It goes without saying that Lagos-born Tems was putting in the work long before she got the calls from Wizkid and Drake to feature on “Essence” and CLB extract “Fountains”, respectively. In fact, those were just the latest wins on her path to conquering the world, and she may very well have eclipsed it with her new EP, If Orange Was A Place.
It’s the first release to emerge from a freshly-inked deal with Since ‘93 and RCA, and a statement of artistic intent from the ambitious young singer. She’s gone on record as saying the new EP is about more than just her and that she wants to use her music to bolster Nigeria’s place on the world stage and help bring through even more artists from her home country.
Previously-released singles “Crazy Tings” and “Found” with Brent Faiyaz, both instant fan favourites, open the tape, followed by three new gems: “Replay”, “Avoid Things” and “Vibe Out”. Taking the classic funk roots of Afrobeats’ core and shooting them into the future, it’s a timeless sound and one that feels joyous and uplifting yet deeply personal to her—which is presumably why she has such a long line of artists hoping to work with her.
Not only that, but Tems will also be performing “Crazy Tings” live on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 29. While we wait for that, dive into If Orange Was A Place below.
