Reflection Station is undeniably a poignant work of art from a seasoned veteran. The product speaks volumes about Tay Iwar, and its assembly is a testament to his time, intention, care, attention, skill, talent, love, and dedication.
By Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku
At first glance, it might strike the ear as odd when Tay Iwar is referred to as a veteran presence of the Nigerian music industry. Then a quick calculation will confirm the statement as accurate, considering that Tay Iwar burst onto the scene as a plucky teenager with his 2014 single “Coda” and his subsequent debut project, Passport.
This means that 1997-born Austin Iornongu Iwar has graced our ears for over a decade; a decade of experience that is glaring in the prolific depth and ascendent quality of his discography.
The growth of his profile might not be meteoric in pace, but it has proven stratospheric in altitude, as the young man has amassed a smattering of writing credits, award nominations, international performances, attention-grabbing deals, and widespread acclaim, on the back of a consistent release catalogue.
The recent crux of this brilliant catalogue has been a steady crop of introspective, soulful projects: 2021’s Love & Isolation, 2023’s Summer Breeze, and 2024’s GOLD II in collaboration with producer Le Mav. 2025’s Reflection Station joins the procession as another signature Tay Iwar project brimming with introspective thoughts, futuristic R&B sounds, and angelic vocals.
Reflection Station begins with its eponymous track, which acts as a thesis statement for the EP as a whole. Five bars in and Tay Iwar’s unique countertenor timbre broaches the project’s core thematic ideas.
“Where do we go for closure?/ In the quiet of reflection station…That’s the way we keep on, yeah/ Rollin’ motion, keep movin’/ Closer to your chosen”, he questions, inviting the listener to move, remember, feel, forgive. Tay wraps his poignant lyrics in constantly evolving deliveries.
Like the veteran he is, Tay Iwar expertly picks and switches melodies, swapping gently swaying passages, stacking backing vocals, calling and responding, and even inserting an interpolation of 2Face Idibia’s 2006 song, “For Instance”. These effervescent vocals are subtly backed by sparkly hi-hats and reverb Reggae drums set over a spacious synth chord progression and a simple bassline.
“Bad Belle” is next and is fittingly anchored around Zule Zoo’s 2005 eponymous track, with a vocal cut of the song forming the chorus. Tay Iwar builds on the song’s inherent energy to reassure his love in the face of doubts, worries, and troubles. “They never saw it coming/It’s all in perfect timing/ God gave you everything you need/ So, you never ever have to worry”.
The instrumental, courtesy of Tay Iwar himself, is bouncy and uplifting, built around soft pad chords, a thumping bass section, sparkling highlights and a sparse percussion-driven Afrobeats drum arrangement.
Strummed rhythm guitars, oriental flutes and a smooth bass usher us into the bounce of “Floating”. The drums sit in a pocket between Reggae and Hip-Hop, and his vocal delivery follows suit.
He saunters around the song, flitting between short staccato almost-rapped phrases and quick sung passages, keeping the song floating along with a brisk pace. “Sun in my face/ I cannot be stressed…I took a plane away/ To see how I feel about the waves”, he admits, navigating the mechanics of rest, relaxation, and measured distractions.
“Non-stop” is a masterfully assembled collage of a song. It begins with a cinematic intro that transitions into a wafting ethereal vocal passage backed by swimming pads, ghostly guitars, and rumbling bass. The drums drop in with a spacious Alt-R&B swing that injects both Hip-Hop-esque swagger and R&B sultriness into the mix.
Phased synth pads and cinematic strings mark the high points along with subtle electric guitar phrases. This sonic concoction is topped by probably the most fluid singing across Reflection Station, as Tay Iwar’s lines bleed into each other, vocal runs melding and melting across disparate words, ad-libs leading into main lines, and so much more.
Every listen reveals a new wrinkle, but perhaps the most prominent vocal choice is the presentation of the lines “Ibadi ni ijo wa/ Bere fun mi girl/ You too dey show am/ You’re too dangerous for me girl” in the chorus. The stylistic contrast in that passage catches the ear immediately and could cause it to become an instant earworm.
Reflection Station closes out with a powerful story in “Survival”, bringing up the mirror of self-reflection to our society. In under two minutes, Tay Iwar paints a sobering picture of the experiences that many people across the region are victim to. “See, you can really love where you’re from/ But at the same time, fit to hate on what it’s done…The goddamned gatekeepers that use God/ To feed on the weakest people who are strong in what they believe in” he laments, touching on examples of abuse of power, excessive force, illegal eviction, and many more ills visible around the country.
Set to a bass-driven, percussion-heavy, string-laden instrumental, there is a relentless thrust with which Tay Iwar progresses through his story, not dressing it up much even as he sings through it with typical clarity and smoothness. The song energy switches up right at the end, taking on an almost hopeful and positive air as Tay Iwar sings “Survival, survival”.
After Summer Breeze, Tay Iwar was becoming a beacon of consistency, with unrivalled attention to detail and quality in every aspect of his work. Following Reflection Station, it is clear that a creative is emerging who is well on the path to mastery.
The intentionality behind his artistry is both evident and refreshing. No matter how subtle, there is a constant evolution in the way Tay Iwar approaches his craft. As a producer, vocalist, songwriter, and mixing engineer, he refuses to rest on his laurels—and the audience is the greatest beneficiary.
Themes of love (for self and others), honesty, introspection, self-reflection, personal healing, and growth appear central to Tay Iwar and his music. He explores them from diverse perspectives and with varying intensity, allowing him to remain on theme while bringing different energies and viewpoints.
Tay and his team of songwriters have become increasingly adept at dissecting these themes without lingering on them—delving deeper than the surface, but without getting bogged down in detail. The result is lyrics that listeners can identify with and connect to, without diminishing the entertainment value.
In terms of vocals, Tay Iwar continues to defy logic with his ongoing improvement. While the vocal performances on Reflection Station are less showy than in previous works, the key lies in an expert understanding of when to let loose and when to hold back.
Given the emotional leanings of the songs, the vocal highs and lows help to convey the rollercoaster of emotions being explored. Simple yet memorable melodies anchor the tracks, while he draws from his substantial arsenal of techniques to add flavour in and around their core.
Tay Iwar has worked with a number of producers throughout his career, yet there appears to be no better producer for Tay than himself. There is something about the way he constructs his beats that accentuates the strongest aspects of his vocal abilities.
The unique bounce of his drums pairs seamlessly with the variations in his cadence; the sound choices and chord structures complement the timbre and range of his voice; and the space he leaves in the mix allows it to breathe, perfectly accommodating his notoriously complex harmony layers and his flair for generous ad-libs.
The final mix is so rich and layered that each listen reveals new elements—previously unnoticed harmonies and spectral backing vocals subtly rising to the surface.
Reflection Station is undeniably a poignant work of art from a seasoned veteran. The final product speaks volumes about its creator, and its assembly stands as a testament to his time, intention, care, attention, skill, talent, love, and dedication. Recent releases have reflected continuous artistic growth, and the stage now seems set to crystallise that progress with a landmark album. Whichever direction Tay Iwar takes next, it is a safe bet that he will deliver another delight.
Lyricism – 1.7
Tracklisting – 1.5
Sound Engineering – 1.7
Vocalisation – 1.7
Listening Experience – 1.6
Rating – 8.2/10
Yinoluwa “Yinoluu” Olowofoyeku is a multi-disciplinary artist and creative who finds expression in various media. His music can be found across all platforms and he welcomes interaction on his social media @Yinoluu.