Edison-nominated South African Dutch artist Joya Mooi teams up with Nigerian singer and songwriter Lady Donli on her latest single, Only Water, released via Unity Records. The new single has seen incredible support across Spotify and Apple Music, landing on R&beats, New Music Friday across 28 territories, New in R&B (26), and more, increasing Joya’s presence across the continent and beyond.
Inspired by Olympic diving icon Greg Louganis, Only Water draws from a story of refuge and resilience. In the late 1980s, Louganis found sanctuary in water at a time when HIV stigma shaped both public perception and private survival. That idea of water as a space of safety, anonymity, and emotional release sits at the core of the track. This fluid R&B collaboration is rooted in introspection rather than spectacle. Built on warm bass, subtle keys, and layered harmonies, the production feels immersive and quietly contemplative, designed for intimate listening and reflection.
The song moves with restraint and clarity. Rather than leaning into dramatic peaks, Only Water unfolds patiently, allowing space for breath, vulnerability, and emotional suspension. Both voices meet without competing, weaving a shared sense of calm strength and emotional honesty. The result is a track that feels inward-looking yet expansive, grounded in personal experience while resonating far beyond it.
Only Water continues Joya Mooi’s ongoing EP chapter, following Technicolour, Pay Day, and Lookalike. Across this body of work, she examines emotional complexity in everyday life, focusing less on resolution than on observation. Feelings are allowed to coexist, overlap, and remain unresolved. This release deepens that approach by centering on surrender, trust, and the quiet power of letting go.
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