Tay Iwar is a Nigerian neo-soul singer, songwriter, record producer, composer and sound engineer. In 2018, he signed a licensing deal with Soulection and in 2022, he signed a publishing deal with Warner Music.
He co-founded the Bantu Music Collective with his brothers Sute and Terna Iwar, and he is considered a pioneer of the Alté music genre.
Ivar is a pioneer of Nigerian alternative R&B music, widely praised for its innovative sounds and exploration of social and political issues. He is a rising star in the Nigerian music scene who is sure to continue making waves in the coming years.
contour
- Full name: Austin Yonongu Ivar
- Stage name: Tay Iwar
- Date of Birth: June 9, 1997
- Age: 26
- Birthplace: Marina, Lagos
- Nationality: Nigeria
- Occupation: Soul singer, songwriter, record producer
- Spouse: Single
- Siblings: Suter Ivar and Telna Ivar
- Height: 5’11
- Net worth: $350,000
early life
Tay Iwar was born on June 9, 1997 in Marina, Lagos, Nigeria. His parents are Austin Iwar and Vivian Iwar. His elder brother, Suté Iwar, was an early influence on his music. Austin began composing music at the age of 14 using the digital music software FL Studio. He spoke about his musical journey at the 2015 TED conference in Rivers State.
Tay Iwar (formerly known as Tay) made his debut in the music industry with his brother Sute Iwar in 2014. The following year, they established Bantu Collective, an entertainment company specializing in record and music distribution, and Terna Iwar’s photography studio in Abuja.
On April 20, 2014, Iwar released his mixtape Passport through BANTU and launched his music career by covering Jai Paul’s “Zion Wolf” on SoundCloud as Tay.
He was nominated for Song of the Year at the 4th Nigerian Teen Choice Awards in 2015. A seven-song EP, Renascentia, featuring Sute Iwar, was released on 22 April 2016.
In 2019, Iwar released his debut album, Gemini, to critical acclaim. The album was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 2019 Headies Music Awards. In 2021, he released his EP, Love & Isolation.
Iwar is known for his vibrant Afro-fusion music that blends classic Afrobeats, hip-hop and alternative R&B. He is widely praised for his unique sound and socially conscious lyrics. Iwar is one of the most exciting new voices in Nigerian music and is sure to make waves in the coming years.
educate
Tay Iwar did not receive any formal music education. He started making music at the age of 14 and taught himself how to play guitar and piano. He also learned how to produce music using Logic Pro.
Profession
He signed a licensing agreement with Soulection in 2018 and a publishing deal with Warner Music in 2022. He co-founded the Bantu Collective with brothers Suté and Terna Iwar and is considered a pioneer of the Alté music genre.
Iwar made his debut in the music industry in 2014 and 2015 with the release of the critically acclaimed remix album Passport, for which he was nominated for the Nigeria Teen Choice Award for Favorite Remix Album/EP. At the 14th edition of The Headies Music Awards, he was nominated for Best Male Vocalist for his album Utero.
On April 13, 2019, Soulection Radio played “Diamond” and “Keeps” from GEMINI’s studio album. In 2020, he collaborated with Projexx on Wizkid’s Made in Lagos album “True Love”. After the deluxe version was released on August 27, 2021, he co-wrote “Steady”, a song that earned him his first nomination for Best Global Music Album at the 64th Grammy Awards.
Iwar’s music is a “mix of neo-soul, R&B and Afrobeats”. He has won praise for his “soulful vocals”, “melodic songwriting” and “unique production style”. Iwar has performed at major festivals such as Africa Punk and The Great Escape, and has toured across Africa and Europe.
Ivar is an outspoken supporter of social justice and environmental sustainability. He has spoken out against police violence in Nigeria and worked with the United Nations Environment Programme to raise awareness about climate change.
On August 27, 2021, after the deluxe edition was released, he received his first Grammy nomination for Best World Music Album at the 64th Grammy Awards. The following year, he co-wrote “System” from Dave’s studio album We’re All Alone in This Together and sang “Special Kinda” on Tiwa Savage’s Water & Garri EP. Tay and Wizkid will perform “Real Love” for the first time at the O2 Arena in London on December 1, 2021.
Awards and nominations
The Tejval Theatre has been nominated for several awards, including:
- 2018 Headies Best Male Vocal Performance Award
- 2022 South Africa Rest of Africa Artist Music Awards
- He was also nominated for the 2022 Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album for his contribution on Wizkid’s “Made in Lagos” album.
In addition to his awards and nominations, Taiyiwal’s music has been praised by critics. The Guardian called him “one of the most intriguing young singers in Nigerian music” and The New York Times called him “a rising star in African music.”
Social Media
- Instagram account: Tay Iwar (@tayiwar)
- Twitter account: Tay Iwar (@TayIwar)
- Tiktok account: Tay Iwar (@tayiwar)
Personal life
Tay Iwar keeps a low profile and doesn’t reveal much about his personal life. He is unmarried and has no children. He currently lives in Lagos, Nigeria.
Discography
Below is the discography of Nigerian neo-soul singer, songwriter, record producer, composer and sound engineer Tay Iwar:
Album
singles
- 504
- space
- Sugar Daddy
- Wonder Girl
- diamond
- reserve
- Uterus
- Video Star
- True Love (with Wizkid and Projexx)
- Bad4u
- 2 Sips (Featuring Cruel Santino)
- F65 (with IDK)
cooperate
- Alone (Burna Boy song, produced by Tay Iwar)
- Steady (Wizkid’s song, co-written with Tay Iwar)
- Shine (Pa Salieu song, co-written with Tay Iwar)
net worth
Tay Iwar’s net worth is estimated to be around $350,000. This estimate is based on the income he earns from his music career as well as his investments and assets. Tay Iwar is a rising star in the Nigerian music industry and his net worth is expected to grow.
