Chicago artist Dreamer Isioma has a penchant for cosmic themes.
The Nigerian American musician, who uses they/he pronouns, often performs with a band called The Celestials and named their third solo album StarX Lover.
The project, in the works for three years, finds Isioma in a brand new universe.
The album takes on darker sonic elements compared to past releases, fusing rock, alternative, pop, and 2010s punk influences to form a sound they describe as “Afropop rock.”
“Shout-out the whole pop-punk era,” said Isioma, who spent their childhood moving between Chicago, London, and Lagos, Nigeria.
“I was trying to evoke that energy but make it more myself, make it more Black, make it more new and sound like you’re going to a new planet type of vibe.”
The new sound accompanies dark sci-fi visuals, which Isioma conceptualized over the past few years with collaborators Jared Avalos, Kal Kociss, and Brandon Sanchez.
They brought to life much of the video with the assistance of Lagos-based stylist Jordyn Vangei, channeling their Nigerian background as well as psychological thrillers from past decades.
“This album is both a visual and a sonic experience,” Isioma said.
“I was definitely trying to evoke a lot of iconic looks throughout different forms of media.”
Since its release on April 4, the album has been highlighted by NPR’s All Songs Considered and Clash Magazine and was picked up by Spotify and Apple Music’s playlists New Music Friday, All New Indie, New in Alternative, and New Music Daily.
Isioma will kick off their North American StarX Lover tour on April 24, concluding in Chicago at Lincoln Hall on May 31.
The artist stopped by the Vocalo studio recently to discuss the new project and recording their single “Find Some Space” with fellow local artists Adan Diaz, Victor Internet, and Brooklynn Skye.
One of the first songs I heard on Vocalo was “Bad Ting,” and I immediately fell in love with it.
This new album, StarX Lover, seems like a completely different body of work than what you’ve worked on before.
What was the process like working on this project?
Making this album was a long time coming.
I actually started making this project around when “Bad Ting” was released.
I would say the process was a lot of trial and error, a lot of living life, a lot of hard times, a lot of dark times, and just finding the light through that.
What kind of sound inspired this album?
I know someone you really love in the music industry is Paramore.
I felt a little bit of that grit that we really missed from the early 2000s.
What was your inspiration for this sound?
Definitely shout-out Paramore.
Shout-out the whole pop-punk era of the 2010s.
I would say I was trying to evoke that energy but make it more myself, make it more Black, make it more new and sound like you’re going to a new planet type of vibe.
You said that, as an artist, you put so much pressure on yourself when you’re making music, and it seems like when you look at the music, all the visuals are done too.
When you come up with the music, are you thinking of those visuals at the same time?
Yeah, the visuals for this project — shout-out to Jared Avalos and Kal Kociss and Brandon Sanchez, who I worked very closely with.
We came up with the concepts for these videos years ago, and I’ve been cooking on them since.
This album is both a visual and a sonic experience.
I was looking at your music videos today; they’re so well-developed.
Is that something you pride yourself on?
Like, you’re like, “If we’re gonna do it, we’re gonna make sure we do it perfect.”
Yeah, that’s how I feel.
Because I don’t have to do s—, for real.
We don’t have to do anything.
We’re in an era where music videos are kind of dead; people have the attention spans of squirrels.
We’re seeing something on TikTok and then we scroll away.
We’re seeing literally people getting bombed and then scrolling away casually and then going out to get f—ing coffee.
Like, none of this is real.
I don’t have to do anything.
But because I have free will, I’m just like, “F— it.
Might as well just go crazy with it, because it doesn’t really matter anyway.”
When we’re looking at these 15 tracks — of course, “Did You Ever Care” is a standout.
Which tracks on the album stand out to you?
I think “Why Must Everyone Die” is a good one.
It’s kind of a heart-wrencher; it’s very real.
I think it’s my rawest track on the project — even though, sonically, it is different than, I would say, every other track.
“Dizzy” is also a good one.
But definitely just listen to the album through and through, especially to the interludes and everything.
Just really take it all in.
You’ve said previously that you describe yourself as a creative director because you actually did a big part of the producing, the writing on this album.
Do you think it’s important for other artists to see themselves as creative directors?
No.
I’m just extra.
Not everyone has it, right?
Not everyone has it like that.
Looking forward, you’re starting to tour again.
Your tour starts April 24, the last date will be May 31, Lincoln Hall, here in Chicago.
Are you excited to end the tour here?
Yeah, I’m sure I’ll be excited to go home to sleep.
Do you enjoy touring?
Do you like the road life?
I like seeing my fans and my friends, and I like seeing new things, yeah.
Is there somewhere you would really love to take your music that you haven’t gone yet?
I want to do a show in Lagos so bad.
I want to go home-home and rock out a show there.
Is that in the works, maybe?
If the politicians get it together.
It’s kind of — you’re not really able to be gay, for real, or do much at all.
It’s kind of really bad out there.
So, hopefully, if they get it together.
Maybe.
It seems like you’ve had some big highlights.
I mean, opening up for Flo Milli, performing on the same stages as Pharrell, Janelle Monáe, doing stuff with the Grammys.
What has been a standout for you?
Was there a moment where you’re like, “Hold on, I’m kind of big.
This is kind of my moment”?
Honestly, it has not hit me in any way, because I’m always looking toward the future, and I always feel like there could be bigger things to be done.
But I’m very grateful for everything that has happened in the past.
Extremely grateful.
Even to be here right now, talking to you.
I’m really grateful that you guys invited me over here.
So, thank you.
I appreciate that.
Is there someone you really look forward to working with in the future, someone you’re manifesting right now?
Yeah, Willow [Smith].
Working with Willow would be incredible.
Working with Tyler, The Creator would be incredible.
Steve Lacy, Doechii.
Yeah, those are some of my favorite artists right now.
You were also featured in Vogue.
I feel like that’s kind of a big deal too!
Is there a certain way you would describe your fashion?
It’s raw.
I don’t know.
That’s how I dress.
But for this specific album, I was definitely trying to evoke a lot of iconic looks throughout different forms of media.
Shout-out to Jordyn Vangei, who’s my primary stylist throughout this project, who’s based in Lagos, Nigeria, as well.
But yeah, a lot of African vibes, a lot of Afro vibes, ‘70s vibes, inspired by various horror films and psychological thrillers from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s.
Those are the vibes.
Can you tell us about “Find Some Space”?
How was this song created?
What kind of emotions went into this song?
We made that song, actually, here in Chicago, in Classick Studios.
It was with Victor Internet, Brooklynn Skye, and Adan Diaz.
We were just, like, f—ing around.
There was no plot or anything, but we were just in the studio, all playing different instruments.
I was playing guitar, Brooke was doing bass, Vic was doing, like, synth and some drum s—.
It just came together really organically, on some just real Chicago musicians just banging it out in the studio.
But yeah, the song, it kind of just tells you the story of how my life has been, I guess, even since the last time I released a full LP.
There’s a lot of different emotions in it.
A lot of just me releasing a lot of chaos that has happened between then, because you can even hear it in the vocals.
Verse one was recorded three years ago, and the second verse was recorded only a couple months ago in my new home.
I don’t know.
A lot has happened between then and now.
image source from：https://www.wbez.org/vocalo/2025/04/14/dreamer-isioma-chicago-artist-new-album-starx-lover-interview
