Chicago singer-songwriter Dreamer Isioma is known for creating dreamy, R&B-tinged pop music that defies easy categorization.
Born Serena Isioma and raised in Chicago in a family with Nigerian roots, Dreamer Isioma--who identifies as non-binary--was first inspired to make music by their older brother, who played several instruments and introduced them to local rap icons like Chief Keef and G Herbo. Also influenced by artists like Paramore, and Tyler, the Creator, Isioma dabbled in fashion and filmmaking before deciding to pursue a career in music.
What started off as experiments with music creation software such as GarageBand and Auto-Tune ended up becoming an ambitious multi-genre EP titled Sensitive, which Isioma released in 2020. The project's title track became a viral hit, and helped land Dreamer Isioma slots at festivals including Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits.
Isioma then released their ambitious debut album Goodnight Dreamer in 2022. The project focuses on a fictional character named Dreamer who goes on a multi-dimensional journey through time and space, looking for answers to questions about life and the universe. "When I began the project, I was just somebody who wanted answers," Dreamer told NME. "I had a lot of questions that needed answers, and as I was researching my philosophical questions about life and what is happening here, I kind of wrote my own answers."
Isioma will head out on tour in 2023, performing concerts across the United States.
