For Broken Ears
| For Broken Ears | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| 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[edit]
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[edit]
| 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[edit]
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[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[8] | 28 |
References[edit]
- ^ 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.
