Dreamer Isioma
Dreamer Isioma | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2000 or 2001 (age 23–24) |
| Genres | Various |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Labels | AWAL |
| Website | dreamerisioma |
Dreamer Isioma (born 2000/2001) is a Nigerian-American singer-songwriter and multiple-genre artist from Chicago.[1] After Isioma's breakout song "Sensitive" went viral on TikTok in 2020, they[a] released a debut album titled Goodnight Dreamer in 2022. Their sophomore album Princess Forever was released in 2023 by AWAL.
Early life
[edit]Basically, my parents had a plan. They’re like, this child is either gonna do music or be an athlete or both.
Dreamer Isioma grew up in a Christian household.[1] They are from a Nigerian-American family.[4] Their family moved often, and they spent their childhood in Lagos, London, and Chicago.[4] In Chicago they began learning music theory at age three, and later studied classical piano and violin.[3] They attended a Catholic school, where they experimented with gender expression within the confines of the school uniform.[4] At 12 years old, they came out as queer, and later as nonbinary after a psychedelic experience in their late teenage years. Their eclectic fashion which mixes traditionally masculine and feminine components was profiled in Vogue.[4]
In high school, Isioma attempted to switch from playing music to being an athlete, which was more socially acceptable. However, this change was prevented because they broke their wrist.[3] When they were 16 years old, they began making music, with influences including Chief Keef and Paramore.[4] Producing music became a serious passion while Isioma was still in high school; they routinely spent hours working on songs each day.[3]
After high school, Isioma began attending college in Chicago; they initially planned to study marketing but switched to communications to avoid required math classes.[5] In November 2021, they underwent a masculinizing chest surgery and expressed gender dysphoria on social media.[6]
Career
[edit]Dreamer Isioma began making music professionally in 2018.[4] In 2020, their song "Sensitive" went viral on TikTok, becoming their breakout hit.[4][5] The song, which mixes R&B, hip hop, and funk influences, was later described in the Chicago Tribune as "a sonically playful wonder".[3] It was featured in the final season of Insecure.[5]
As a result of the success of "Sensitive", Isioma was able to access additional resources to create an album, working with a distributor and creative team and having a budget for the first time.[4] Work began on the album in March 2020.[3] They released two EPs in 2020, titled Sensitive and The Leo Sun Rises.[5]
In 2021, Isioma made their debut tour,[5] which included appearances at Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits.[3]
Isioma released their debut album Goodnight Dreamer on February 23, 2022,[1] after the release of a lead single and accompanying music video titled "Bad Ting".[7] The album was distributed by AWAL.[6] NME described the album as a blend of various influences including Afrobeats, rock and roll, and modern electronic and pop music, and praised it as feeling "genuinely fresh, newly discovered".[1] MTV stated that the album is made up of "various soundscapes and themes of being one’s authentic self".[5] WRBB gave the album four stars out of five, praising it as "an intriguingly beautiful commentary on love and sexuality" with "fresh androgynous musical style".[6]
Asked in February 2022 by PAPER how they would describe their profession because of their output of visual music videos in addition to music, Isioma self-described as a "creative director" rather than specifically a "performer, songwriter or vocalist". They noted that while all their music is created in collaboration with friends, they "take a lot of pride in being the mastermind".[7]
In April 2023, Isioma released a second album titled Princess Forever.[8] Pitchfork included the album, which was distributed by AWAL, in a weekly list of new albums to listen to.[9]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Konemann, Liam (February 22, 2022). "Dreamer Isioma: achingly-cool, community-focused pop from a future indie hero". NME. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
- ^ Bartee, Richardine (April 25, 2024). "Nigerian R&B/Alté artist SOLIS4EVR and Dreamer Isioma beg your pardon on 'Sorry 4 Calling': Listen". GRUNGECAKE. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Julious, Britt (February 11, 2022). "Since the hit 'Sensitive,' Chicago music artist Dreamer Isioma has been in a whirlwind of fame". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Randall, Tiana (November 9, 2022). "This Musician's Fashion Philosophy Is "Drip Has No Gender"". Vogue. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Garrett, Ural (February 28, 2022). "Dreamer Isioma, The Fearless Observer, Is Unfazed". MTV. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
- ^ a b c Crowell, Rachel (March 10, 2022). "On Goodnight Dreamer, Dreamer Isioma is chameleonic". WRBB. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
- ^ a b Whitmer, Savannah (February 2, 2022). "Dreamer Isioma Travels Through Time". PAPER. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
- ^ Shepard, Ryan (April 21, 2023). "Dreamer Isioma Releases 'Princess Forever'". Def Pen. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ Monroe, Jazz (April 21, 2023). "8 Albums Out This Week You Should Listen to Now". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 21, 2023.