can be.”
What are your own favorite songs on the EP and why?
I like Mad At You and When The Money Come the most right now. But that’s subject to change.
Which producers did you work with?
Directly, I worked with two producers, but there are five different producers on the project. I worked closely with Trackmaster who produced Titanic and Rhythm On Me. The other producers I didn’t directly work with; my team would send me a beat and if I liked it, they got it and I went in and made some changes to the beat to match exactly what I wanted.
SMOJ is one of those artists whose music is a direct reflection of them. His thought process and experiences make appearances in his music and being a young creative, this phenomenon makes his music relatable by extension. The Blue Door, a shadowy, smooth-oriented collection mined from the deepest reaches of his subconscious and the solitude brought about by a global pandemic is a leap from beginner to knowledgeable.