Joya Mooi returns with a weightless alternative R&B single shaped by softness, survival and emotional depth.
There is something beautifully unguarded about “Only Water”, the new single from Dutch-South African artist Joya Mooi featuring Nigerian singer-songwriter Lady Donli. Suspended somewhere between alternative R&B and indie-pop, the track feels fluid in every sense — tender, atmospheric and quietly devastating. It does not rush to reveal itself, but lets its emotion rise slowly.
Released as the final single ahead of Joya Mooi’s upcoming EP, “Only Water” takes inspiration from the life of Olympic diver Greg Louganis, drawing on themes of abuse, adoption trauma, stigma and survival. That emotional framing gives the song a deeper pull. Water becomes more than an image here; it feels like refuge, release, and a way of carrying pain without letting it harden.
Joya has always been at her strongest when she leans into softness without losing clarity, and “Only Water” is one of her most elegant examples of that. Her songwriting moves with restraint, but never feels distant, while Lady Donli adds a warm, understated presence that widens the song’s emotional landscape. Together, they create something delicate but full-bodied.
With an Edison Award nomination and a growing international presence, Joya Mooi continues to carve out her own lane in alternative R&B. “Only Water” feels subtle, but never slight – the kind of song that leaves a trace long after its final note.
Stream it here: