The Knockturnal interviewed the Phoenix, Arizona native in advance of releasing his debut EP with Geffen Records, svnteen. From a young age, the singer-songwriter was surrounded by music from a young age. Alongside listening to Sudanese, R&B, and pop music, Obai is dedicated to mastering his craft as a musician and sharing his talents with the world.
To Obai, music is a simultaneous therapeutic vessel and safe space, where he can channel his energy and thoughts into song. Inspired by the likes of Drake, Justin Bieber, and even Bryson Tiller – who the 18-year-old supported as an opening act in 2023. In conversation, Obai notes his musical inspirations when creating this record, including Michael Jackson and SZA.
In the midst of thousands of singer-songwriters across Instagram and TikTok hoping to reach audiences worldwide, Obai stands out among them as a Gen-Z artist sending his message out in the world.
Obai’s creativity beamed throughout our conversation, as Obai’s dedication to his craft is not only existent within his songwriting and production, but he stays directly involved with the visuals for his music videos as well. The EP features strong R&B tracks with accompanying music videos including “dancefloor“, “girls like you“, and “missed call“, as well as his latest release for “weeknd.”
Obai – Courtesy of 1824
See our full interview with Obai below!
THE KNOCKTURNAL: When did your journey with music begin? How did you decide that you want to pursue this as a career?
OBAI: I started making music when I was 13. I was in eighth grade. But you know, I started posting singing covers on Instagram, and my Snapchat stories, and the only people who would see it were from my middle school. So they kind of would push me just to start singing more around that time, I just was always singing around the house. I was always around music! My parents would always play Sudanese music because they’re from Sudan and Africa. My older brother and my older sister always played 90s R&B hip-hop and Y2K R&B. I had a bunch of music being played. I just love to sing, you know. At age 13 people from our middle school, kind of just caught wind of me singing. They said, “You should just make your own music.” So I did. We stuck to it after that.
THE KNOCKTURNAL: I know that you have different inspirations like Drake and Bryson Tiller, and Justin Bieber. So I wanted to know, do you have any inspirations aside from them – Whether that be you know, from your childhood or recent favorite artists who kind of inspired the sound for svnteen?
OBAI: Yeah, for sure. Um, you know, I used to listen to a lot of Michael Jackson. I used to watch the “This Is It” Michael Jackson documentary, like 50 times a year. My family used to watch that all the time. A lot newer artists that I tend to take a lot of inspiration from hearing the songwriting abilities and the melodies, like SZA is amazing. I would love to work with SZA because I feel like, for one, she’s harder than most men, you know, when it comes to songwriting. Her melodies are just always infectious. A bunch of Frank Ocean.
THE KNOCKTURNAL: Being that this is your debut EP and you’ve released singles in the past, what is the biggest difference that you’ve noticed between creating one body of work versus a single?
OBAI: Great question. I think in one single you can hone in on that idea of the song and that moment… If you look back at my old releases, I used to post a song every year, and I cared about the quality. So I used to treat everything kind of like a singular moment, which is kind of like the same way I treated the project. svnteen is a bunch of moments compiled together. I feel like the project is just like an expanded version of a single for me, and I get to make everything coincide together. I get to build a bigger universe within it. The single is super fun because, but now when we get together [for the EP], you have to sit with it and make a bunch of changes to it. It’s probably not going to be the same idea you had of it in the beginning compared to what it’s like at the six-month mark of you making it. It’s a different vibe.
THE KNOCKTURNAL: You do a really good job at like storytelling throughout the EP and telling a story with each track, even though they’re all very different. I wanted to talk about like the visuals for this record. How was it bringing “dancefloor” to life visually?
OBAI: For one, it was a beautiful studio session to make the song. So the energy was just great. The song encapsulates the entire youthful presence and energy that I’ve been bringing to the industry. I felt like the song can speak to the youth in a way, so I wanted to make sure that in the video, we try to capture that same type of thing, but through the visuals {…} I wanted to be in a diner, with my boys, and then I see a girl across the room, and it’s just, it’s like a fun vibe. You know, everybody had fun that day. It was a cool experience.
Obai – Courtesy of 1824
THE KNOCKTURNAL: Could you tell us a little bit about the inspiration for the overall EP? Does this EP represent the age of seventeen to you?
OBAI: I feel like if anything, it’s got multiple meanings for me, but seventeen was all over the place, of course, it was a year of learning a lot. I got to experience a lot. Being in the position I am to make music, it’s a job for me now. It’s a very big blessing that I get to be a part of. The music was able to capture the moments that I just couldn’t hold on to for long enough. That’s kind of what svnteen is for me. I feel like people can look back at that year [of being seventeen] and be like, “Oh, I remember when I was seventeen!” It’s a prime year for some people, for others it’s like a really bad year or a really mid-year, so I feel like you can go the project and you get a different vibe from it.
THE KNOCKTURNAL: What song on the EP, do you personally resonate with the most and whether that be because of the meaning behind the track or the songwriting session?
OBAI: That song that resonates with me the most… I will say it was journals for a while. I love “weeknd”. The idea of the song happened to me two days prior [to making it]. That song resonates the most. I would say probably “weeknd”, “turn around” or “journals.”
THE KNOCKTURNAL: What do you want listeners and incoming fans to take away from your music, specifically with the EP?
OBAI: I want people to look at my stuff and think “If Obai can do it…” they could do it too. There were a bunch of roadblocks and I’m nowhere near what I want to be. I want people to understand this is just the introduction. I’ve been making music for five years, and the stuff that’s on the project what I’ve been making for the past two years. I’m excited to continue working. I’ve been blessed to be able to get signed by Geffen, and it’s amazing. I’ve been in rooms with some crazy producers like Tricky Stewart, who produced “dancefloor.” I’ve been in the room with Don Mills {…} I want people to enter the universe with every project. I’m just elevating from now on. I’m excited to just continue.
THE KNOCKTURNAL: The EP is a great introduction to you as an artist. Can we expect any upcoming live performances, maybe a tour in the future?
OBAI: I would love to tour. I have a show coming up next month, on the 24th for mosh pit market. It’s my third show ever. My first shows were with Bryson. I’m trying to do like, 50 shows this year, for sure.
THE KNOCKTURNAL: How was it opening for Bryson?
OBAI: It was crazy experience, because my first song ever actually was off a Bryson Tiller type beat. To be able to see him perform in real life and share the stage with him at one point…It was great.
THE KNOCKTURNAL: Are there any artists that have been on repeat for you lately?
OBAI: I listen to everything. Of course, Rocky, I love ASAP Rocky. I’ve listened to draft day, Frank Ocean, SZA, Fe Webster is in there, Boards of Canada… So many different artists.