Summary: Omah Lay gets vulnerable about his mental health and creative process in new podcast interview. The “Soso” crooner explains why making music is his therapy and how he channels his struggles into art.
Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Omah Lay has peeled back the curtain on his inner world, offering fans a raw and honest glimpse into his mental state and what drives his creative genius.
In a recent sit-down with Kiss Xtra podcast, the “Godly” hitmaker didn’t hold back, describing himself as “crazy” and revealing that creating art isn’t just a career choice for him—it’s essential therapy.
Music as Medicine
“My head is not correct, I need to create art to feel good,” Omah Lay confessed during the interview, a statement that has resonated deeply with fans across social media.
The Stanley Omah Didia, known professionally as Omah Lay, has always been praised for the emotional depth in his music. Songs like “Soso,” “Understand,” and “Reason” carry a melancholic undertone that now makes perfect sense given his latest revelations.
For the Port Harcourt-born artist, music isn’t just about hitting charts or winning awards—it’s about survival and maintaining his sanity in an often chaotic world.
The Price of Fame
Since bursting onto the Nigerian music scene in 2020 with his debut EP “Get Layd,” Omah Lay has experienced meteoric success. But as many Nigerians know, success often comes with its own wahala.
The pressure to constantly deliver hits, maintain relevance in Nigeria’s competitive music industry, and deal with public scrutiny can take a serious toll on any artist’s mental health.
Omah Lay’s honesty about his struggles is particularly significant in a society where mental health conversations are still often stigmatized, especially among men. His willingness to be vulnerable challenges the typical “man must be strong” narrative prevalent in Nigerian culture.
Art Born from Struggle
What makes Omah Lay’s confession even more powerful is how it reframes his entire discography. Every melancholic melody, every introspective lyric, every vulnerable vocal run—they’re all pieces of his healing process.
“I need to create art to feel good,” he emphasized, highlighting how his creative output serves as both an outlet and a coping mechanism.
This approach to artistry isn’t uncommon among Nigeria’s most celebrated musicians. From 2Baba’s emotional ballads to Burna Boy’s introspective moments, some of the country’s best music has been born from personal struggles and the need for emotional release.
A Growing Conversation
Omah Lay’s openness joins a growing movement of Nigerian celebrities speaking candidly about mental health. Artists like Davido, Tiwa Savage, and others have previously shared their own battles, slowly helping to normalize these crucial conversations in Nigerian society.
The podcast interview has sparked widespread reactions on Nigerian Twitter and Instagram, with many fans praising the singer’s bravery and relating to his experiences. Comments like “This is why his music hits different” and “We stan a self-aware king” have flooded social media.
The Therapeutic Power of Afrobeats
Omah Lay’s revelation also highlights something many Nigerian music lovers instinctively know: Afrobeats isn’t just party music. Beneath the infectious rhythms and danceable beats often lie stories of pain, struggle, resilience, and healing.
The genre has become a vehicle for emotional expression, allowing both artists and listeners to process complex feelings while still maintaining that essential Nigerian spirit of joy and celebration.
What This Means for Fans
For fans of Omah Lay, this interview offers a new lens through which to appreciate his artistry. His upcoming projects, including his highly anticipated sophomore album, will likely be listened to with even greater empathy and understanding.
It’s also a reminder that behind the stage performances, hit songs, and glamorous lifestyle, artists are human beings dealing with their own internal battles.
Breaking the Stigma
Perhaps most importantly, Omah Lay’s honesty contributes to breaking down the walls of stigma surrounding mental health in Nigeria. By openly discussing his need for creative expression to maintain his wellbeing, he’s giving others permission to acknowledge their own struggles and seek their own forms of healing.
In a country where phrases like “e go be” (it will be fine) are often used to dismiss genuine mental health concerns, celebrity voices like Omah Lay’s can make a real difference in changing attitudes.
As Omah Lay continues to create the soulful, introspective music that has made him one of Nigeria’s most beloved artists, fans can now appreciate that each song is more than entertainment—it’s a window into his healing journey and a reminder that it’s okay not to be okay.
What matters is finding healthy ways to cope, whether through art, conversation, or professional help. And if Omah Lay’s music can be his therapy while simultaneously providing comfort to millions of listeners, that’s the kind of beautiful symbiosis that makes art truly powerful.
What do you think about Omah Lay’s openness regarding his mental health? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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