Album Review: Simi Pours Her Heart Out on To Be Honest
The Nigerian singer uses her fourth studio album to journal her experiences on love and life.
Simi has undergone numerous transitions in her career. After her debut gospel album Ogaju in 2008, she gained mainstream success as a contemporary pop artiste with her 2017 album Simisola. In 2019, she wedded her longtime lover and fellow artiste Adekunle Gold and made her screen debut in Kunle Afolayan’s comedy-drama Mokalik; she also put out her third studio album Omo Charlie Champagne, Vol. 1, which ended her five-year recording contract with X3M Music, and announced her record label Studio Brat. The following year, while pregnant, she released the well-received “Duduke,” which was dedicated to her then-unborn baby. This year, she was one of the judges on the seventh season of the reality TV show Nigerian Idol.
One constant that permeates Simi’s music is her authentic songwriting. Her songs radiate diverse facets that feel connected to her personality, experiences and observations. On her latest 11-track album To Be Honest, this sentiment rings true. It is noteworthy that her frankness, which sits well in her music, hasn’t always elicited mass appeal when it steps into the social media space. For instance, after her comments during one of the episodes of her YouTube show Stoopid Sessions drew the ire of members of the LGBTQ+ community, Simi issued an apology and deleted the controversial episode.
On To Be Honest, Simi enlists the assistance of talented producers—Blaise Beatz, P.Prime, Ozedikus, OnoNovo, Pheelz and AYKBeats—to create a project that communicates her thoughts on love and life. She handles the mixing and leaves the mastering to Vtek. On the opener “Story Story,” Simi delivers an account of her early days and rise to fame; she discloses sharing her dreams of being a musician with her parents and performing at gigs for free. She thanks her fans for supporting her music and promises not to drop the ball.
On the dancehall-influenced “Born Again,” Simi sings about standing tall in the face of troubles; she refuses to bow to the pressure of detractors. She also expresses her confidence in her ability to achieve her goals. On “Naked Wire,” the project’s lead single, Simi unfurls her sensuality as she appreciates her lover. She conveys her feelings in subtle wording but the desire that sparks in the song is unmistakable.
“I’m just tryna keep my spirit pure/Stay the fuck away from immature people/It’s okay if I only have four people/As long as them be sure people,” Simi declares on the FAVE-assisted R&B/Pop-infused “Loyal.” In Jamaica-influenced patois, Nigerian singer FAVE delivers a verse about the pain of opening up to a deceitful individual; she and Simi reiterate that they will only let trustworthy people stay in their lives. On “Balance,” Adekunle Gold joins Simi to preach about the need to forgo pleasing everyone; instead, they believe people should pour their affection into those who genuinely care about them.
“Logba Logba” is a standout track. Blaise Beatz spices the tune with highlife elements that delights the senses as Simi encourages her lover (who she hints at by namedropping Adekunle Gold) to ignore the opinions of outsiders concerning their union. “We do it for the culture/This love no go rupture/Dem dey wait like vulture/We no need interruption,” she sings. The couple’s two-year-old daughter Deja makes an appearance at the end of “Easy,” where Simi encourages listeners not to be hard on themselves because of life’s unpredictability.
On “No Joy,” Simi takes a swipe at online trolls and haters. “If you really really no mad/Why you so happy when another man sad?/Na Instagram give you this kain mind,” she sings. She enters braggadocio mode on “Temper” as she revels in her celebrity status; she acknowledges life’s challenges but decides to maintain her cool.
Simi craves unadulterated love on “Nobody,” declaring that she will never settle for less in both her professional and personal life. “I’d rather walk away than take your lies/If my heart break I go put am on ice oh/Cause I deserve better,” she sings. She rounds off the album with “Love for Me,” a thank-you note to the Almighty.
Interestingly, a majority of the tracks on To Be Honest are set at a medium tempo; in the hands of a lesser artiste, it could have been an obstacle to the enjoyment of the project. But the sonic similarity is forgivable because Simi’s deft writing and confident vocals sustain the album to the finish line. To Be Honest doesn’t carry the groundbreaking gravitas of Simisola but it succeeds as an emotional outlet for the singer, wife and mother.
Go HERE to stream To Be Honest.
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The same artistes that sang 'lie to me' at one point in time now craves honesty... Transitions do happen...