Best New Music: Omah Lay’s “Godly” is a celebration of good living
The standout track from his newly released EP under Warner Music Group, 'What Have We Done'
There’s no doubt about how brightly Omah Lay’s star is burning, and considering the short time it took for Omah Lay to become one of Nigeria’s hottest artists, it can be easy to forget that he hasn’t always been around. The whole world is currently experiencing a pandemic that has put an indefinite pause on live music and enjoying afropop on the sweaty dancefloors they were designed for, and this is what seems to have made room for the kind of music Omah Lay makes to catch on with the entire nation.
Our first introduction to him was with the catchy love song, “You”, which gained the entire country’s attention before the pandemic hit, and he really got to flex his muscles and show us what he’s really about with his debut EP, ‘Get Layd’. Before this horrible year, the Port Harcourt-born singer’s chilly voice and introspective cadence would have gained him a reputation as a niche artist who isn’t appealing to mainstream Nigerian music’s demand for festivities. However, in our present self-isolating climate, alt-afropop has turned into commercial paydirt and has allowed Omah Lay soar very quickly, much of which he speaks about on his new EP, ‘What Have We Done’.
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On the recently released EP, Omah Lay continues to double down on his introspective songwriting, as he explored the feelings and anxieties that came with his newfound fame. With the project’s centerpiece, “Godly”, he spun a narrative that concludes that drinking and a relationship with God are the remedies for anxiety in the face of isolation. The song is a dramatic and intently personal narration of Omah Lay’s struggles, while grinding to become the superstar he is today. And as such, he’s able to mix raw emotions with a spiritual message for how his faith in God has helped him achieve his dream.
Religious themes are pretty commonplace in the Nigerian music scene, and artists never really shy away from praising and thanking God through their music. Just as we heard Naira Marley saying “Mi o l’ogun, mo ni Quran(I don’t use jazz, I have the Quran)” on his controversial single, “Soapy”, Omah Lay is sinilarly presenting himself as he is, by showing appreciation for ‘Henny and ice’, just before thanking God for being there for him in his dark times in the same breath. Though this might seem odd and even blasphemous to some Nigerians who take religious teachings and beliefs as an absolute, this shows that they are incorrect to conclude that people who indulge in vices religion teaches us against, have completely lost touch with God. As a generation, we tend to do things only on our own terms, and with this song, Omah Lay represents the penchant for spirituality over institutionalised religion.
Rather than dropping star-making brags as a now certified pop star, he chose to focus on his more vulnerable moments and giving gratitude to God. Singing “Only God na him comfort (him)”, he expresses a painfully relatable sentiment that seems fitting to bleak situation around the world, in the middle of a global pandemic, with people searching for some grounding in these tumultuous times. Despite these somber reflections, however, the smooth dancehall rhythm of the Tempoe produced beat makes “Godly” fit for motivation music at the gym , as well as TikTok dance challenges. The cover art for the EP portrays Omah lay covering most of his face with his fingers. Similarly, the music is also thinly veiled with mystery as he cries “Only God na him know the kind of thing I do”, leaving some details of his story tantalizingly out of view.
The best music is the kind you can feel, and with his entire EP, Omah Lay certainly evokes feeling. With “Godly”, he interestingly weaves two worlds together, presenting God’s Grace to whoever is listening without seeming preachy or even like a gospel song.
Stream “Godly” below.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram/omahlay
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ICYMI: Listen to Omah Lay’s 5-track EP, ‘What Have We Done’ Here
Maya Amolo Is Committed To Giving You The Sweetest Time
There’s undoubtedly more to come from the talented singer as she looks to solidify herself as one of the...
“Sweetest Time,” Maya Amolo’s latest single, is a soothing, lovesick confessional that mixes intimate, heartfelt lyricism with wistful production courtesy of Ugandan musician and producer SOULCHYD aka MAUIMØON. Alongside fellow Kenyan singer Ywaya Tajiri, the self-acclaimed sweetest girl delivers a lustrous duet that sees her soft vocals, which perfectly complement Tajiri’s more robust voice, skip and flit across moody synths, intensifying the spotlight on her wholehearted delivery. “I can feel you rushing through my system / Every single day it’s my religion,” she sings passionately halfway into the record. The whole thing sounds like the aural equivalent of a warm blanket; a truly affectionate record that immerses and envelopes its listeners in its warmth. This is the brand of vulnerable, understated R&B music that has been helping Amolo gain significant attention since she debuted in the pandemic year.
Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Amolo always had an affinity for music. The singer and producer, who took on piano and guitar lessons as a child, has previously credited acts like Brandy, Erykah Badu, Prince, and Kenyan musical icon Eric Wainaina as her early influences – and it’s easy to see how Amolo’s style draws from this strong lineage of musicians whose music is equally expansive, soothing and vulnerable. After years experimenting with different styles, recording covers to beats she ripped from YouTube and posting them on her Soundcloud page, Amolo released her debut project ‘Leave Me At The Pregame’ in 2020.
The EP, which quickly soared up the charts in Kenya, served as a brief but emphatic introduction to Amolo’s minimalistic take on R&B. Standouts like the emotive opener “Puddles,” “Lush Green”, and “Jokes” showcase her clever and poignant lyricism that reflects on themes of love, depression, and self-healing. Along with sparse, melancholic production and the icy sensuality of her voice, Amolo delivered a remarkable debut that made her one of the most promising figures in Nairobi’s alternative music scene. Two years after ‘Leave Me At The Pregame,’ the Kenyan rising star released her debut album, ‘Asali.’
