While many might have branded Ojerime as a Bad Influence, her no-holding-back and outspoken attitude has helped shape her into the artist she is today — one who leaves no room for reading in-between the lines in her latest nine-track album. Rich in sultry melodies that echo the sparkling style of ‘90s R&B, Ojerime seamlessly juxtaposes airy production with heavy lyricism, creating a collection of songs that boast a modern attitude and nostalgic spirit.
“Growing up, I was a free spirit. Both of my parents gave me the space and encouragement to be creative in whatever field I desired. With this came a lot of backlash, I was considered a negative influence and humbled a considerable amount of times by the older generation. I believe the title ‘bad influence’ is fitting to what I’ve achieved so far, by ignoring those negative connotations and continuing on in my pursuit of enrichment. I’ve created the life I manifested as a child, I’ve achieved many goals and experienced; patience, softness and guidance from my peers to continue where I left off even after mistakes. This project is a marker of my time here as an artist but a human first, who has gone through trial and error to achieve the best I can for the space I’m in. Creatively, this is the best of me right now & I’m extremely proud.”
From the symphonic synths of “Often Enough” to the hard-hitting baseline of “Jetset”, Ojerime’s vocals hold our attention hostage throughout, rendering listeners helpless to the sway of her experimental soundscape and forth rite approach to storytelling. Vulnerable yet powerful, confident yet open, every drop of Ojerime’s spirit is dripped through the soundtrack, leaving us admittedly thirsty for more.
To celebrate the drop of the album, we sat with the artist to discuss the making of the album, what it was like to work with her collaborators, J Strngs and Mura Masa, and how her influence has transformed from bad to positive.
To stream the album and for the full interview, head below now…
Hey Ojerime! What’s one thing, apart from this interview, that you want to achieve today?
Eat breakfast and enjoy the single release for “keep it lo”… simple things.
Massive congrats on your upcoming project, Bad Influence! Where do we find you on this one compared with B4 I Breakdown?
Thank you! this project shows growth from the previous one and what I’m able to create when I have everything I need.
Can you unpack the title, Bad Influence, for us?
Growing up in my household, I was encouraged to express myself artistically and I had a voice in my household as a child, my mother in particular facilitated this environment. Spaces outside my home didn’t always allow me this grace and my confidence was misconstrued by adults. I was labelled a bad influence. Fast forward, I’d like to say I no longer internalise that notion and constantly celebrate how far my art has taken me. The influence I have as an adult is positive.
You worked with a pretty acclaimed array of collaborators, including J Strngs and Mura Masa on Bad Influence – tell us about the dynamics in the studio?
I worked with J Strngs closely, our dynamic is relaxed and we rarely get in the studio together which is funny considering how much we’ve worked and how long we’ve been friends. Mura Masa was a dream to work with, it was a super humble session and we had a banger within the hour, I look forward to working with these two more.
If you could describe Bad Influence in three words, what would they be?
Dark, honest and rich.
You don’t do many interviews, can you tell us more about the thought process behind that?
I say enough in my music.
What would you love people to feel when they listen to Bad Influence?
I want them to interpret messages in their own unique way and enjoy it within that capacity. I cover so many topics, I want you to feel heard and understood.