April 8, 2026 |
Omah Lay is an original. Occupying a unique space in the Afrobeats landscape, the artist’s emotional authenticity is a genre rarity, and has garnered him a vast listener base that has catapulted his catalogue to over three billion streams worldwide.
Hailing from Nigeria, the singer, songwriter and producer dropped his debut album, Boy Alone, in 2022 – a vulnerable odyssey written following the loss of his father. With fans describing his sound as “afro depression” or “afro-grief”, Boy Alone was met with much critical acclaim, demonstrating a hunger for the display of male emotion across African music. With features from international artists like Justin Bieber, Aitch and Ozuna, Boy Alone catapulted the artist to the number one spot on the album charts in Nigeria, ushering in an all-consuming fame.
Now, on Clarity of Mind, his sophomore outing, the artist finds himself contemplating this dramatic shift in his life. Dropped on April 3, the musician uses the work to consider everything from addiction, faith, desire, guilt and self-forgiveness. On the 12-track album, Lay is moving in a darker, more exposed direction than ever before. Using his music as almost a form of meditation, the artist is describing this era of his career as ‘spirit world’ – an intentional project that showcases a higher level of self-reflection and a deeper connection to God.
The first single, Don’t Love Me, released in February, taps into the same deep melancholia of previous standout tracks like I’m A Mess and Reason. “I don’t want you to tell me you’re sorry / ‘Cause I’m heartless, I’m broken and rotten”, sings the Rivers State-native over a downbeat, Afro-fusion production by longtime collaborator Tempoe. The song is a treatise on the clash between fame and love – just because you’re a Grammy-nominated artist doesn’t mean life is all sweet. Accompanied by a cinematic music video set in a dilapidated mansion littered with broken glass, Lay appears at a sparse function where guests surround him bearing the labels “industry sweetheart”, “it girl” and “sad boy”. The video is hyperreal, a reflection of his prevailing unsettlement. It ends with the artist driving into the sunset with a woman, looking anything but convincingly happy.
Clarity of Mind adds an extra dimension to Lay’s already stratospheric fame. It’s authentic, marking him as an artist still figuring how best to move through this world, but it’s this uncertainty that makes him shine. Here, we sat down with Omah Lay to chat more about the album’s title, why Don’t Love Me was its lead single and what’s next.
1. Who is Omah Lay?
I’m always looking for a clearer answer to that question. ‘Cuz Omah Lay is a bit of everything. Omah Lay is cool, awkward, reserved, but with a big ego, but I’m always open about whatever stage I am in my life and just let myself evolve from there.
2. You’re described as “one of the most emotionally transparent voices in African music” – what does this title mean to you?
I don’t look at it like a title. Maybe it comes from people’s understanding that I will always tell my truth in my music, but that’s just me being me. It’s not a title to me.
3. Could you tell us a little more about your album title, Clarity of Mind?
To describe it simply, it’s about self awareness. Accepting that it’s ok to be imperfect and let yourself grow. So my shame, my pleasures, my ego, everything gets laid out in the music. The concept evolved so much but it got clearer with each day and now I can share the music with the world.
4. Describe the album using three emotions?
It’s hard to box it into three emotions, to be honest. It’s a mix of many things but it all leads me to one particular emotion: peaceful.
5. What made you choose Don’t Love Me as the first single to release?
Honestly, it could’ve been any of the songs on the album. But Don’t Love Me was right for the moment I was in. A lot happened last year that made it realer for me so it was just right to put it out.
6. Your music videos for the album thus far are very maximalist in their direction, what is your reasoning for this? What inspired you?
I just wanted visuals that matched the vision of the album and the mindset behind my approach. Artsy and clean. I don’t think I can point out a particular inspiration but I just wanted visuals that matched the feeling of the music.
7. Which of your tattoos is your favourite and why?
The first one on my face, just above my eyebrow that reads ‘remember’ means a lot to me everyday. It’s a self reminder to focus on who I am when the distractions get to me.
8. Briefly tell us the story of how one of your fave collabs came about?
The collab everyone asks me about is With You with Davido. That one stands out because I really didn’t think Davido was looking to work with me. He also thought I didn’t want to do it because he’d sent some records that I don’t think would work. So we went through a few more songs, then we settled on this one. We made real magic with that record.
9. What venue are you hoping to play most when you come round to doing your album tour?
I don’t have a preferred venue, to be honest. Being on the road makes me feel more alive, I love it a lot. So I’m taking any chance to be in front of the fans, no matter the venue.
10. What’s next for you?
Growth. It never stops. I’m just gonna keep exploring life and learning from it. And from that, more music.
Photography courtesy of Omah Lay.
