Best New Music: Tay Iwar’s “Peaking” is a tale of romantic yearning
'Love and Isolation' will be released on the 16th
Since his debut on the scene back in 2014, Abuja’s Tay Iwar has operated as one of Afropop’s most enigmatic characters. Save for the raw emotion that drives his releases and gives listeners a rounder view into his world, the reclusive artist is largely out of the public eye, choosing only to release music on his own terms and fading back into his solitude when that is over.
The best part about a long period of silence from the singer is the reassurance that he’s going to emerge delivering songs that will linger long after they are released, thanks to his irresistible vocal abilities. Although Tay Iwar’s vocals was one of the momentous inclusions of Wizkid’s magnum opus, ‘Made in Lagos’, the last official solo release from the singer was back in 2019 when he shared his debut album ‘Gemini’, a collection of love songs that hones the singer’s sonic reach and his collaborative project titled ‘Gold’ with producer Le Mav.
Two years since then, the singer now shares his latest single titled “Peaking”, the first promotional single from his forthcoming sophomore EP ‘Love and Isolation’ which is said to feature Nigerian singer, Asa.
View this post on Instagram
Over the past few years, Tay Iwar has spent his time forging a sound he calls “Afro-fusion”, an intoxicating blend of catchy and romantic Afrobeats and R&B, skillfully crafted with meaningful lyrics that find him recounting familiar memories for anyone ever been entangled with unrequited lovers. His latest release “Peaking” is no different in this regard, the song’s piano-led beat creates the perfect backdrop for the singer to showcase the depth of his vocal abilities while sounding off familiar lyrics about a romantic interest that he can’t quit yearning for during his periods of isolation.
“I just wanna see ya/I’ve been sipping, overthinking/Stuck inside my house and I just wanna see ya” he sings in the opening moments, declaring his unshakeable feelings for this muse who he can’t seem to get off his mind as she has him up late at night, mulling over their next fated encounter. Tay Iwar delivers a lived-in approach to portraying romantic relationships, banking on the reliability aspect in his songwriting to endear the song further to listeners who may also be contemplating the course of their own sour romantic encounters while inebriated late into the quarantine nights. It’s the universality of his lyrics and the conviction in which they are delivered that turns muddled emotions into the stuff of singalong choruses.
“Peaking” pulls together delectable piano strings and Tay’s distinct otherworldly voice which blend seamlessly as the song continues to build. When he declares “Baby I’m a fool for ya, I don’t wanna be without you”, it’s hard not to draw parallels with the romantic muse on “Monica”, a standout from 2019’s ‘Gemini’ that found the singer recounting his experience with a toxic lover gunning for his demise. Tay never shies away from grand emotions or grand displays of his affection, his music shows a willingness to learn from as many lovers as he possibly could, enjoying their company for the moment and drifting away when it no longer aligns with him.
But with this particular muse, he finds himself yearning every step of the way. Tay Iwar doesn’t conclude whether it’s the liquor that’s got him longing for her love or it’s the long nights in isolation that he lay awake thinking of her, or whether it’s a combination of both factors that surmise his present feelings. Whatever the case may be, the destination seems to remain the same–with Tay completely enamoured by his lover.
Listeners move as lyrics are repeated to build towards a deeper narrative and though he claims at a point that “You see me, Imma act brand new”, the song ends with a final look in the rearview as Tay melodiously quips “I followed my heart and it led right next to you”. It’s clear that no matter how much he wishes to pull apart or drown his feelings in liquor, he seems to operate with the idea that he will remain steadfast in his affection for his lover. “Peaking” is a first glimpse into the sonic world surrounding the singer’s upcoming project release, one that seems intent on continuing in his line of romantic love tropes.
Stream “Peaking” below.
Featured image credits/AlmassBadat
ICYMI: The best 5 songs from Tay Iwar’s debut album ‘Gemini’
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.
Keep reading...
T.I Blaze Updates ‘Shakur’ EP With Deluxe Version
Following the success of “Trenches Luv,” the street-pop star is back with seven new songs on the deluxe...
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.
Keep reading...
NATIVE PREMIERE: Rigo Kamp Runs Ahead Of The Pack With The Visuals For “Marathon”
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.
Get an exclusive first look at the video for Marathon here:
Listen to the Rigo Kamp EP:
Keep reading...
