‘Single Review: Stephen Obana, aka ØBANA, Flexes His Dance Music Versatility on New Single ‘Single File Lines (Nas Tea)’

On his latest single, dance music powerhouse ØBANA flexes his fun side as he creates a party-oriented EDM track that is as perfect a floor-filler as possible.

Acclaimed beatmaker Stephen Obana, aka ØBANA, has shared his new single, ‘Single File Lines (Nas Tea),’ from his 2024 EP, Alpha

The new release comes as ØBANA remains one of the most distinguished EDM producers. Known for creating everything from “high-energy mashups to mellow beats,” ØBANA has been quietly experimenting during these last years to develop his craft. 

 

Those who have followed the trajectory of his artistry will have witnessed ØBANA’s sometimes surprising evolution. ØBANA says he started by learning the piano and clarinet as a kid before becoming a member of several pop-punk/metal bands as he grew up. (Under the solo pop-rock project titled Loventures, he released his first Solo EP titled The Places We’ll Go in 2017.) All of these experiences informed him as he gravitated towards dance music and EDM. He was directly inspired by the stadium-filling EDM created by some of the best in the business – like Skrillex, Dillon Francis, Kygo, and Martin Garrix.

 

The last 18 months have been huge for ØBANA, with the artist playing over 55+ shows in 2023 and, earlier this year, accepting a nomination as one of 2024’s Future Talent Award Winners, presented to him at the International Music Summit’s annual conference.

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But accolades and live shows aside, ØBANA has continued working diligently on his music. He shared a new tech house single, ‘Self Check Me Out,’ in July (released on the Ibiza/Austria label Addicted Room Records). Not content with that, he released ‘Single File Lines’ as the lead single from his long-awaited 2024 EP ‘Alpha’. 

 

On the single itself, ØBANA exemplifies what happens when a highly technical dance producer lets loose and focuses on making a club-friendly beat. ‘Single File Lines’ was created by an EDM producer who had spent the last few years listening to many UK grime, US dubstep, and old-school big beats. Featuring the vocals of London-born singer Jones 2.0, this song is hyped up in an endlessly enjoyable way that many modern-day dance tracks cannot conceive of reaching anymore. 

 

Speaking about the song itself, Stephen Obana said: “This is the Lead single off my 2024 EP, Alpha. I like leaving secret innuendos /Easter eggs in my songs for anyone who knows my music or gets to know me – and this song has plenty of them.  Also, this is just a fun turn-up, get f**ked up party song type bc I guess that's my vibe.” 

 

The artist also cites Yellow Claw as an inspiration for the music, apparent in the frenzy-inducing drops he delivers on the track… 

 

‘Single File Lines (Nas Tea)’ is out now on Spotify and Apple Music, as is ØBANA’s debut EP. 

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