Exoskeleton
Steven Bamidele

Nigerian-born, London-based singer, songwriter, musician and producer Steven Bamidele steps forward with “Exoskeleton”.

Building upon the thematic foundation laid in “The Fool feat. Sly5thAve”, “Exoskeleton” unpacks the chaotic nature of early romance, setting the tone for a forbidden love story.

The song explores the disorienting feeling of falling for someone intoxicating. Opening with a stripped back haze of guitar and vocals, Steven leads us down a dreamlike rabbit hole.

Told from the perspective of someone who has felt a sense of distance and “othering” from the rest of the world, the emotional bond is formed over the humanising sense of mutual loneliness. The lyrics tell of a love interest, with “different coloured blood,” symbolising the differences that many feel cause division – whether through class, background, or the simple fact that they feel unattainable – and emphasising the differences that this pair can overcome.

Unlike the philosophical introspection of “The Fool feat. Sly5thAve”, “Exoskeleton” navigates how this deep affection can be all-consuming on first experience. Referencing the track’s title, the two people shed their exoskeletons, dropping their walls and bonding through their shared isolation. However, formed in a space of emotional scarcity, the relationship is not without its toxicity. The weight of becoming attached to the first person to offer attention can distort reality, and a trauma bond may feel like a dream that has to come to an end.

Alongside the release, he has announced a headline show at The Prince Albert, Brighton in September following hugely successful live dates at Brick Lane Jazz Festival and Brighton’s Homegrown festival.