Emerging Alternative R&B artist, Esseo, unveils a new chapter with his deeply poetic and metaphysical project, ‘Birds Before Land’. More than a sonic experience, the EP is a spiritual odyssey, one that captures the fragile space between heartbreak and healing, longing and landing. Anchored in layered soundscapes and lyrical clarity, ‘Birds Before Land’ blends Esseo’s signature melodic rap, experimental pop, and cosmic storytelling into a project that feels both grounded and transcendental.

Written and recorded between London and Lagos, the EP delivers a balance of emotionalrawness and celestial production, inviting listeners into Esseo’s inner world. From hypnotic vocals to delicate synths and percussion that feels suspended in the air, the project explores what it means to stand at the edge of transformation.

‘Birds Before Land’, in ESSEO’s words, was inspired by a moment of emotional clarity, beingwith someone he deeply cared about and realising the connection felt more meaningful thanexpected. It was as if a story was unfolding, where both his longing for love and his desire for a breakthrough in his career were finally converging. In a period of feeling lost, he alchemised thatpain into music, using storytelling as his outlet. The project spans 7 tracks, led by the single ‘Ẹyẹ Ọ̀kìtì’, which blends Afrobeats with Amapiano elements to create an infectious,groove-driven sound.

Featuring standout contributions from producers like Z Shan, WISEGUYY, FXRGN, KAYDEEPRO, KlaSick Beatz, King Arthur Beats, Jai Dreamer and HYPRWRLD, the EP is followed by other tracks, including:

• Out The Streets – Here, Esseo reflects on newfound loyalty and the pull of early love,capturing the warmth and vulnerability of the honeymoon phase.
• New Szn – This is a braggadocios song where Esseo bigs up his new partner & boastsproudly of how bossy she is. emphasising their inevitable connection building
• Let’s Go Out – is a moody R&B track exploring toxic love and anxious attachment, wherehe’d rather have his partner by his side than out partying with friends.
• ‘Ẹyẹ Ọ̀kìtì – This track draws inspiration from Nigerian artist ASA’s ‘Eye Adaba’, which portrays a peaceful dove. In contrast, Esseo’s lover is becoming more hawk than dove, a bird of prey, yet he remains deeply enamored by her transformation.
• 2222 – In manifestation terms, ‘2222’ as an angel number refers to alignment. As the relationship is beginning to sour, and Esseo laments about this, this is all part of a bigger plan with no need to worry, as what is for you will always be for you. Your desires desire you back.
• Pretty In The City – Over a dark, alternative R&B instrumental, Esseo speaks directly tohis lover as their relationship grows increasingly turbulent. Still, the track remains anode, a heartfelt message affirming how much he admires her and believes he’s the perfect partner for her.
• No Dreaming – In this track, Esseo confronts the lull between two star-crossed lovers,acknowledging that she holds the upper hand and he’s willing to play by her rules if it means keeping them close.
• The Raven – This song draws inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven, a poemsteeped in the sorrow of lost love a feeling Esseo echoes deeply at this stage of the EP.Mirroring the haunting tone of the poem and tying into the overarching theme of ‘BirdsBefore Land’, the project closes with Esseo asking the lingering question: “What’s itgonna take?”

Each song adds depth to the EP’s central themes of transformation and emotional clarity.

On the creative direction of the EP, Esseo shares, “Birds Before Land is about the spacebetween longing and arrival. It’s what it feels like to believe in love or purpose before it’s tangibleto hold hope like it’s already yours, before you reach your desires that have always been waiting for you.”

Drawing inspiration from artists such as Travis Scott and PARTYNEXTDOOR, Esseo crafts a sonic journey that reflects the quiet beauty of becoming, before arriving.

‘Birds Before Land’ is available now on all major streaming platforms.