EP Review: Tems Keeps the Bad Days behind Her on If Orange Was A Place
On her second EP, the Nigerian singer, who is in fine form, notches up a win.
This year, Tems has been on an amazing run. “Essence,” her collaborative effort with Wizkid, off the afro-pop superstar’s 2020 album Made in Lagos, landed on the Billboard Hot 100, the official music chart in the United States. The track, a fan favourite, surged upwards on charts around the world when it got a remix featuring Canadian megastar Justin Bieber. In early September, Tems snagged a guest spot on Canadian rapper Drake’s Certified Lover Boy. The song, “Fountains,” also appeared on the Billboard Hot 100, making Tems the first African act with two songs on the chart. A week and some days after Certified Lover Boy was released, American record label RCA Records announced that it and UK-based label Since ’93 had signed Tems.
Tems’ new status as a global darling is a massive contrast to what her career was three years ago. A self-taught producer who discovered her love for music as a child, she put out her debut single “Mr Rebel” in 2018 and, the following year, she released two singles “Looku Looku” and “Try Me.” Those songs earned Tems a cult following and portrayed her as a melancholic yet thoughtful R&B singer with a powerful voice. Her 2020 debut EP For Broken Ears confirmed Tems’ ability to excavate feelings in listeners with moving lyrics.
If Orange Was A Place, Tems’ new EP, seeks to consolidate the singer’s grip on global ears and offer fans, most especially new ones, a dose of her artistry, removed from the gleam of music’s heavy hitters. The five-track project features production work from Ghanaian record producer GuiltyBeatz and Jamaican-Jewish record producer Jonah Christian. All the tracks were mixed and mastered by Nigerian record producer Spax.
On the groovy opener “Crazy Tings,” Tems has had enough from a lover who hurts as well as gaslights her. She narrates the pains he has caused her and is determined to show the no-nonsense side of her. “You’re not everything/And I know you’re not, the one for me,” she sings.
American singer Brent Faiyaz is Tems’ partner in introspection on the Caribbean-steeped R&B number “Found.” A wary Tems reveals her distrust for the people who walk into her life; she is unsure if she is loved simply because of her status. “Love is a difficult life,” she sings. Brent Faiyaz represents a trustworthy companion as he coos reassuring words and promises that he has good intentions for her. “I’ll mind my manners/Won’t take advantage/Trust I can manage that,” he sings. It would seem Tems doesn’t need reassurances after all when she sings, “I found myself.”
On “Replay,” Tems swaggers through the track happy about her new position in life and jeers at her haters who tried to bring her down. She sings, “It’s the magic for me/I make them weep till they run insane.” She also reminds those who question her decision to keep a low profile that in private she is a fun person but will not open the door of her life to the public because she wants to keep out the negative energies.
Last year, Tems, her manager Muyiwa Awomiyi and fellow Nigerian singer Omah Lay were arrested and charged to court after performing at a show in Uganda. They were held for flouting the Ugandan government’s COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Two days later, the Ugandan government released them after apologizing and clearing them of wrongdoing. Tems addresses that incident on “Replay,” suggesting that the prison officials, who didn’t know she is a public figure, were shocked when they saw her on the TV.
On “Avoid Things,” Tems realizes that her lover is not completely into her. He emotionally distances himself from her, and when she tries to connect with him, he slams the door of his heart in her face. “You’re like a cold place/Don’t need a cold place,” she sings. Fed up with his antics, she wants to stay outside his life - for her peace of mind.
Tems redraws into herself—her comfort place—and zones out on “Vibe Out.” GuiltyBeatz’s fingers work magic on the track as hums give the upbeat production an ethereal feeling. Tems mentions instances when a lover’s actions and inactions have caused her to want to lose her individuality. Now, she’s embracing herself, aware that the best healing comes from inside her.
In contrast to For Broken Ears, which, for the most part, swam in melancholy, the production of If Orange Was A Place is energetic and joyful. It represents Tems’ new state of mind: grateful and optimistic. Still, the songs on the project house restrained pain and conflict. It all shows that Tems has moved past the dark, cloudy days and is settling in a bright, hopeful place.
Go HERE to stream If Orange Was A Place.
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