Talent Case Studies

Celebrating Tobi: music and performing artist

Published on

April 23, 2026

Tobi is a musician and performing artist based in Rochdale whose creative practice spans music, film and photography. He is currently preparing to release an upcoming EP featuring four tracks, which brings together multiple collaborators, including his fiancée, Methurella, as the lead singer with vocal harmonies by Phil & Joanne Reynolds, produced by Psamzbeatz and Mixed/Mastered by Sonus. The project reflects Tobi’s collaborative approach to music-making and his commitment to blending voices, genres and community influence within his work.

Tobi’s journey with Breaking Barriers began in 2022 when he was working as an advisor for Manchester Independents. It was through this role that he first met Jodie, Executive Producer at Breaking Barriers, which led to a new chapter in his creative development.

Recognising his potential, Jodie invited Tobi to join Breaking Barriers’ Elevation project as a cultural pioneer. Elevation, an immersive journey along the scenic route of Blackstone Edge, using binaural sound, which creates an “audio 3D effect”, to tell tales of those who walked this land before us, and encouraging audiences to take a moment to listen deeply to the sounds of Rochdale in the distance. The following year, he took on the role of assistant director for Elevation, where he supported the wider delivery of the project and took on key responsibilities, including safeguarding and technical support. This experience marked an important step in his development as a creative leader, giving him hands-on experience in both artistic direction and production management.

Tobi later went on to work as an assistant filmmaker and photographer on On Your Doorstep, a project that involved capturing community stories through film and photography. In this role, he conducted interviews and helped shape the way participants’ stories were documented and shared.

Reflecting on his journey, Tobi shared that his time with Breaking Barriers helped him recognise and develop skills he had not previously fully explored. He explained: “I had so many dormant skills that the team supported me in activating. All this nurturing has allowed me to see myself as a leader, mentor and teach people and also to tell my story.”

Alongside his work with Breaking Barriers, Tobi has continued to expand his creative practice. He was recently commissioned by Peshkar to take part in the Young Digital Festival in Oldham, where he delivered creative photography workshops supporting young people to express themselves through visual storytelling.

Tobi reflected on his experience with Breaking Barriers, saying: “I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Jodie and Parvez, it is rare to meet people who see potential and are willing to nurture it. They are good people and they have supported me and gave me opportunities to put me in a position where I can grow. I think it is really important to have people in the creative industries who are willing to do that, for that I am grateful.”