Tiwa Savage has recently been on a creative wave, going beyond her status as one of the greatest artists and vocalists of her generation to premiere a movie she had significant input on. Following an EP with the same title, Tiwa Savage teased the movie as one of the most exciting works of the year and dropped a soundtrack album to accompany it.
The soundtrack, serving as tvagehe musical backbone for the movie, is structured as a ten-track album featuring one of the most impressive lineups in recent times. It includes collaborations with Olamide, Reekado Banks, Aṣa, Ayra Starr, Black Sherif, Young Jonn, The Cavemen., and other elite acts from across Africa.
“Eastside Intro” eases into the pathway of the album, calming the nerves for the journey ahead. The piano and soft bass line deliver a soothing lo-fi track. Following this, guitar riffs introduce the album’s first full track, “Lost Time,” on which Tiwa Savage delivers a heartfelt verse. This song sets the theme for the entire movie, focusing on reconciliation after “lost time.”
The track “Commona” features a three-way collaboration with Olamide and Mystro. Set to a mid-tempo, generic Afrobeats beat by Blaise Beatz, the trio delivers a captivating performance. The combined talents create a vibe that just sticks, delivering immense chemistry.
P. Priime stood as the major star of the show on “Reason,” with a captivating and immersive production that reverberates throughout the ears, leaving the artists with minimal work to do for a perfect single. Reekado Banks and Tiwa Savage, given the stellar production, delivered equally minimal yet effective verses to complement the impressive contribution from P. Priime. Midway through the track, the addition of log drums further enhances the star performance.
On another Blaise Beatz-assisted single, “Love O,” Tiwa Savage blends R&B with Afropop to create a mid-tempo record that strikingly resembles radio hits of the 2010s, thanks to the subtle electric undertones in the background. The synergy between two of the most influential female acts in the Nigerian music scene raised expectations high, and “Emotions” did not disappoint.
Over an uplifting orchestration of instruments, Aṣa and Tiwa Savage poured their raw emotions into the single, delivering each note with precision and passion, resulting in a track that both reassures and uplifts.
For the first foreign featured act, the album brings in Zacardi Cortez on another uplifting single, “I Need You.” This gospel-infused track can be interpreted on two levels: a yearning for God or for a lover (who could also be God). The single is reminiscent of church songs from Disney classics like “Let It Shine.”
Following the gospel track, Tiwa Savage makes room for the new generation queens. On “Gara,” she enlists Ayra Starr for an Amapiano-produced song by Blaise Beatz. The log drums and cushioned, soft, prominent bass allow the two queens of different eras to showcase their versatility, even harmonizing together.
Continuing with the Amapiano beat, Magicsticks collaborates with Tiwa Savage, this time bringing in Young Jonn (playing to his strengths) and, surprisingly, Black Sherif, who delivers a standout performance on the album. Amapiano, being a genre conducive to hits, ensures that this collaboration is nothing less than spectacular.
Closing off the album, the best lineup is featured on a single that includes Richard Bona, The Cavemen., and Tiwa Savage. As expected, the track is a burst of sounds, languages, and raw, earthy, and pure African vibes. Unsurprisingly, two elite instrumentalists and an elite vocalist come together to create a masterpiece.
The album provides a strong prelude to the movie and, like many soundtracks that are well-crafted, the movie follows suit. Overall, the album is impressive, featuring an elite lineup where every artist delivers.
