A music career wasn’t the obvious path for Rob Araujo. As a Biology graduate from Cornell University, Rob had enrolled in a doctoral program to begin a life developing pharmaceuticals. But on the side, Rob had been delving into the world of jazz, hip-hop, and electronic; a departure from his competitive classical background. Inspired by artists like Robert Glasper and Tennyson, Rob began showcasing his own unique musical style and remarkable piano abilities on Instagram, building up a loyal following in the process. The decision became clear after a visit to Los Angeles in 2017: Rob dropped out and made the move to LA to pursue music full time.

Since then, Rob has built a storied independent music career. Whether it’s being a featured artist on Soulection radio, releasing his own genre bending compositions under Rob Araujo and his beat-oriented project Shopan, or as a collaborator with artists like Masego, Anomalie, MonoNeon, and Tom Misch, whom he performed lead synth for on the breakout track “South of the River,” Rob is setting the stage for a long career in music, an unexpected but welcome destination.