Strei on Finding His Voice, And The Right Path As An Artist

For most artists all around the world, music didn’t arrive as a grand plan or childhood prophecy, it simply happened. This is how Strei’s story begins. It started quietly, almost innocently, with singing everywhere he could. 

The shower, random moments, any space that allowed his voice to breathe. It was about joy as he spread the talent, he had with people around him.

Strei’s love for music eventually led him to the choir, not as a career move, but as an act of worship. Singing felt natural, spiritual, and grounding. Over time, that connection deepened. What began as passion slowly turned into purpose, and before Strei knew it, he wasn’t just singing anymore, he was writing his own songs and shaping his own sound.

Strei’s sound is rooted in emotion. When asked to describe his music, he terms it as Afromood, a style grounded in Afrobeats but driven by emotion, honesty, and vulnerability. His music leans into feelings rather than formulas. It’s about being true to oneself, even when it’s uncomfortable, and allowing listeners to feel something real through his lyrics, melodies, and overall artistry.

That emotional depth doesn’t come from nowhere. He draws inspiration from artists who are unafraid to break rules and express themselves freely. Frank Ocean inspires him through artistic freedom and soul-touching storytelling, while Rema represents proof that creative freedom is possible within the Nigerian music industry. From visuals to performances, intentionality matters, and that’s something he strives to reflect in his own work.

Thriving in Nigeria’s music industry hasn’t been effortless. He describes it as a constant learning curve, especially moving from making music alone to working with people. Relationships matter. Networking matters. And for someone who isn’t naturally social, that reality has required growth.

“It’s challenging,” he admits, “but I’m learning.” Navigating the industry means finding a balance between opening up to people and staying true to himself—a balance he’s still refining.

“The Nigerian music industry is huge, full of talent, love, hate, potential, everything. It’s a people-driven space, down from the audience to the people in it so it can be unpredictable and tricky to navigate. But it’s fertile ground. I love Afrobeats, I love Nigerian music, and even though it can be a jungle sometimes, it’s ours.” Strei said.

Seeing people connect with his music in real life has been one of the most validating experiences of his journey. Performing on big stages and watching people vibe to his songs hits differently than streaming numbers on a screen. The energy is immediate, raw, and affirming.

With more shows lined up this December, he’s embracing the feeling and letting it remind him why he started in the first place.

One of the hardest decisions he’s made was choosing music over school. He wrote his WAEC early to focus fully on his craft, calling it a “gap year,” even though he knew deep down that this decision might mean never returning to the traditional academic path.

The challenge wasn’t leaving school itself; it was facing the expectations, pressure, and questions that come with stepping away from what society considers “normal.” Still, he chose music, fully aware of the risks, because that’s where his heart was.

If there’s one lesson guiding Strei forward, it’s this: there’s no single right answer in music. Art is subjective, feedback is important, but so is trusting your own vision. Authenticity, Strei believes in what sustains an artist, not just in music, but in life.

He’s learned not to be easily swayed and to stand firm in who he is, even when others don’t fully understand his direction yet.

Looking back, he wouldn’t change a thing. Every fast moment, every mistake, every lesson—he credits it all to grace. Each experience shaped the artist he is today and the one he’s becoming.

“The good and the bad,” he says, “they all mattered.”

Despite its complexities, his love for Afrobeats and Nigerian music runs deep. It may feel like a jungle sometimes, but it’s their jungle, and he’s proud to be finding his place within it.

Strei hopes for greater exploits as he zooms into the next phase of his career in the coming year.