GRAMMY nominated Nigerian artist TAY IWAR drops new EP “WONDERFUL” and releases vibrant music video for "MERCY PLEASE"

MusicMusic VideoAfrobeatsSoul

9 Sept

Written By Gideon Asibi

Tay Iwar - MERCY PLEASE (Official Music Video)

‘An increasingly magnetic part of the Afrobeats universe.’ —THE FADER

‘Tay’s gaze is firmly fixed on innovation and individuality.’ — WONDERLAND

‘A vital voice within the global soul community.’ — CLASH

4x GRAMMY nominated Nigerian artist, producer, and creative Tay Iwar delivers his highly anticipated new EP WONDERFUL - released via Sparta/ Benin City Ent. Blending R&B Afro-fusion soul and electronic textures with deep Tiv cultural references, the WONDERFUL EP emerges as both a personal diary and a celebration of heritage. Opening with the title track, the afro-electronic blend produced by Tay anchors the project both emotionally and thematically. Featuring a vocal sample from Nigerian legends Zule Zoo, the track balances crisp electronic elements with deep, organic African instrumentation - conjuring movement and energy whilst Tay celebrates love, life and living in one’s truth. Moving to “DO YOUR THING” (again produced by Tay), the kinetic mood continues with a drum pattern sampled directly from Tiv culture: the bright, melodic synth giving a natural bounce to an Afro-fusion sound buoyed by Tay’s preaching of self-expression and freedom.

Slowing things down with the sultry “MERCY PLEASE”, Tay fuses sensuality, vulnerability and groove, the mood inspired by the famous Tsuwetsele or “cat dance” performed by Tiv masquerade dancers, Tay oscillating between vulnerability and desire. “FIND A WAY” then pushes forward both sonically and politically, seeing him draw a sample from legendary South African group The Joy - a triumphant protest chant that places hope and perseverance at its core. Produced by Anoop Desouza (Tems, SAILORR), the sparse, syncopated percussion and soft melodic layers create expansive pockets for Tay’s vocal to stretch and breathe to glorious effect.

Closing with “NEXT2U”, a grateful and vibrant burst of sleek dancefloor energy courtesy of producers GG (Masego) and bAd entity rounds off the experience with polish and verve, echoing Kaytranada in its innate joy and intimacy with Tay celebrating chemistry and closeness. The cohesion across the project feels deeply personal and indigenous, conjuring cultural ancestry and legacy to blend with Tay Iwar’s flair for electronic, global R&B sounds to make a project that stands as his most culturally rooted and sonically expansive to date.

One of the most highly-regarded Nigerian artists of this generation, Tay’s commitment to top-tier musical collaborations and expression has made him a leading figurehead for the African art renaissance; from early work with the Soulection label to his breakthrough feature on Wizkid’s Made In Lagos album, his work with the likes of Dave, Pa Salieu and Juls underlines Tay’s organic relationship with some of the most celebrated artists in the UK. Meanwhile writing and production for the likes of Burna Boy, Camila Cabello and Chris Brown has seen Tay gather 4x GRAMMY nominations, 3x UK No.1s, and well over 100M streams - forming a picture of a multi-hyphenate talent operating at the highest creative levels.

Closing in on 1M monthly listeners on Spotify alone and 12M views across his consistently artistic videos, Tay’s standout performance at the Little Simz curated Meltdown Festival this year underlines his reputation amongst some of the brightest talents in music and with WONDERFUL, Tay Iwar cements himself amongst them as one of the foremost R&B and Afrobeats names operating in the landscape right now - a rare artistic and creative talent resonating at the highest tastemaker levels.