We spoke with Obumneme about “S I S Y P H E A N” and more!

Q: Hi! When you look back on the title S I S Y P H E A N, what was the moment you knew that was the perfect name for this body of work?

A: The current stage I was/still am in was/is a state of overwhelming responsibility and decision making. A lot of key life domains in my life became more important and started to be heavy to carry and impossible to balance. I thought of Sisyphus, the man carrying the rock on his back, and realized that there is a word for what I and probably several other men in their 20s are experiencing. 

Q: This project feels really honest and reflective — can you talk about how your experiences growing up in Clayton County shaped the vibe or energy of these songs?

A: The culture in Clayton County definitely shaped the energy of these songs in a great way. There was so much music around me in my upbringing from trap, rap, hip-hop, R&B and pop around my school and on the radio, classical, R&B and soul in chorus and afro-beats, old school R&B and traditional African music in my household. 

Q: There’s this raw blend of live instrumentation and really intimate vocals throughout — what drove your decision to incorporate that kind of sound on this album?

A: Live instrumentation moves my soul and makes me feel so many emotions. The vulnerability and rawness I experience when I write makes the most sense when it’s paired with something that can move me as much as live instrumentation does.

Q: Were there specific songs on S I S Y P H E A N that surprised you in how they turned out? Like you started one way and it ended up somewhere totally different?

A: I was very very surprised by “NOW YOU SEE ME”, “MIXED EMOTIONS”, “Day by Day” and “KINFOLK”. I’m really surprised by all of them lol. To see my work start from an idea to the final product is always shocking to me but I really outdid myself with “S I S Y P H E A N” and it’s my best work (for now). 

Q: How do you think your voice — not just the lyrics but the way you use it as an instrument — evolved from your earlier releases to this one?

A: I am a lot more comfortable with my voice now. I now see how much I can do with it and how much range I actually have. With my early releases, I was definitely holding back lol. I also didn’t understand how to use my voice fully tbh but it was just not developed yet and my ear was not mature.

Q: There’s a theme of questioning and confronting uncomfortable truths — what’s the hardest truth this project made you sit with?

A: The hardest truth I had to understand was that my life is my own and nobody is coming to save me. 

Q: Did any particular track give you a breakthrough moment in understanding yourself, or was it more of a gradual process through the whole album?

A: “Day by Day” really gave me a breakthrough moment because tbh I never thought I could make a song like that lol. It really shook me and that song brings me to tears every time I listen to it. Lastly with “NOW YOU SEE ME” and “MIXED EMOTIONS”, it was really indescribable to write something that I produced. It made me finally see myself as a producer too. An artist overall

Q: I know you pull inspiration from artists like André 3000, Tyler, Kendrick, and Mick Jenkins — was there a moment during this project where you felt like you were speaking directly to that lineage, in your own way?

A: Yes, when I made “IWIHTW” I was in my Tyler, the Creator bag lol. I’ve always wanted to make a song that felt so alt and grungy. When it came to “Day by Day”, I pulled from Daniel Caesar and André 3000. With “KINFOLK”, I channeled Kendrick’s “Alright” in a sense. With “NOW YOU SEE ME”, the storytelling and poetic raps were up there with Mick Jenkins.

Q: When you’re performing these songs live, do they feel different to you now than when you were making them? Has the meaning shifted at all?

A: These songs are more real and I actually feel the lyrics when I perform them live. The meaning is so much deeper now that I get to perform these songs and promote them. 

Q: What’s your favorite non-musical thing that influenced your writing on this project — a book, a place, an idea, something totally unexpected?

A: I would honestly say my experiences. Losing friendships, being in isolation, leaving situationships, being more honest with those around me, all these things really influenced my writing on this project.

Q: Now that S I S Y P H E A N is out and people are connecting with it, how are you thinking about growth — like, what parts of yourself do you feel are still unfolding creatively?

A: I’m unfolding and becoming more comfortable in my singing voice. I was in chorus middle and high school but after graduating, I let go of everything I learned so now I’m re-learning my voice as a singer. 

Q: Looking ahead into the rest of this year, what are you most excited about? Any new creative directions, collaborators, or experiences you’re already dreaming up?

A: I am most excited to host more shows. I enjoy performing a lot, it is really a spiritual experience for me. I’m also excited to grow my following and fan base. I am excited to creative direct more videos and for my next project.