Toronto based, (via Kenya & Rwanda) singer, songwriter, producer and artist Jozem has returned to share the cinematic, aphotic and deeply self reflective new visual for single ‘Foreign’. Soul stirring, strange and uniquely exotic ‘Foreign’ is the lead single taken from his self produced debut album it came to me in a dream released in May. Featuring endless, ambient angles encased in shadows, ‘Foreign’, is fluid, moving from scene to scene continuously, with viewers swept away, following its gentle, pressing energy as more of the theme transpires.

Commenting on the visual Jozem states,

“When we are young and impressionable, we learn to conform and mould ourselves into a form that is acceptable to others. When alone and often sleepless at night, we sometimes get to a crossroads where we are left unable to hide and are forced to face ourselves - our true selves - and face our demons, really confronting the elements of our being that we have been taught to hide but that are ultimately part of who we are.

Helmed by Director Yù (Jessamine Fok), the video for ‘foreign’ highlights these themes of duality of self, a conflict between how you present yourself to the world and who you truly are, a recognition that the persona you have been putting up for the world to see may not be who you really are or who you want to be…”

Filled with a multitude of textures and drenched in a muted, moody colour scheme, ‘Foreign’ is all consuming, and thick with contemplation. Unafraid to make the viewer feel the varying scales of emotions, ‘Foreign’ contains a level of foreboding and mystery. Like peering into the private and deep recesses of someone's mind, it’s unnerving, leaving viewers in the unknown, unsure of what is going to happen next. The visual for ‘Foreign’ is yet another example of Jozems commitment to his artistry whilst adding another rich layer to the vivid tapestry of his album it came to me in a dream.

Describing the single as a whole ‘Foreign’, Jozem explains,

“In life, with all its noise and distractions, it is so easy to just keep going with the flow that you lose sight of your purpose and forget how you got to where you are.

Foreign is about being lost and getting to a juncture where you are forced to face yourself and the person you have become. You start questioning who you are and question the relationships with the people who you love. Foreign is about bravely sitting in those moments of uncertainty, letting yourself question the things that you've been conditioned into believing about yourself, who you should be, and how you present to the world.

For me, it is often in my sleepless nights where I am alone and cannot hide where I have these conversations with myself and am forced to reckon with the demons that haunt me. Ultimately it is in these moments where you really can face your truth and strive to align your being and your actions with who you truly are and want to be.”

it came to me in a dream, is the true definition of alternative RnB. One which Jozem presents in his uniquely intoxicating, explorative concoction of sound featuring threads of neo-soul and a warm emanating and reverberating Lo-fi haze.

A blend of electronic production culminating in epic synth work, alongside eerie and ethereal vocal effects, Jozem expertly incorporates field recordings into his music, adding a depth of flavour, intrigue and an incomparable understanding of not only his environment but also of himself and the art in which he wants to portray. He forever encapsulates a feeling, a place, a moment in time within his music, which instantly transports the listener, taking them on an immersive journey with each and every track.

Jozem’s music is intrinsically tied to his core being, representing a tiny insight to not only who he is as an artist but also the details of his unique human experience.

Featuring 5 previously released singles ‘Breath’ , ‘Dreams’, ‘Water Me’, ‘Goderich’ and ‘Youth’, Jozem perfectly balances the album with 5 unreleased slices of smoothness ‘Möbius’, ‘Lunar’, ‘Danforth’ ‘The Risk’ and the albums single ‘Foreign’ which help complete the project in its entirety. Put simply, it came to in a dream is a spiritual and healing journey in sonic form.

“ it came to me in a dream is a soundscape of the last decade of my life. It is a window into my soul. It touches on my dreams, my fears, my goals and aspirations. It covers pivotal moments in my life, such as reconnecting with the country that birthed me, and that which raised me, as I continue my yearning for something that feels like home, spiritually and physically. It touches on themes of emancipation of self as I examine my relationship with myself and those that I love, my relationship with my spirituality, my sexuality and my music, as I learn more about how I want to love and be loved. It is about facing my fears, facing the demons that haunt me at night, truly having a conversation with myself and ultimately working towards being my most authentic self whilst finding my purpose in this life.

I produced this album in its entirety. Working on it over the past few years was a true lesson in exercising patience and letting go of the things that I have no control over. It was a lesson in trusting my own instincts, trusting my own voice and listening to what my soul had to say. The title ‘it came to me in a dream’ is in reference to my creative process, the organic way that this project came together, and the manner in which the melodies, lyrics and visions came to me, at times quite literally in my dreams.

I hope people receive it with the love and vulnerability with which it was created. I hope people can relate to the joys and the struggles, that their experience listening to this music can be as cathartic and healing as it was for me.” - Jozem