Boy Alone: How Omah Lay expressed depression in an artistic form

In 2022, Nigerian recording artiste, Stanley Omah Didia who is better known as Omah Lay released his debut studio album, Boy Alone.

The album has remained one of the most popular studio albums in the 2020s since it’s debut. The theme of the music project was predominantly depression, heartbreak and suicidal thoughts.

On Boy Alone, Omah Lay wore the garment of a tormented soul who is seeking redemption and meaning to life. He gnashed with a soothing vocal and serenaded his listeners with some of the most depressing lyrics; interestingly, everyone gyrated his melancholy tune.

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In this article, News Round The Clock (NRTC) will be revisiting Omah Lay’s impressive work of art.

Since his mainstream debut at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 with the music project, Get Layd EP, Omah Lay has cemented himself as one of the most dexterous music composers in modern Nigerian music history.

Omah Lay Discusses The Subject Of Suicide On ‘Boy Alone’

As stated earlier, the singer-songwriter spoke time and again of his mental health turmoil. On Boy Alone, Omah Lay was unapologetic as he addressed some of the deepest aches in his heart.

In an interview with H Steph, the Port-Harcourt-born artist opened up on his battle with depression and how he incorporated the experience into his music.

Omah Lay said it was divine for him to go through depression to be able to help those who are currently depressed.

He said, “I was at the verge of…I was suicidal, mahn. Trust me, I was really f*cked up.

“But I think I have to be there to actually help the people who are there right now to get out of that place. I mean it will take a real person like me to go there and then make music out of it and talk about it so openly how I’m a mess, how I think and how I’m f*cked up and everything.

“I’m not sure you will find Afrobeats artists who do that right now. Everybody is out there saying Afrobeats are not so deep, ‘Afrobeats are just vibes and sh*t’. Nah. That’s why everybody is just doing hype. The real music is dying.”

The Legacy Of Boy Alone…

In Africa, Nigerian artistes rarely discuss the topic of depression or suicidal thoughts. It is often seen as a taboo.

Omah Lay unapologetically spoke about the issues most members of his generation are battling with. His narration on the ‘purple’ music project has made him a standout among his contemporaries.

His lyrical approach resonated with the Gen Zs who acknowledge his style of music and perception to life. There is so much expectation from the 26-year-old musician.