Benin City has always had a quiet but undeniable pulse,a creative undercurrent that rarely gets its full credit in the Nigerian music landscape. But a new wave of young artists is rising from its streets, determined to change that narrative. Among them are Partiiboy and Ovreall, two friends whose chemistry feels less like a collaboration and more like a natural extension of the world they grew up in.
Ahead of the release of their new single “SESE,” OWNMag sat down with the duo to talk origins, identity, and the magic behind their December-ready anthem.
This interview has been edited for clarity and flow.
When asked where they come from, both artists light up instantly.
Partiiboy leans back as he thinks about it. “I’m from Benin City, Edo State. That city has a vibe that’s hard to explain, it’s creative, youthful, raw. It shaped everything about me. I carry that rush of energy in my music.”
Ovreall nods in agreement. “Both my parents are from Benin City. I was born there, raised there… I’m a Benin boy through and through.”
There’s pride in their voices; Benin isn’t just where they’re from, it’s the foundation of their sound.
For newcomers trying to place their artistry, both men describe themselves with striking clarity.
“I’m an artist who loves creating music that makes people feel something,” Partiiboy says. “To move, dance, live in the moment. In one sentence? I make songs for the people, by the people, with pure energy.”
For Ovreall, music is beyond craft. “Music is a necessity to me. I need it the way I need to eat or breathe. Every song I make is a piece of me being shared with the world.”
Their musical upbringing, though different, intersected in the same city.
“My family loved music,” Partiiboy explains. “My dad had old tapes, my mom would sing around the house. Benin’s street sounds, parties, voices, culture, Afrobeats mixed with hip-hop, everything actually, taught me that music is a lifestyle, not just a sound.”
Ovreall’s journey started in church. “Real ones know that my dad deserves the credit, you know being a pastor’s son meant being exposed to his faith and the praise and worship. So I grew up listening to a lot of gospel music, cultural music was everywhere as well, Native sounds, highlife… all part of my childhood. Then I discovered Fela in my teens, and once I started experimenting, I became versatile without even trying.”
When the conversation shifts to their new single, both faces break into matching smiles.
“It came from a feeling,” Partiiboy says immediately. “Ovreall played the beat, and the energy hit straight. No planning. Just pure inspiration and the intention to make people feel good.”
“I’m a free spirit,” Ovreall adds with a shrug. “When he called me about the idea, I fell in love with it instantly. It’s good music for December people.”
When asked to describe the track in three words, they don’t miss a beat.
Partiiboy: “Vibe. Energy. Freedom.”
Ovreall: “Gbedu. Gbedu. Gbedu.”
The contrast between them is charming, one reflective, the other wonderfully blunt. But it’s exactly how they feel about the upcoming single.
Their friendship goes back further than many would expect.
“Mutual friends,” Partiiboy says. “He just had this talent for making beats that hit differently. Music became serious for me the moment I saw people really connecting with my sound.”
But Ovreall brings the backstory into focus. “We grew up on the same block,” he shares. “My brother taught me piano early, and although we attended different churches there were many times activities would align and we would be in each other’s spaces…Sometimes I’d be on the keys and he’d be singing. Musicians naturally find each other.”
Their collaboration, in hindsight, feels inevitable.
The Nigerian music scene can be unforgiving, and the two have felt the weight of that. When I asked about what the hardest part of being an upcoming artist in Naij was they had different answers;
“Getting noticed is hard,” Partiiboy admits. “Every day new songs drop. Standing out without losing yourself…the pressure is real.”
For Ovreall, the challenge is even more personal. “There’s a lack of support. People see upcoming artists as confused or unserious. Society needs to respect creative paths more so we can express ourselves confidently.”
It’s an issue many upcoming artist face, however they two are hell bent on overcoming those obstacles to make it to the top
Fans won’t have to wait long to see more from them.
“We’re working on the visuals for ‘SESE’ right now,” Partiiboy reveals. “Same energy, same vibe. After that more singles, collaborations, and an EP. That’s all I can say.”
Ovreall offers a trademark tease. “I love surprising my listeners. Stay active the same way you stay active for what you love.”
Both men recall the moment music became inevitable.
“I started writing and playing with beats as a kid,” says Partiiboy. “It became serious when people actually felt connected to what I made.”
“I started piano in primary school,” Ovreall adds. “It was fun until 2018, when everything changed. Then the pandemic hit. Music became healing, and I told myself if anything happened, I wanted my days to be spent making music. I never stopped.”
And if you catch them on a studio day?
Partiiboy: “Phone. Headphones. I have to capture ideas instantly.”
Ovreall: “Headphones. I consume music the same way I create it.”
Before wrapping up, we ask for their unpopular music takes.
Partiiboy: “The vibe matters more than perfection. Clean production is great, but if people don’t feel it, what’s the point?”
Ovreall: “Artists chase quick hits too much. Without a brand identity, it doesn’t last.”
Together, Partiiboy and Ovreall are stepping confidently into a new era, armed with synergy, shared history, and a single built for December. “SESE” is a celebration of where they come from—and where they’re headed next.
The song drops next week.
We’re anticipating and you should be too.