Perri the Dad — 27 March 2024 on Rocket Shop Radio Hour

Perri the Dad ( R ) joined by Obi the Voicegod
Monochrome photo by Ross Mickel

Perri the Dad joined host Tom Proctor on ‘Rocket Shop,’ Big Heavy World’s weekly local Vermont music radio hour on 105.9 FM The Radiator. Catch up with them at instagram.com/perrithedad

Text by Keagan Lafferty

Perri the Dad walked into Rocket Shop in business casual style, with slacks, a white dress shirt, a black tie, and a zip-up hoodie. He’s tall and skinny, 6’ 3” to be exact. He was accompanied by his friend and manager, Obi the Voice God, who wore a t-shirt featuring the main characters from the TV show Boondocks. The show depicts contemporary rap culture, and the characters on Obi’s shirt look remarkably like Perri and Obi themselves.

“I don't see myself as just a musician,” said Perri. “I see myself as an artist, and I think as an artist. I have a creative personality. It's more than just music. It's a lifestyle. It's the way I dress, the way I talk, the way I look.”

Perri’s music is generally influenced by Afrobeats, Hip Hop and RnB. We discussed how Afrobeats fits into Vermont music culture; it’s an under-represented genre in this region, allowing Perri to stand out in the scene. “I think it is something that has been gaining a lot of momentum lately,” said Perri. “Afrobeats is so broad, it's not just one thing.”

Beyond Afrobeats, Perri emphasized that being a musician is all about trying different sounds. “I've never really had a sound. It's how I'm feeling at the moment,” said Perri. “[It’s about] how I feel and what I want to make my listeners feel.”

Perri has experimented in several genres, including indie and rock, but he sees himself as primarily a solo artist. Aside from collaborations on specific songs, Perri doesn’t think playing with a band would be fitting for his creativity. “I'm very to myself, a very personal guy,” said Perri. “And I feel like my music is also really personal.”

“I do have my preferences, safe spaces that I lean into and like, but I've never made something that I genuinely thought was bad or trash,” said Perri. “Everything gets better the more you do it, so it's not about doing it once and not getting it right. It's about still doing it, even though you don't feel like you got it right. Because even though the music might not resonate with you, it might resonate with someone else.”

Perri began showing interest in music as a toddler, and playing various instruments at age seven. The idea of releasing music as Perri the Dad came about when he was 13 years old, but has actually been in the works for a couple years. Perri’s stage name was inspired by Tyler the Creator, a key influence for Perri.

Perri grew up in Nigeria, and his culture is a blend between that of Nigeria and the United States. In Nigeria, the term “dad” is used to say that you’re trying to be a better person, and that can be combined with the paternal meaning. “[I’m] trying to be somewhat of a safe space where I'm experiencing these things and sharing them with people,” said Perri.

Perri’s first release was a single called “FRIENDS,” which was put out in November of last year. The cover photo was shot and edited by Perri, and is a series of repeated shots of himself in different positions around a Subaru against a colorful Vermont foliage backdrop. The image represents independence and what it means to be your own friend. “Friends is all about finding peace in yourself,” said Perri. “You don't need people to live your life, you just need to be a better person and focus on what's important to you.”

Perri’s upcoming EP, Nineteen, will be out on April 28th, in time for Perri’s 19th birthday. The three song collection, co-produced with Obi the Voice God and Perri, is about being young and everything that comes with that. “[It’s about] seeing into the future and looking back into the past, and gauging those experiences and trying to put them into songs,” said Perri. The EP will be a combination of Afrobeats and hip hop. “It's reflective of where I come from and my influences, with music like rap, hip hop, and Afrobeats,” said Perri.

Perri’s first song performed on Rocket Shop is off Nineteen; “Omalicha” is a word that comes from the native Nigerian language igbo, meaning a beautiful woman. Perri sings a catchy rhythm over a mellow afrobeat track, and the lyrics and feel of the song are intimate and comfortable. The song features Obi with ad libs and backing vocals throughout, as well as his own verse. Obi’s voice is extremely low and breathy, contrasting with Perri’s smooth vocals and giving it extra texture. Obi dances as he sings and wears sunglasses, regardless of the fact that we’re inside a dimly lit room.

Perri’s next song performed on Rocket Shop was “I Feel Okay.” It’s an upbeat Afrobeat track, and Perri stood up to sing this one, allowing him to give full energy. “It's mostly about not feeling okay. And I remember writing it from a place [with] a lot going on in my life,” said Perri. “It's all about trying to resolve all that personal stuff, coping with that and still moving forward.”

Perri’s last song on Rocket Shop was “all i need is u,” which was released recently on April 5th. The song has a funky jam guitar sound with a wah pedal on it as Perri sings and raps. “This song is actually one that I mastered, produced and wrote all by myself,” said Perri.

As for the future of Perri the Dad, he is planning to release another EP later this year which will be fully produced by Perri. He’s also planning an eventual album release in the near future, and is looking to book more gigs.