Nigerian artist Omah Lay has just released his debut album, Boy Alone, and it's an unfiltered expression of what it's like to be Stanley Omah Didia. Following the release of Omah's 2020 EP, What Have We Done, the world waited to see what was next. Finally, the answer is here. Across Boy Alone's 14 tracks, Omah talks about mental health, heartbreak, passion and more, all the while delivering irresistible Afro-fusion tracks that implore fans to listen closely.

Speaking about the album, Omah Lay offers an insight into the two sides of his personality. He explains, “Boy Alone primarily describes my life being an entertainer and stereotypically expected to be extroverted but on the contrary, I find company within and that’s where this album was made from; it’s also a tribute to my Dad who went by that nickname among his peers for being a man that lived on his own terms. I guess the apple never falls too far from the tree…”

Part celebration, part lamentation, Omah Lay grapples with his status as a star on Boy Alone. i features the instantly quotable lyric "I cannot be nobody for life", and the laidback track serves as a reminder that Omah's spent countless days working towards success. The seductive bend you features production from Tempoe, and is a celebration of physical pleasures, featuring lines like "the things we do when we lock the door". Much like i, bend you features a supremely confident star that knows what he wants. However, that's not the Omah that features across the entirety of the album. 

The melancholic guitar that features on i'm a mess elevates what is arguably Omah's most honest song to date, and the song directly addresses Omah's experience with depression. The pain that's present in his voice as he sings "I'm over thinkin' everything/At times it feels like nobody/Can't understand the way I feel" is palpable, and it's rare to hear someone of Omah's status open up so comprehensively like this. 

We're tipping that how to luv will be one of the favourite tracks from the album, as it's a celebration of Port Harcourt, where Omah Lay comes from, love and more. The song's upbeat, hip-shaking production meshes seamlessly with Omah's relaxed vocals, giving listeners a chance to sink into the music. This is the track to share with that special someone in your life, especially if you're looking to tell them just how much they mean to you.

never forget pays tribute to Omah's late dad, singing "I'll never forget you". The song's production highlights the influence that highlife has had on his music, and speaking to DJBooth in 2020, Omah revealed that he learnt to write music by listening to "old-school highlife records, they sound so pure. You can’t find that sound a lot anymore. The lyrics and composition are top-notch." His grandfather was a percussionist in legendary highlife artist Celestine Ukwu's band, so it's a genre that Omah holds dear. 

There are two guest appearances on the album: pop icon Justin Bieber and Nigerian neo-soul artist Tay Iwar. The collaboration with Justin Bieber, attention, is a reminder of Omah's ability to stand out on any track he's on, while tell everybody is a chance for the world to fall in love with Tay Iwar's voice. tell everybody is another celebration of physical connection, with Tay and Omah reaching out to the woman that's always on their mind. We're hoping the pair work together again in the future, because tell everybody is truly hypnotising. 

purple song is an apt album closer, and the song's swirling production sits under Omah's reflective vocals, as he tells a story about how a loved one began to believe the negative things people were saying about him. It's a reminder that success can come at a cost, especially if you're not universally adored. Tall poppy syndrome is real, and the things people say online can have real-life consequences. It's a fittingly nuanced conclusion to an album that doesn't shy away from the realities of success. When you're stuck in your own head, it can be hard to ask for help.

READ MORE: Nigerian Rising Star Omah Lay & Justin Bieber Have Teamed Up Once Again For The Sweltering 'Attention'

Speaking about the album to Apple Music, Omah revealed, “I had the worst days of my life recording this album. Trust me, I was blocked. I can't sing what's not me. If I'm saying anything in a song, it's definitely true. The whole idea was to make sure that the album was really sounding the way I felt. I actually lived my reality on the album.”

Across the album's 37 minutes and 51 seconds, old and new fans alike get an insight into what it's like to be Omah Lay, both the highs and the lows. It's a raw and honest release from an artist that could have easily kept fans at arm's length. Instead, he's welcomed music lovers into his world. Take a trip into Omah Lay's world and check out Boy Alone below.