Ogi's 'Monologues' Is an Exercise in Radical Honesty
Photo: Kanya Iwana
We've crossed paths with this immense talent previously on her debut single, "I Got It," but in her debut EP Monologues, we come across a statement of purpose that is truly uncompromising in its range and composition. Monologues is a deliberate case building exercise that takes from Ogi's prior law training and creates a verdict of future success. It is an argument of emotion and radiance that is noble and brave.
Inspired by the range building exercises from theatre that studying monologues provides, Ogi set out to showcase her vocal and creative range, bolstered by her famed production partner No I.D.. The layers of melody and structure match the two collaborators gracefully, their talent made immediately self-evident. Monologues is a work about finding your voice, taking the inter-generational story within us all and telling a fresh new chapter, full of melodic laughs and exploration though process, culminating in a work that steers from subtle and romantic to fierce and unremitting.
Monologues is a siren call of excellence that portrays an artist on the rise but equally mature in her songwriting craft. As a child of Nigerian born immigrants, the capacity for this boisterous joy and drive is readily apparent, and despite Ogi taking a path forking away from first generation professional predestination, the merits of her choice punch through with every verse and chord.
"The most relatable thing about my experience is that I tried to be something that I'm not to fall in line with an internalized notion of myself. In other words, I performed the expectations that I was given. And everyone can relate to forgoing the fullest expression of themselves for the sake of the crowd - the audience. But now I'm putting myself display and staging those thoughts I never intended for people to hear. We love radical (maybe too specific) honesty," shares Ogi.
We all have a story within us, a monologue of our purpose and a provision for our confidence, unfortunately it will just never sound as sweet as Ogi's.
Listen to Monologues below:
