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I love that people call my music Afro-depression – Omah Lay
Nigerian international star Omah Lay is known for his deeply emotional music that captures themes of pain, hurt, loneliness, and the challenges of fame.
In a recent interview with Billboard, Omah Lay expressed his delight at the “Afro-Depression” label that fans have given to his music. According to him, this tag shows that listeners resonate with his work on a deep level, without needing any explanation from him.
Omah Lay shared, “I definitely love it. I love that I started a new movement and my music started something new that I didn’t have to come out and tell people that my music is ‘Afro-Depression.’ My fans made it up and I didn’t have to explain… It’s great to witness that I can just make music and the world can decide what it is, and it becomes a movement.”
His music, known for its emotional and sentimental elements, gained significant attention with his debut album “Boy Alone,” which featured the hit record “Soso.” This melancholic style quickly earned his music the “Afro-Depression” tag.
"The Afrobeats artistes coming now … is everybody taking a bit of my stuff. It's everybody trying to copy stuff"
– Omah Lay pic.twitter.com/icD30GM8xF
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) August 28, 2024
In the interview, Omah Lay also mentioned that his music has inspired a new wave of Afrobeats artists. “The artists coming from Afrobeats right now are taking a bit of the stuff that I started, and everybody is trying to copy something. It’s a new movement,” he noted.
Recently, Omah Lay released his first single of 2023, titled “Moving,” which serves as the lead track from his upcoming sophomore album.
He revealed that he had to re-record the album after an artist he had shared his vision with stole his sound, further showcasing his commitment to authenticity and innovation in his music.