Omah Lay Gets Personal on Debut Album, Boy Alone
Known for his provocative lyrics and stirring vocals, Omah Lay cranks it up on his debut album, Boy Alone. The album touches on his struggle with fame, sex, drugs, grief.
Omah Lay’s first foray into the mainstream came in the offering of personal pain in 2020 - a single “Bad Influence” which had the singer crooning over stripped-down production about debilitating heartbreak. “Bad Influence” soared to the top of various charts and took over airplay months after Omah Lay released it (unofficially). It’s the type of music that you listen to in solitude, soaking up the lyrics while replaying moments with a past lover.
His debut EP, Get Layd, was characterised by mid-tempo production as Omah Lay went personal on songs like “Damn”, adulating a lady for loving him irrespective of his status in life. The singer rose to fame after the release of the EP, at a time when the world was on complete lockdown, with a sound that required more introspection from listeners. And now, he struggles with that same fame, as he sings on “I’m a mess”, a song from his first official studio album, Boy Alone.
Omah Lay opts for simple and laid-back production, as he’s known for, on Boy Alone. The album opener sees the Port Harcourt-bred singer sing about humble beginnings in Southern Nigeria, over poignant chords and tenuous percussion. The next track is basically about how he cannot be unsuccessful in life, singing “I cannot be nobody for life”. That’s the kind of confidence that underpins Omah Lay’s musical journey. He has since come a long way from the days when he produced and wrote songs for other musicians, stuck in their shadow.
Just before the release of his sophomore EP (What Have We Done), Omah Lay, alongside Tems, was arrested in Uganda after the two Nigerian acts finished performing at a show. The news of their arrest flooded social media and by the time they were released, fans were cheerily singing their praises. Few days after he returned to Nigeria from Uganda, Omah Lay released What Have We Done and it was widely accepted by the audience, especially the track “Godly”, which served as a song of gratitude following his ordeal in Uganda.
Omah Lay has been commended for his quirky style - a blend of pidgin, native lingo, and English. His major influences come from Highlife, which he masterfully adapts into contemporary Afropop/fusion. He’s a gifted songwriter that spins words into metaphors, and this is evinced by songs like Olamide’s “Infinity” and his 2021 record “Understand”. Omah Lay’s lyricism thrusts itself into attention on Boy Alone, as the singer broached different topics including sex, drugs, love, success, fame. He pronounces words in a peculiar way, such that if you don’t listen closely you might not successfully make out his words.
Before the album was released, Omah Lay mentioned on Twitter that he has been battling demons and that he has experienced so much loss recently. The tweet hinted that the album came from a place of pain and would embody the singer’s personal experiences and journey. On “Never Forget” Omah Lay sings a tribute to his father, paying homage to him for introducing him to Highlife at a young age. The singer employs a stunning rhyme-scheme and state-of-the-art melodies in his delivery of the song. On “Soso” he yearns for a lady to soothe his pain, adopting spiritual highlife melodies.
Boy Alone takes a dive into Omah Lay’s grapple with success. He’s undoubtedly enjoying the perks of being a superstar. There’s money to spend. Women flock around him. He’s travelling around the world, performing his songs to a massive audience. But for someone who’s introverted, being a superstar leaves a singe behind sometimes. You become careful of who you allow in your space, who you move with. The result of that is astounding loneliness. At some point, your coping mechanisms can no longer suffice. All you’re left with is a shell of yourself.
Music listeners are drawn to music that feels genuine and transparent. When you listen to Omah Lay, it’s almost like you can feel his emotions. That honesty is striking on “I’m a mess”, which gives the same vibes as “Bad Influence” and is the most palpable song on the album. On “Woman” he sings “If I no pull out, she got my back.” It takes a certain level of honesty to admit to something like that, specifically on a song that was released for public consumption. Being honest to that extent on a track definitely makes listeners connect with you better. With your music and your story. Omah Lay has cracked that code. So far, “I’m a mess” and “Bend You” are the chart-toppers on Boy Alone, but I’m rooting for “Never Forget” and “Soso” to rise up on the charts too.
Omah Lay is seemingly trying to penetrate the global market with this album. It is incisively why the collaboration with Justin Bieber, whom he has good chemistry with, happened. It’s a play at pushing his music into foreign territories and with songs like “Safe Haven” and “Soso”, the singer makes a great attempt. He has a deal with Warner Music Group, so they will amplify these songs in these markets.
Aside from Justin Bieber that was featured on “Attention” - which was one of the singles released before the album - Tay Iwar is the only act that Omah Lay featured on the album. The singer brought a magical touch to “Tell Everybody” with his saccharine vocals. Omah Lay made it known that he doesn’t fancy collaborations because he doesn’t like chasing people down, and also because it’s difficult to find an artist that can capture his story the way he would like.
Boy Alone is a solid debut album. As the album continues to grow on listeners it will put Omah Lay in important conversations. Not many (young) contemporary artists - obviously with the exception of Fireboy and Rema - can boast of having a noteworthy (debut) album to their name.
The album’s production owes its credit to the likes of Tempoe, Niphkeys, Semzi, and more.