Darishow's 'Waiting' is a love letter, not a transaction

Darishow's “Waiting” opens with a series of hand-played percussion patterns, followed by lively piano notes and drums before his voice enters.

Together, they create a rhythmic introduction that gives the song an unmistakably African character. His message is simple: “You be the one I've been waiting for. I just want more. Mi o le lo.” Since beginning his professional career in 2020, the Lagos-born, UK-based singer has drawn from both his Nigerian upbringing and his experiences abroad, often returning to themes of love, attraction and relationships.

The song is understated in production and, despite its lively opening, “Waiting” relies on a relatively simple arrangement of percussion and piano throughout its two-minute runtime. It is deliberate, as it allows the artist (who produced the track himself) to keep the focus on his voice and lyrics as much as possible.

His pleading is earnest and transparent; an equivalent exchange of love for love. It deviates in this way from some of his previous tracks. On “Designer,” he was decidedly more transactional, seeking to confer on his partner luxury items in exchange for a positive response.

“Waiting” is therefore as stripped down in its intentions as it is in production. Darishow sits at the centre of a familiar romantic context, somehow finding calm in the turbulence. It is in this calm he makes his desires known: “Let me feel your love, straight from above.”

By describing her love as something that comes from above, Darishow gives his feelings a spiritual dimension, suggesting that the relationship means more to him than an ordinary attraction. He recites this manifesto often, varying pitch and rhythm but never the earnestness in his voice. 

"The song was inspired by the uncertainty that comes with loving someone while not knowing whether they feel the same way or whether the relationship will eventually become what you hope for,” the artist says. That uncertainty is not always apparent in the song's cheerful arrangement.

While the lyrics express a desire for affection, the music remains relaxed and optimistic, suggesting that Darishow is more interested in the hope of being loved than the anxiety of waiting for an answer. In the song, he is able to capture his intentions to a large extent, a feature of any great songwriter. His deliberately sparse, simple lyrics do work against the story he is trying to create a heartfelt love letter but Darishow chooses to prioritise clarity over poetic detail.

“Waiting” sits somewhere between Afrosoul and R&B, with percussion that recalls Darishow's earlier releases, including “Shugar” and “Plenty.” It also carries some of the warmth heard on “Lately,” although the arrangement is more restrained than on “Senorita” and “Designer.”

Rather than attempting to reinvent his sound, Darishow brings familiar elements of his music together in a quieter setting. The result is a short, sincere romantic song that communicates its intentions clearly, even if its limited lyrics leave some of the emotional uncertainty unexplored.

by Patrick Ezema