On her latest EP, Fave is invigorated with new fire and spirited production that matches her new vibe.
Everyone had big expectations for Fave in 2021, after she got her big break with Baby Riddim because of her unique sonic profile. Here was a singer with a rich, sultry voice well suited for Pop and R&B fusion but with a patois twang to it—that also made her excel on Carribean leaning soundscapes. And despite capitalizing on her momentum with an early project release in 2022, the general audience seemed to have moved on at that point in time.
She followed up Riddim 5 with sophomore EP, two years later and that was also slept on and now after two years again—she’s back with arguably her most ambitious EP. The Fave that we know and love is still present of course, but she has her sights set on more electrifying production this time around, as opposed to her usual midtempo fanfare.
Body Talk kicks things off in a bang with an uptempo jersey club bounce. The lyrics here are easy on the ears and Fave repeatedly expresses her innate desire of her lover’s body. She could do more topically, but she understands the pulsating beat is the star of the show and lets it breathe. Miss You ft. Chike on the other hand lacks stellar production and dips its toes into Amapiano fusion waters with log drums that are all over the place.
Fave’s sentiment here compliments her stance on the EP opener and she bares her heart out to admit she misses her love interest. The writing here is stronger and the vocal interplay between her voice and Chike’s elevates the track, despite its shortcomings. Dance heads into familiar Afro-Bashment territory with visceral drums, interspersed with shakers, that adds personality and makes the song come alive.
Soundscapes like these are Fave’s bread and butter and she doesn’t dissapoint, while narrating her deepest desires to her lover and the adventures she wants them to undertake. Drown returns to House territory but the production here is more lush and EDM-inspired. Fave is jaded and fights off her inner tendencies to forgive because the relationship is beyond salvaging and she’s wary of fighting. The song is one of the brightest spots on the EP.
Fave is finally home on Dancehall territory on Paparazzi and she recruits Yemi Alade for a good old-fashioned nostalgic play. Both women deliver and it’s emblematic of the fact that they both have a lot of experience in these areas. The thematic devation from love swooning and jaded confessions to braggadocio antics on the track is also very welcome.
After getting off the euphoric high she was on Paparazzi, Fave admits her lover makes her wants to get back to basics on La La La. It’s the most vulnerable track on the EP and she lets down her walls as a peace offering to appease to her lover, so they can work things out. This writer is not the biggest fan of the one-note chorus but it’s hard not to root for earnest people fighting for love.
Fave’s RnBling is another impressive addition to her bright catalogue, despite the title doing the project disservice because there’s much more intriguing stuff gcoing on to simply allude this is RnB. However, this is a step in the right direction for the singer that sees her embracing new adventures without losing sight of who she is sonically.
Final Verdict:
Sonic Cohesion: 1.3/2
Expansive Production: 1.6/2
Songwriting: 1.3/2
Delivery: 1.4/2
Track Sequencing: 1.6/2
Total: 7.2/10
