Tape-Deck Textures and Meditative Flow from a Diasporic Voice –

TC-EP opens For Real by inviting you into a vibe-heavy headspace where introspection and textural scintillation take centre stage. In this saturation-rich mix, it almost feels as though he is soulfully waxing lyrical straight over a track lifted from a tape-deck. The wavy, warm lo-fi aesthetic instantly draws you in, giving a striking sense of intimacy while his meditative flow unfurls with the cheeky grit of grime, the dreamy transcendence of ambient electronica and the tempered soul and vibrance of Afrobeat. The rattles of the 808s sit against the choral ring of the guitars as they ascend through the mix, creating a juxtaposition that pulls you deeper into his vulnerable confessional on how reality bends, shifts and tries to shape itself around him. Through each bar, he moves across the contours of aspiration, desire and conviction with a style steeped in mindful wonder and raw self-possession.

What strengthens the release further is the foundation beneath it. Born in Zimbabwe, raised in Essex and now settled in London, TC-EP carries the sensibilities of the African diaspora into his sonic identity. His centre of gravity may be Hip-Hop, but he is of a generation for whom boundaries hold little meaning. His commitment to experimenting with new sounds, folding influences into each other and creating work that documents his short time on this strange spinning rock gives For Real an added emotional density.

The independent spirit, the genre-fusing instinct and the desire to express without inhibition all influence the atmosphere of the grounded single, which radiates warmth, playfulness and depth.

For Real is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast