ADEOLUWA is aware that his exploration of multiple genres may disqualify his latest record as being traditionally ‘cohesive,’ but he pays that no mind. He doesn’t want to be restricted to only one genre, message or perspective, embracing the complexity of his sound and consequently, of life. Consisting of nine tracks, his latest  EP boasts almost half as many genres, including pop, R&B, Afrobeats, and hip-hop. “I pride myself on listening to what the song needs, as opposed to what I want,” he says. The listener is not only taken on sonic detours, but the tracks also tell a layered story, with multiple turns centering on lost and found love, as well as self-discovery. 

ADEOLUWA’s dichotomous spirit is marked by songs like “Let Me Know” and “This Is Why,” two tracks meant to mirror each other to aptly depict the push-pull nature of heartbreak, as well as ADEOLUWA’s own life struggles. “Heartbreak [acts] as a metaphor for…hardships [the audience] might be going through,” he says. ADEOLUWA’s own personal hardships found him navigating immigration issues while trying to make it as an independent artist. “It feels like you’re always trying to prove that you deserve to be here,” he says of the exams, permits and visa applications that most immigrants regularly have to go through. ADEOLUWA aims to offer solace for anyone going through similar situations, especially on “Keep It Moving,” which he describes as a pep talk for himself and others, even though he didn’t always realize its purpose until the finished product was sitting in front of him. “I will write a song and not know what it’s about till I’m done writing it,” he says, chuckling.