Nigerian-born, London-raised musician, actor and multidisciplinary artist Theo Ogundipe today releases his highly-anticipated debut EP, In Transit. Listen here.
In Transit represents the culmination of Theo’s life experience thus far. Impressively, Theo produced the whole EP himself, after teaching himself the skills needed to actualise his vision. Completely open-hearted, it delves into his goals, wins, losses, joy, and pain, allowing his audience to truly understand who he is. As an actor, Theo is used to embodying a character. With his music, he removes all barriers, and only speaks on what is true to him.
Speaking on the EP, Theo says: “In Transit is my debut EP – a diary of my journey thus far as a man and a multidisciplinary artist. It is an open-hearted offering of my experiences, goals, wins, losses, joy, and pain. It is a vow to everyone who truly invests in my artistry that I am dedicated to continually giving my purest art and soul.”
Opening with ‘Plato Freestyle’, Theo wastes no time in highlighting his ability to approach important topics through his music. Initially inspired by his response to the Black Lives Matter movement and global outcry following George Floyd’s murder, it is a visceral expression of pain and confusion. We then hear ‘I.T.’, the first single from the project, and a declaration of intent for what was to come. It acts as a memoir for Theo’s life until this moment, and as the core tenet of the EP. Next comes the focus-track, ‘OFB’, a genre-bending electronic-influenced track, highlighting Theo’s talent both as a rapper and producer.
This makes way for ‘L.A.’, a reflection of love – as a feeling, experience, and source of light in the world. ‘AFY’ continues the story, picking up from the last track and delving into what happens if love is corrupted, acting as an outpouring of emotion. The penultimate track, ‘ROCA’, comes in two halves. Co-produced by Howard Whiddett, a Jamiroquai band member, it starts with an Afrofuturistic kaleidoscope of bars, embodying the voice of a modern griot. Before moving into a smooth R&B flip on the second half, bringing back themes of romance. To complete the project, ‘PIF’ summarises the continuous themes of belief in one’s own dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem.
Blending rap with soul and electronic influences, throughout the project Theo discusses his life against the backdrop of the society he’s in.
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