Today, Afro-fusion star Omah Lay releases the expanded deluxe edition of his album Boy Alone via KeyQaad Records. The stacked release boasts six new tracks, including the meditative “reason” and the Ozuna-assisted remix of viral hit “soso.” But that’s just the start of the deluxe album’s varied sounds and surprises.
The additional tracks kick off with “closer,” a moody number infused with infectious Afro-beats, minimal percussion, and probing lyrics. Also included is the understated “it’s yours,” an engrossing anthem incorporating rhythmic percussion and wondrous synths. Another standout is “imagine,” Lay’s silky-smooth take on the R&B barnburner, which includes an assist from British rapper Aitch.
And then there’s “reason,” which stands out with its layered, multi-textured ambition, transportive percussion, and effortless choral harmonies. The result is an elegant, Afrobeat delight filled with immense meaning and musicality. Naturally, the deluxe edition also includes the new remix of his viral hit “soso” featuring reggaeton superstar Ozuna, which has amassed more than 240 million global streams.
Boy Alone also boasts the hit singles “attention” featuring Justin Bieber, “woman,” and “understand” – which garnered attention from The New York Times, HYPEBEAST, The FADER, Billboard, NME, and more. In recognition of his talent and hard work, Lay was nominated at the 2022 NAACP Image Awards for “Outstanding International Song.”
As a sought-after collaborator, Omah Lay has also lent his instantly recognizable voice to a string of notable Afrobeats hits this year, including Libianca’s “People,” Tempoe’s “Soweto,” Bella Shmurda’s “Philo,” and recently he teamed up with Big Boss Vette on “I Can’t Stop,” which was featured on the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack. With Boy Alone Deluxe, Lay expands upon his hit tracks, delving deeper and sharing fresh ideas that hint at the great things ahead for the Nigerian star.