Always on
This project successfully funded on 25th June 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
Coming of Age Album
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Aim
My name is Ocean / Kobi Ayensuo and I am fundraising to make and release my debut Album - Coming of Age
Hi, my name is Kobi Ayensuo - and I am a musician, poet and creative of many hats. And I am fundraising to make, record and release my debut Album called 'Coming of Age'. It will explore coming into my Queer and Trans identity, falling in love, first crushes, walking away from toxic love, my disability, Demi sexual/ grey ace identity; growing up shy kid, navigating bullying and taking time to grow into my voice. As well as growing up catholic and stepping away to affirm and thrive in your queerness and finding my spirituality and practice with my ancestors.
I am fundraising for £10,000:
This will allow me to take time to create record and release my visual Album.
Pay all the session musicians to record on my tracks.
Pay a producer to mix and master my Album.
Pay for marketing, PR and new artist photos and album art to promote and release my Album.
Pay for transport costs and access costs to get to studio sessions as I am a disabled musician
To film the music videos for my Album and pay the creatives who will star in the music video, film the music video and edit it together.
Why am I fundraising?
I believe in my voice as a musician so much I know that it is my soul's calling to sing and make music full-time. And you can help me to do that to bring this queer trans coming of age story to life. I know you're gonna really love these songs and this music
There are a number of barriers that have prevented me from recording and releasing this Album. I am black trans queer and disabled, I have experienced homelessness, sofa surfing, leaving home in my early 20s to escape emotional abuse, transphobia, homophobia and the backlash I got for pursuing a creative career.
I'm also have a chronic illness - I have endometriosis which has gradually deteriorated - I'm currently a wheelchair user. I have had endometriosis since I was age 14 and in 2023 I experience the worst flareup I have had in years. After this flareup, I lost my mobility. I was housebound for 10 months and every flareup I had was absolutely excruciating. My symptoms are characterised by sharp shooting pain in the side of my abdomen and it's affected my quality of life. I currently have a dynamic disability. I use a walking stick and a wheelchair and I'm also fundraising to get surgery for endometriosis (https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kobi-get-surgery-for-complex-endometriosis).
All of these factors have meant that I have been financially stunted throughout the years and unable to fully bring my dreams to life. In 2023 before I got very sick, I got as far as to film the music video for my debut single 'Sweet Home' which will be on my debut Album. Then I got very sick - and any progress I made towards my dreams and music were stunted. I want to change that.
I've recently been unsuccessful for two music grants called power up for black creatives and Mobo x Help Musicians so this crowdfunder is a lifeline!
There is so much music that lives within me, this album is just the beginning.
Follow me on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Substack to follow my journey on day-to-day sharing music, thoughts and poetry.
Link to my TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kobi_ayensuo_
Link to my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kobi_ayensuo_/
Subscribe to my Substack: https://kobiayensuo.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips
Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@kobi_ayensuo
Your support means so much. Thank you so much. Let's bring 'Coming of Age' my debut Album to life.
Big love,
Kobi Ayensuo
(they/them)
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made