Taylor OhrynMarch 25, 2022ØHENRY, ohenry, my turn to be king, boom records, 7 days a week, derek king, belong wth me, racin, all you need, new music, New Music Friday, new ep, new album, her, kehlani, zendaya, r&b, stray kids, lay zhang, selena gomez, rise, ring, k po, tombogo, j balvin, lizzo, bad bunny, oakland based, nigerian-american, gabi wilson, oyekanmi, soul, pop, hip hopComment

#Weekendvibes ØHENRY giving us King vibes all day

Today, Oakland artist, producer, and classically trained multi-instrumentalist ØHENRY releases his new album My Turn To Be King via Boom. Records. Featuring recent release "7 Days A Week" feat. Derek King and singles "Belong With Me", "Racin", and "All You Need." The 15-track album finds ØHENRY turning inwards and reconnecting with his Nigerian roots. My Turn To Be King is an earnest and introspective journey full of determination, vulnerability, and strength that results in a layered exploration touching on themes of self-love, yearning, hope, family, love, and perseverance.

The album draws its name after ØHENRY's last name Oyekanmi which means "next to be king." It offers listeners a cohesive listen showcasing his vocal, songwriting, storytelling, and production talents as he seamlessly weaves through contemporary R&B, soul, pop, and hip-hop.

Speaking on the album and in his own words, ØHENRY shares, "We're all kings and queens, we're all royal. Royal are people that run shit have self-love and confidence. Royal is about being a boss. This project is also about self-love, as in, do not be ashamed of where you come from. I want this album to inspire people to be themselves because no one can dim a light that is meant to shine. I know my music will make a mark in this world. And to me, that's powerful. It's time to claim my throne!"

Ahead of the album's release, ØHENRY shared a cinematic trailer that gives viewers a brief glimpse into his African heritage as he embraces his culture, explains the meaning behind the album, and shares his mindset, all aiding in bringing to life the project. ØHENRY draws inspiration from his upbringing and blends enchanting, vivid storylines and cathartic lyricism with heartfelt, powerful vocals. My Turn To Be King proves that ØHENRY is an expert storyteller who defies cultural bounds, borders, and genre and has the talent and creativity to continue pushing against the grain by remaining authentic and unapologetic.

ABOUT ØHENRY

Born and raised in Oakland, CA, as a first-generation Nigerian-American, ØHENRY had a cross-cultural upbringing that encouraged him to pursue an education in science and tech; his father wanted him to become a lawyer. However, ØHENRY had other aspirations in mind as he had fallen in love with the African djembe drum at the age of four and expressed how playing the drum felt like ”his calling” while taking Afro-Haitian dance lessons. It was the start of something new for the young creative as he pursued his love for the percussive instrument and connected with like-minded youth from the Oakland music scene. ØHENRY and friends formed the band Poplyfe with bandmates including Kehlani and Zendaya and would later perform alongside Gabi Wilson, aka H.E.R.

ØHENRY embraces his roots and draws inspiration from his upbringing; However, his immediate family discouraged him from pursuing music as a career. He was encouraged and mentored by his extended family and friends. He gravitated towards percussive instruments and jazz and drew inspiration from Oakland’s R&B/Soul duo Tony! Toni! Toné, Raphael Saadiq, Mistah F.A.B., Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller, and more.

Fully committed to his musical endeavors, ØHENRY earned a full-ride jazz scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He was classically trained, majored in music business management, and began touring as a professional drummer. The aspiring musician landed an internship at The Recording Academy under Harvey Mason Jr. and Damon Thomas. He learned how to produce music and cultivated a passion for songwriting while working alongside Mason Jr. and Thomas—opening up a world of opportunities for the young musician as he started to network and eventually connected with acclaimed record producer and songwriter Sir Nolan. This mentorship transpired into ØHENRY being in the same rooms as Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez, and led to him working with Gomez on her Billboard-charting album Rise where he not only sang back-up vocals but also played percussion on “Ring”. Continuing to carve his lane while also striving to make a name for himself, ØHENRY made international strides by penning songs for K-pop group Stray Kids, Chinese artist Lay Zhang, and U.K. artist Rebecca Garton. Weaving fashion into his list of accolades, last year during NYFW the multi-hyphenate walked on the runway for utilitarian brand Tombogo (beloved by J. Balvin, Kehlani, Lizzo, Bad Bunny, etc).