From creating acapella arrangements on her Instagram as a law school undergrad at Northwestern, OGI is making music on her own terms.

Describe your creative process when writing new music.

OGI: It can vary. Specifically for Monologues, I took on two types of processes. I have a background in acapella and a lot of it is demos. The demos that I have are done totally acapella like I’ll create the lyrics from something that happened to me that day and I’ll just write and then kind of create an arrangement around it. Or like as I’ve been introduced by working with Dion, he’ll send me a beat back and I’ll take something that happened to me that day and write on top of it. In either case, they have their pros and cons. With me creating my own demos, I have more fluidity in how it moves but it’s also more work. With Dion, I can fit my lyrics within the arrangement and it’s more of a collaboration.

When someone is listening to your music, how would you want it to be conveyed? And does that message change with every song?

OGI: The hope of every artist is that it feels and is able to live in the value of being original but relatable. It’s always something that an artist hopes to connect with. Specifically, with my music I hope they are able to see how much work was put into it. Dion and I worked on these songs for a good amount of time. I hope that work is evident and how meticulous the arrangements are because we have gone back and forth on it down to a snare. I hope it’s clear that we’re not trying around. 

I noticed that you were actually headed to law school as an undergrad at Northwestern. What inclined you to pursue your true passion as a musician? 

OGI: Honestly, I created an Instagram account dedicated to me just doing acapella arrangements to songs that I liked. I figured like I wanted to have some sort of creative outlet as I’m in law school. The funny thing is that there was a part of me that resented that I made one. Up until that point, throughout college I wasn’t a singer I was just someone who sang really well and I think creating an Instagram vindicated that I’m trying like I’m a singer and this is how I label myself. There is something about it like “Man, am I being pretentious?” Hear me sing. But again, I ended up realizing that it was for me first and if people liked it then they liked it. I guess people did. I did an arrangement of PJ Morton’s “Alright,” that song got me through some tough times in college. I tagged him in it and he saw it, liked it and posted it on his page. That’s when everything started rolling and I was confronted with “Do I want to do this as a career?”, Yeah I do! There is also a part of me that was always like I think I would be a better musician than a lawyer. I think I kind of always knew that. I was like everyone always gets that thought, though.

You’ve toured and opened for The Marias, and I’ve read that you’ve recently opened for Snoh Alegra. Both are incredible musicians that have different styles of music. What did you take from that experience? How does it help you garner your own style of music? 

OGI: Watching them onstage has definitely expanded my range of what I feel is possible to do on stage. I don’t have a band quite yet, I’m touring with my dear friend Jacob Galdes—he’s one of the best guitarists I’ve ever met. It’s just the two of us but definitely watching The Marias perform with the rest of the band and like how she really looks like she’s having fun with them I think it showed me you don’t have to hide that you’re having fun. There is something about being too cool but I like how she finds a good balance of looking great up there and still has this mystique but she’s enjoying her time. With Snoh, I think when she feels she goes in for sure. There’s a song called “Toronto”, that I love and she’ll sing on the floor while hitting a high note and it’s crazy. To the same point I made before, I feel like it expands what I feel like I can do. That’s what is fun about it— I’m learning.

You have so much soul in your voice. I love it. What music inspired you growing up? And how has it influenced your music style now?

OGI: My parents have pretty eclectic tastes in music. First of all, they’re Nigerian and they definitely played a lot of Nigerian music around me. My mom would play a lot of Nigerian hymns and Gospel music. My dad would show me a lot of Highlife music, which is the genre specific to West Africa. 

Do you ever catch yourself in a creative rut when you’re song writing or producing a song?

OGI: There are things to be inspired by but sometimes you’re not in the mood. Like you can try as much as you can but it just isn’t fun. I think the first thing is trying not to worry about it and just doing something else because I’ve noticed that when I’m frustrated with myself I’m going to be less productive. I have learned just to find something else and look to other things that usually inspire me and see if it comes but I think creativity is such a fluid thing. It has to come when you’re relaxed like it. Just don’t push it. Or else you’re not going to be happy with what you come up with.

Describe in one word– what is it about music that moves you?

OGI: I think the thing about music that moves me is how much you can communicate without words. The fact that songs from the U.S. can hit people around the world and it means something. It may not mean the same but it means something.

Watch Ogi’s newest single, “Bitter” out now.

Connect with OGI: Twitter / Instagram / Tiktok

Interview by Michelle Ledesma / Intro by Sophia Khom

Photography by Kanya Iwana