| For Broken Ears | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| EP by | ||||
| Released | 25 September 2020 | |||
| Genre | R&B, Alté | |||
| Length | 20:41 | |||
| Label | Leading Vibes | |||
| Producer |
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| Tems chronology | ||||
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| Singles from For Broken Ears | ||||
For Broken Ears is the debut extended play by Nigerian singer, songwriter and producer Tems. [1] [2] It was produced primarily by Tems, along with production from Spax, Omeiza and Tejiri Akpoghene, and was released on 25 September 2020 by Leading Vibes Limited. [3] It spawned front several hits in 2022, including " Higher" which was sampled on Future's number one Billboard Hot 100 hit " Wait for U" and " Free Mind" which debuted on the chart, gaining Tems her first solo appearance. [4]
Background and release
Tems began working on the EP in 2019. All the tracks were written and produced by Tems, except for the lead single " Damages" which was produced by Spax, and " Higher" produced by Tejiri Akpoghene. "The Key" was co-produced by Omeiza, who had worked on several previous songs with Tems. [5]
The lead single "Damages" was released on 18 September 2020, while the EP was released through Leading Vibes on 22 September 2020. [1]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Pitchfork | 7.6/10 [3] |
| Pulse Nigeria | 8/10 [6] |
For Broken Ears received generally positive reviews from music critics. Pitchfork praised the EP, calling it an "R&B record, with swirly synths and airy harmonies", while also noting that Tems's voice could be mistaken for that of an American or British singer. [3] A review by Pulse Nigeria lauded it for the strong themes and tracks, especially "Damages" and "Ice T", while also adding its preferred track arrangement. [6]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Temilade Openiyi
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Interference" | Tems | 2:55 |
| 2. | "Ice T" | Tems | 4:07 |
| 3. | " Free Mind" |
| 4:07 |
| 4. | "Témìládè Interlude" | Tems | 0:41 |
| 5. | " Higher" |
| 3:16 |
| 6. | " Damages" | Spax | 2:49 |
| 7. | "The Key" |
| 2:46 |
| Total length: | 20:41 | ||
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Independent Albums ( Billboard) [8] | 28 |
References
- ^ a b "Listen to Nigerian artist Tems' debut EP For Broken Ears". The Fader. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ "A 1-Listen Review of Tems' 'For Broken Ears'". The Native. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ a b c "For Broken Ears EP | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ "@temsbaby "Free Mind" debut on the Billboard Hot 100". Twitter. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
- ^ Esomnofu, Emmanuel (29 September 2020). ""For Broken Ears": Does Tems Deliver On Her Debut Project? | Notjustok". Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Tems - For Broken Ears [EP Review]". Pulse Nigeria. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ "For Broken Ears- EP". Retrieved 11 September 2021 – via Apple Music.
- ^ "Independent Albums". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
