Beyond Noise Team
Singer-songwriter Dayor delivers an honest, sultry ode to his dreams, aspirations and love across his hotly anticipated debut EP High Life.
Already crowned a significant one to watch through i-D’s “Royalty” issue last year, Dayor’s grippingly unique artistry instantly underlines him as a standout prospect. Merging nostalgic, high-calibre R&B and his own mellow-trap flavour, High Life is a psychedelic gallery into the evolving mind of Dayor, expressing the vices of escapism while enchanting passion and the vivid moments that defined his vigorous journey to fruition. Developing his eccentric approach that perfectly encapsulates the diverse sounds and culture of East London, the Nigerian heritage artist is on a direct path to mainstream realisation and shows no sign of slowing down.
Speaking on the body of work, Dayor mentions: “This EP is about escapism and what that looks like for me at this current point in my life. I’m on a quest for whatever brings about a change in my state of mind and reflecting on the good and the bad that comes with it all.”
Setting an intimate tone, the 4-track EP opens with “Take Flight”. Boasting spacey synths and stripped-back percussion elevated by TK’s sleek production (Knucks, Sam Wise, BXKS), the infectious backing creates complex pockets for Dayor to flex his vocal harmonies shining with melodic intimacy – a poetic cadence that balances his vision with the pace and disorientation of inner-city life.
Manoeuvring through hazy sessions of “On Fire”, we reach the apex of Dayor’s sultry musical approach, with his euphoric vocals embodying the seductive temptations that take control as he envisions a new romantic interest. Closing out the EP across the run of “High Life” and “Until The World Is Mine”, the latter produced by the infamous LeMav (Tay Iwar, Masego, Pink Pantheress), the rising talent reconciles with his personal journey and hardships while expressing the evolution of his lyrical integrity at the highest level.
Since debuting in 2019 with “Fly Shit”, the 22-year-old creative has been quietly perfecting his craft with a clear reflex for intoxicating soundscapes and potent, story-telling lyricism. Gaining early placements alongside bubbling artists including TE dness and E.Mak, Dayor went on to collaborate with multi-instrumentalist melvitto across “Drifting Thru” (1M+ streams) and London favourite Gabzy on “Way Too Much’, a pivotal moment which earned Dayor key support slots across two sold-out nights at KOKO London for The Gabzy Experience Tour last year. Closing off a breakthrough year, the young artist was selected by international superstar Stormzy as part of his “Class Of 2023” for i-D MAGAZINE alongside the likes of Clavish, Tendai and Debbie – announcing Dayor as one of London’s most exciting young talents emerging across the UK landscape.
Already championed by cultural markers from RED BULL to GRM DAILY, High Life EP will no doubt continue to bring Dayor further press attention amid a growing reputation as one of the year’s breakout names in the making.
Follow Us