He’s 20. No really, he’s 20. But BOJ doesn’t look it. Neither does he sound it. His music, a mix of “several different pieces from different genres” by his own account, sounds considerably older than he is. This can be attributed to his background, like most peculiar attributes of good musicians; he was the only child for 9 years and spent his early childhood following his mother around and listening to his mother’s music collection. He did not grow up listening to Westlife and the teenage sensations of the 90’s, he was more of a Onyeka Onwenu-listening, Bongos Ikwue-enjoying, 9 year-old. That’s why his music sounds more classical and richer than contemporary 21st Century music.

Born in London and still residing there because of educational commitments, BOJ, full name Mobolaji Odojukan, has travelled to several countries like the USA, Barbados, Nigeria and France. Without doubt, this appetite for travel and the imbibition of experiences in the process has undoubtedly influenced his music further. He already sounds like the finished article, but he would never admit it. “I still have a lot of work to do. I haven’t accomplished anything yet,” he says all the time.

However, despite the obvious parallels between his music and the music he listened to as a boy, BOJ finds it difficult to mention any particular artiste as an influence. “I don’t have any influences per say,” he says. Without context, this statement might be interpreted as arrogance. But his expression as he says the words betrays the truth that goes beyond his words, truth even he might not be consciously aware of: he has been influenced by so many different people that he cannot pinpoint which one in particular influenced him the most.

Since his first performance, he has gone to perform at many major events and he intends to perform in more high-profile places, growing his music and his brand into a global phenomenon. In doing this, he intends to collaborate with a lot of musicians. “I’d like to collaborate with Ice Prince, Temi Dollface and Asa.”

But that is all to come in the future. For now, BOJ is content with biding his time while he goes to school, featuring in the odd song here and there, providing backup vocals for this musician or that. His recently released EP, #BOTM, short for “BOJ On The Microphone,” a 10-track beauty produced primarily by StudioMagic, was well received and served as his introduction to the music scene.

The self-described hustler sees teenagers as his primary target. “For now, though,” he adds. He intends for his fans to grow with him. It is the expectation that as he gets older, so will the content of his music mature, shifting from teenage-centric topics as young love, parties and laissez-faire, to deeper themes as the meaning of life and self-actualisation.