GRAMMY®-nominated Afro-Fusion star Omah Lay continues to operate in a space few artists can truly inhabit, where vulnerability meets groove, and emotion moves as freely as the body. On his latest release, “Waist,” the Nigerian born creator delivers one of his most magnetic offerings to date, pairing intoxicating sonic landscapes with a cinematic new visual that further cements his global ascent.
The single fuses R&B, soul, pop and and traditional West African rhythms with enticing guitars, invigorating bass, and layered percussion. “Waist” thrives in the tension between desire and restraint. It’s warm and breezy, with sonic textures allowing Omah Lay’s signature emotional candor to breathe within the rhythm. His vocals seduce with every note, taking listeners on a musical journey filled with heart and soul as he sings lyrics all about pleasure, yearning and tackling responsibility. The track has quickly found success, gaining traction across Africa, America, the UK, and Europe, a testament to its universal pull and his growing international footprint.
The acompayed music video, shot in Paris and directed by Lokmane, is a visual masterpiece. Cast as a painter surrounded by muses, Omah blurs the line between creator and creation as sensual choreography, living portraits, and stunning landscapes unfold. Rich with symbolism, the visual reflects an artist increasingly invested in storytelling beyond sound, using movement, space, and imagery as extensions of his inner world.
The artist is finding much acclaim with a GRAMMY® nomination alongside Davido for “With You” in the Best African Music Performance category. Following his 2024 release “Moving” and a year spent touring and collaborating across borders, “Waist” serves as a refined preview of what’s to come on his forthcoming sophomore album, Clarity of Mind.
Rooted in themes of growth, love, temptation, and self-discovery, the track reflects an artist fully in motion, emotionally, sonically, and visually. As anticipation builds for Clarity of Mind, “Waist” stands as a reminder of why Omah Lay remains one of Afrobeats’ most compelling voices, capable of making the spiritual feel sensual and the personal feel universal.
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*photo credit is Danijel CVIJIC
