music
April 15, 2026
R&B today is like Brazilian football
After being dropped by his label, the British-Nigerian singer became huge as an independent artist. So why did the Brit awards snub him? Ahead of arena dates, he reflects on his journey so far
TL;DR
- Odeal is a British-Nigerian singer known for his R&B, Afrobeats, and neo-soul music.
- He achieved mainstream recognition through millions of streams and upcoming arena dates supporting Summer Walker.
- After being dropped by a major label, he built a successful career as an independent artist, managing his own publishing deal with Sony.
- His music often delves into emotional complexities, encouraging listeners to confront their feelings.
- Odeal experienced a life-threatening bout of septic shock from malaria, which significantly influenced his perspective and led to the creation of his club night, Ovmbr.
- Despite being a prominent British R&B artist, he was notably absent from the Brit awards R&B category, which he attributes to the industry favoring major label acts.
- He sees parallels between the current global R&B scene and the creativity of Brazilian football, describing his music as 'a feeling' rather than a genre.