About the song, Ehiorobo says: "I started this one with the goal of wanting to make something completely ridiculous. The sub is so distorted and crushed that it basically feels like a series of explosions. To me, it’s super punky yet playful and cute. After I’d made and released a project under the alias ‘Tsar of Gamble’ in 2018, I felt like I had tapped into what it feels like to perform and embody the energy of a hooligan and fantastical miscreant. I definitely carried that into this track, and I feel like it has such a brutal, joyful & carefree energy to it."
On the video (directed & edited by: Davyana San Miguel): "The ‘Bloodsports’ track itself is describing having the higher ground over an opponent in what seems to be a bloodsport, or some kind of serious mortal competition that also happens to be no big deal whatsoever. I wanted to embody the energy the track holds by making the visual as absurd, thrashy, non-sheek, and as fun as possible. It became a ridiculous group dance battle. They were really battling, and I wanted my team to win."
Ehiorobo’s chameleonic, expansive sound traverses the space between experimental R&B, rap, and noise punk. Equal parts soulful, poignant and zany, his output is as multifaceted as his unique personality and upbringing. Though often mistaken for a ‘futuristic producer moniker’, Ehiorobo is short for Ehiorobo Igiehon, a name that reflects his Nigerian heritage. Growing up in New Jersey, he remembers being perplexed by how dissimilar he felt he was compared to the concept of the Black male that was often touted and celebrated in popular media.
Making a conscious choice to embrace his eccentricities, Ehiorobo immersed himself in the world of video games and internet culture, making a sizable impact in a short amount of time, collaborating with artists such as Flamingosis, omniboi and Moon Bounce and releasing an intimate collection of songs on his debut LP, Limeade.
Whether he’s glued to YouTube watching arm wrestling competitions or burning sage and plotting his next moves, Ehiorobo’s unconventional art and effervescent spirit is indicative of his desire to leap outside of any comfort zones and continue moving forward. Describing himself as “dangerously hopeful”, it’s no wonder why so many are drawn to his boundary-pushing and rapidly growing discography.
After a year that has taken its toll, Ehiorobo is making his triumphant return with three new standalone singles, and an ambitious full-length project on the horizon. With the intent to “make others feel at home within themselves”, Ehiorobo’s new material emanates a vital source of energy, solace and adventure that serves as a reminder to us all — we can be more than one thing at once.