‘Asali,’ which translates to “honey” in her native Kiswahili, showcased Amolo’s progression as both an artist and a human being, as she swapped out the sad-girl tunes that filled her debut EP for more vibrant and intricate records – thanks in part to Sir Bastien and Kenyan producer and rapper Lukorito – that explore themes of growth and the complexities and rich luster of love. The album’s lead singles, “Foundry” and the self-produced “Can’t Get Enough,” found relative success on streaming platforms, placing Amolo as one of the continent’s most exciting new R&B voices. About a year after the release of ‘Asali,’ Amolo updated the album with 8 new songs on a deluxe version that featured Kenyan stars like Bensoul, Xenia Manasseh and Zowie Kengocha.
In August 2024, a few months after she delivered a splendid Colors performance, Amolo released a new project titled ‘What a Feeling.’ The 5-track EP, which essentially serves as an ode to Amolo’s home city, Nairobi, sees her experimenting with an array of dance sub-genres without straying too far from her R&B roots. While the project still retains much of the melancholy and elegance that defined her earlier work, there’s a hypnotic and pulsating energy that courses through ‘What A Feeling,’ that highlights a shift in the singer’s sensibilities. Amolo’s honeyed vocals gently seep through subtle Dancehall, Electronic, R&B and House-inspired production and the accompanying visualizer, a mashup of camcorder footage of her and her friends in Nairobi, also adequately captures the charming and nocturnal vibe of the tape.
The project produced standout tracks like the sensual “Let It Flow,” the title track and “Take It,” which later got remixed by Ugandan singer Soundlykbb and rapper SGawD. With Amolo’s latest release, “Sweetest Girl,” the Kenyan rising star continues her intricate exploration of R&B music, merging it with varying styles to produce her own distinct and refreshing variant. There’s no telling what Amolo might do next, but with only a handful of releases to her name so far, there’s undoubtedly more to come from the talented singer as she looks to solidify herself as one of the genre’s most prominent faces across the continent.
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Over the last few years, street-pop, a guttural version of afropop, has surged to mainstream popularity, birthing stars like Asake, Seyi Vibez, and Shallipopi. On the homefront, a generation of younger stars also put unique spins on the sound. Singer, T.I Blaze, has been a notable star in the sub-genre since his 2021 single, “Sometimes,” and a subsequent remix with icon, Olamide, launched him into a different stratosphere.
Since “Sometimes,” Blaze has established his profile as a reliable source for songs that reflect the pulse of the streets while archiving his come-up story across a debut album (‘El Major’) and three extended plays like ‘The Fresh Prince Of Lagos’ and ‘Dangerous Wavy Baby.’ His 2024 EP, ‘Shakur,’ further underscored his evolution as an artist, featuring slippery numbers about escapism, his thoughts on life in the fast lane, and brotherhood with features from rising stars like Tml Vibez and BhadBoi Oml.
In 2025, the singer has picked up where he left off last year, releasing “Trenches Luv,” a balmy February release that examines the dynamics of romance from his point of view as a young adult moulded by the hard realities of life on the street. The success of “Trenches Luv” has led to a deluxe version of ‘Shakur’ with the singer adding seven new songs to the original version of the project. Impressively, on the new version of the project, TI Blaze taps up Ayo Maff and Ghanaian star Arathejay on “My Brother” and “Mario Remix,” respectively.
Led by a galala-inflected opener, “Track 1,” ‘Shakur (Deluxe)’ is both raw and complex with the singer sounding refreshed on songs like “My Brother,” “Dodge,” and “Introduction.” In many ways, this project is an invitation for listeners to explore the many facets of T.I Blaze’s artistry as well as a portent to celebrate his roots and offer a glimpse at his evolution.
Listen to ‘Shakur (Deluxe)’ here.
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Rigo Kamp’s Marathon video is an intimate Afro-juju revival that pays homage to Sir Shina Peters and stamps...
Last Friday, Rigo Kamp, a NATIVE uNder alum and one of the architects of an equal parts nostalgic and refreshing sound released his self-titled debut EP, delivering a propulsive fusion of Alte, R&B, Funk, and Soul-infused rhythms.
Featuring previously released singles “Morning Sun” and “Summer”, the six-track eponymous EP executively produced by Odunsi The Engine sees Rigo lean heavily into his element as a sonic alchemist, jumping from silky falsettos to gritty grooves without losing an ounce of cohesion, and ultimately stamping the Abuja-born, Lagos-based singer-songwriter as a mad scientist of sound.
Just last November, Apple Music named Rigo Kamp as its Up Next artist, an acknowledgment that underscored his potential and confirmed what the tastemakers and underground scene already knew. Weeks later, he delivered an exhilarating live set for Spotify Fresh Finds in Lagos, proving he’s just as compelling live as he is in the studio.
On “Marathon”, the refreshing opener to the Rigo Kamp EP, Rigo borrows the bounce and swagger of Afro-Juju legend, Sir Shina Peters’ golden-era, fusing nostalgia with re-imagination to birth a vintage performance that feels like a private party for two, where it’s just Rigo, and you.
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