Born In The Wild by Tems | Album Review

the debut album from the Nigerian star

I’ve been awaiting Tems debut album for years now, since I first her powerful voice trading sentiments with Brent Faiyaz on their single, “Found”. Three years since her last EP, I was almost worried the moment would pass her, especially since Born In The Wild was given next to no promo — the label did her no favors here — until the Tiny Desk performance posted two days before its release. Regardless, Tems is a master of infectious afrosoul selections — her debut is no exception.

The stripped back opening titular track doesn’t necessarily feel representative of what’s to come considering her former work, but the painful belts of her upbringing, one marred with indirection, exude from beneath the mane that dons the cover. The track is a nice step back from the usual hip-rocking, dance-inducing fervors that are usually, and still are, present.

The following interlude reveals, similar to SZA’s CTRL, words from an elder that underscore the wisdom imparted upon the artist without having to explicitly state it. Despite not having a full album, despite the doubts, the hesitations, Tems has managed to unite the Nigerian music scene and surpass international boundaries.

But she refuses to depart from her roots. In a reinvention of Seyi Sodimu’s Nigerian cult classic, “Love Me Jeje,” Tems brings it modern life, slowing it down just a pace, keeping the chorus and adding the tender vocals that jeje implies. The production doesn’t feel overpowering here as it does in the following “Get It Right,” which infuses electronica with the persistent afrobeat. Despite this, it is one of the more intriguing tracks as it sees her deliver short, choppy, breathy seductions making the simple songwriting far more consequential than it seems on paper.

Extraordinarily, Tems is as apt, thorough even, live as she is on the recorded versions. “Unfortunate,” as performed in the Tiny Desk below is far and way one of my favorites as the glass is both half empty and full at the same time as she examines a failed relationship. The runs, the incredibly catchy chorus allow a rejuvenation at the halfway point of the album. The little squeak as she touches her upper registers before settling into that well-tuned middle register with the lilts into the lower register makes for one of the most well-balanced tracks on Born In The Wild.

“Free Fall” actually felt interrupted with J.Cole feature, and while this is Cole’s best feature in a while (I’m looking at you “Grippy,” I hate you), this is what I truly expected from a Tems album. This track goes best with a freshly ground coffee and a sunny side up egg as the sun flits up the horizon just beyond the savannah or the vineyard. The emotionally devastating lyrics paired with the upbeat string plucks is the perfect foil. It’s fun.

But not nearly as fun as “Turn Me Up.” This track feels like something The Rock would pop his pecs to in turn with the beat as he preps a luau for Moana. That double time delivery in the lower register seems influenced by the likes of Sean Paul and gracefully bookended by perhaps the best chorus of the album with this infectious reggae inspired track.

As masterful as Tems is at capturing the essence of afrobeats, this is about the only thing this album captures. There is little differentiation between each track. I would love to see her let loose with her strong voice a bit more often. Production is, in part, to blame here, seldomly does the track allow for the ebbs and flows, the explosions we know she is capable of — the tracks breath a fiery spirit, but hardly allow for a contemplative breath or sigh that would allow Tems to flourish.

Tracks like “Gangsta,” and “Wickedest,” feel both out of character and rushed, leaving the listener to catch up to the rapid (and, often, vapid) blur of words only to be left disappointed when they realize it doesn’t amount to much. These juxtapositions between the better tracks feel even more staunch when examining the absolute failure of the simplistic and lackluster songwriting. As talented as she is, it is hard to cover the faults of the songwriters when paired with below average production.

Overall, there could have been more exuberant attempts at a debut — Born In The Wild feels beyond safe. It ranges from beautiful to infectious to lazy at parts. But this critique comes from my Westernized mind, absent of the knowledge of the flair of Nigeria and afrobeats in general. The elements of R&B/soul poke through here and there, which piqued my interest upon discovery of Tems back in the day. However, she is an Nigerian artist, and ultimately will release a repertoire that largely escapes the American mainstream.

Regardless, Tems is an incredible artist and this wasn’t a bad album by any means. A few tracks could have been cut for brevity’s sake. I would love to see what she could do with a Metro, Kaytranada, or Kanye type beat that hones in on that jazz and soul aspect I believe she would thrive in. But, if the advice from “The Voice In My Head” is any indication, none of what I say matters, rather only the catharsis of delivering her truth. The vindication of her emotion, despite all the naysay, is the larger point.

Rating: 6.5/10
Favorite Tracks: Unfortunate, Turn Me Up, Free Fall