Living Unfiltered
3 Powerful Lessons from Blessing Offor
Blessing Offor, Nigerian-born singer-songwriter, spoke with us about the significance of vulnerability in his music and the importance of connecting with audiences by embracing authenticity.
Known for his powerful voice and soulful lyrics, Blessing uses his artistry to help others feel seen and understood, especially during life’s hardest moments. He believes vulnerability in songwriting creates deeper connections with listeners.
Blessing believes honesty produces meaningful music. He explained, “There’s always got to be someone to say it first, and as soon as someone says it first, we all go, ‘Oh my God, they did it.’ And then once they do it, you go, ‘And it’s true, right?’”
He finds when an artist shares a raw, personal experience, it causes listeners to feel connected and less alone. “There are so many songs where there’s an uncomfortable lyric… that’s like a little close to home,” he continued, “but then you’re like, ‘wait,’ it’s the truest thing ever.”
Vulnerability allows others to identify with experiences that might feel isolating, which is why Blessing prioritizes being real in his songwriting.
Blessing pointed out that society often encourages us to avoid facing our problems directly. “Some people don’t want to… a lot of us are trained to tell you that the problem is some vague, amorphous thing,” he said. Blessing encourages us to name the challenges we face and even sit with them, instead of pretending everything is okay.
Acknowledging pain or difficulty can lead to true healing.
He went on to say, “It’s okay not to be okay.” A weighty theme in his music, Blessing believes acknowledging pain or difficulty can lead to true healing. However, he’s mindful of the need for balance. “My goal is to be able to do that in a way that doesn’t give you diabetes of the emotions.” Blessing uses his art to bring truth to light without overwhelming his audience, a delicate but important balance he’s committed to maintaining.
Blessings has definitely experienced the incredible pressures to maintain a polished image, especially as a Christian artist. “I put up a picture a while back of me and a bunch of friends, and we were cheering with some drinks,” Blessing said, noting that he hadn’t expected the reaction it would receive. “Apparently, in the Christian Artist Handbook, you’re not allowed to acknowledge that you, as an adult, drink an adult drink.”
The post generated critical comments, which caught him off guard. “So people are like, ‘Blessing, what did you do that for?’ And I’m like, ‘Wait, what? What’s the problem?’ And someone pulled out the handbook and showed it to me and said, ‘Thou shalt not,” Blessing added, jokingly.
People can get caught up in presenting a “perfect” image, even if it’s not completely true to themselves.
Reflecting on the experience, Blessing asked, “Is the alternative for me to hide this and then pretend on social media that I would never do such a thing? Because that would make me a liar.” The experience proved a defining moment for him in understanding the importance of honesty and vulnerability. Instead of succumbing to pressures to present a perfect life, he’s chosen to embrace transparency, understanding that real connection comes from being genuine.
Blessing believes when he’s real as an artist, he can help listeners who may be feeling imperfect or “not enough.” “If they see your polish, they go, ‘Man, I’m really awful… I have a beer in my hand right now. I’m the worst,’” he shared.
People often compare their struggles to the “perfection” they see in others, leading them to feelings of inadequacy.
“The more real we can be, the less that will be an issue,” he explained. Blessing’s openness invites his audience to drop their own facades. He wants to provide an environment where true connections can thrive. In his music and life, Blessing desires to be a source of encouragement, reminding people that it’s okay to be exactly who they are.
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