The sensationally talented Nigerian recording artist known as Tay Iwar doesn’t rush “How Can I Forget,” and that patience is the whole point.
Alte and neo-soul have given Nigerian music a slower, more introspective lane. And Tay Iwar has been one of its steadiest voices for years now. This record fits right into that space, less concerned with hooks and more focused on feeling.
The instrumental floats on a mellow guitar line paired with soft, jazzy keys underneath. Drums stay minimal, almost brushed, giving the whole arrangement a late-night, unhurried quality. Nothing here fights for attention.
His vocals stretch and bend across the beat, favoring tone over technical runs. There’s a looseness to the phrasing, like he’s working the melody out in real time rather than sticking to a fixed pattern.
Lyrically, the song sits somewhere between memory and regret, the kind of quiet ache that doesn’t need loud words to land. He repeats the title like a question he can’t quite answer himself.
It’s not built for the club. It’s built for the drive home after a long night.
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