By Promise Eze
Omah Lay, the rising Afrobeats star, has opened up about the pain and s*icidal thoughts he experienced while creating his debut album ‘Boy Alone.’ The album has been widely praised for its deeply personal content and has been dubbed “Afrodepression” by listeners.
In a recent interview with Steph TV, Omah Lay revealed that he was in a dark place when he made the album, saying “I was suicidal. I was really f**cked up.” However, he believes that this pain helped him create a piece of art that will stand the test of time.
“It takes a very bold person to speak about it so openly,” Omah Lay stated, adding that “it will take a real musician to make art from pain, and there are not a lot of Afrobeats artists making such music.”
The young musician expressed frustration with the current state of the industry, saying “everybody is out there saying Afrobeats is not so deep and it’s just vibes. This is because everyone is out there making hype, the real music is dead. That’s why people like me will always try. I’m one of the realest you can find and I’m putting it on Afrobeats.”
Despite the heavy subject matter of ‘Boy Alone,’ Omah Lay believes that the album will continue to resonate with listeners for years to come. “People call it Afrodepression, but don’t worry. In ten years you will go back to the album because everyone goes through things,” he said.
Omah Lay also had some advice for those who are struggling with their mental health, urging them to take the time to “fix their minds” and reminding them that “life is beautiful when you feed your mind right.”
‘Boy Alone’ has been both a critical and commercial success, cementing Omah Lay’s place as one of the most promising young talents in the Afrobeats scene.
