London-based artist 00AB continues to push the boundaries of voice, play and cultural reference in his latest project, one that finds equal weight in technical experimentation and cultural excavation.

Having first expanded his vocal range working alongside frequent collaborator Adam, 00AB speaks of discovering “so much more depth” in his delivery, experimenting with tone, pitch and speed to unlock new levels of expression. Others have shown him the value of recording without hesitation — an instinctive bravery that now bleeds into his own process.

But artistry is rarely linear. In 2022, 00AB hit what he calls a “super, super intense creative block,” where insecurity outweighed inspiration. It was collaboration, particularly with producer Remikayodae, also known these days as the pastryboy that offered him a way through. “Sometimes we’d get in the studio and I’d have nothing. And that was fine — we’d just talk, or listen. It taught me that not every session has to be productive.” From that period came a shift: new writing techniques, a more melodic approach, and the acceptance that droughts eventually pass.

On the surface, his recent output carries an energy that feels lighter, more playful. But beneath that, 00AB stresses, the weight remains. “People might think it comes easy, but writing is really difficult for me. Even when it sounds like I’m turning up, I feel things deeply.”

That duality extends to his reflections on Black Britishness — a theme woven throughout the EP. Rather than leaning on obvious signifiers, 00AB references Carnival, playground culture and viral internet relics, reworking them into something both familiar and new. “Black Britain is young, but rich,” he explains. “There’s so much I didn’t know, so I’ve had to research, dig deeper. The challenge is to nod to those references in a way that’s playful but still thoughtful.”

With nods to house, old-school R&B and internet-era humour, 00AB’s latest work is a study in contrast: carefree but considered, fun but anchored in history. It is music rooted in the textures of Black British culture, but reimagined through a restless, inventive lens.

"ab, we wanna party!" Out now.