NEONE the Wonderer calls himself a music experimentalist, and the title feels apt. The Wolverhampton, UK-based artist makes music that feels exploratory, fusing elements of R&B, hip hop, sizzling drums, airy saxophone, and NEONE’s verses, which feel like they roll off the tongue. They’re not just songs, but experiences, a window into NEONE’s mind.
It didn’t necessarily start that way though. NEONE began exploring music as a teenager in the grime era, finding his footing as a musician. But it became clear to the artist that his music wasn’t going to be about a genre, but about taking in life and using his songs as a place to process.
“I explore things like mythology, sciences and sociology, all the things learned through those experiences is what guides the music itself—the lyrics, [and] the choice of sounds as well,” NEONE said. “It’s all about being able to tell a good story. And with a good story there always has to be some background and research that goes into it.”
NEONE the Wonderer performing Sofar London, photo by Austeja ChegThe artist recently spent a month in London as part of Sofar’s new artist residency program, a space to open doors for artists to create, perform, and network in new locations, and help tell their artist stories in the process. NEONE was located in UNCLE Stockwell and Elephant & Castle, residential buildings adorned with designer furniture and spectacular views, where he lived and performed for residents. For NEONE, an explorer, the days consisted of jumping on a bike to ride around the city, getting to know his surroundings, working on new material and unfinished tracks. Nights were for playing Sofar shows, or getting to know other artists. One evening included a jam session with more than 60 artists, each making their way to the mic.
“There [was] a lot [of] encouragement and involvement,” NEONE said. “Whereas some of the jams I’ve been to people are stuck to the wall or there’s a bit of cliquiness, [at] this one, I was able to speak to everyone there. I remember toward the end of it it was like, ‘ok, we need to leave….but let’s do two more songs,’ The energy was so contagious it could’ve went on til the next day.”
Though London’s only a short distance from NEONE’s home base, it felt much wider, as he has small children at home.
“They came to visit twice during my stay, and that was the most blissful moments,” he said. “One thing I’ve learned with how far I’ve gotten in music, which still isn’t far yet but it’s past where I would’ve ever imagined, once you feel like you’ve got your family with you and that they’ve got your back you feel invincible.”
And it wasn’t just invincibility that NEONE began to experience in London, but a greater sense of possibility. Sometimes a show would lead to a random collaboration with another artist the next day, or even meeting people involved in the industry. One of the apartments NEONE stayed in during his residency was high up, overlooking the city. The view was stunning, and revelatory.
“It put into perspective the progress that’s meant to happen throughout my career,” he said. “I know I’m not at that stage where I can be living on the 43rd floor, [but] to be in that position and know that there’s somewhere to get, the potential is there. I remember halfway through [the residency], the doubts started kicking in. When I get back home the gas and electric’s gonna be higher, I’m falling behind in my college work, I don’t know what we’re doing for money, It got really scary for me. But toward the end I saw a shift. It’s like, there’s more to [music] than what I’m experiencing.”
Words by Sofar Editorial Team
Photo credit: NEONE the Wonderer, photo by Adam Jalloh
