Tkay

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Tkay
Studio album by
Released28 October 2016 (2016-10-28)
Recorded2014–16
Genre
Length47:54
Label
Producer
Tkay Maidza chronology
Switch Tape
(2014)
Tkay
(2016)
Last Year Was Weird (Vol. 1)
(2018)
Singles from Tkay
  1. "Carry On"
    Released: 30 August 2016[1][2]
  2. "Simulation"
    Released: 16 October 2016[3]

Tkay is the debut studio album by Australian singer and rapper Tkay Maidza. It was released on 28 October 2016 by Dew Process[4] and peaked at number 20 on the ARIA Charts.

At the ARIA Music Awards of 2017, the album was nominated for Best Urban Album and Breakthrough Artist.

Background[edit]

The concept for the album began in 2014, around the time Maidza was working on her debut extended play, entitled Switch Tape. The EP was released in October 2014, through Dew Process Records.[5] In December 2014, Maidza announced that she was working on her debut studio album.[6]

In 2016, Maidza gained greater international notice when she collaborated with DJ and record producer Martin Solveig on his single "Do It Right". "Do It Right" sparked Maidza's lead single from the album, "Carry On", which features vocals from rapper Killer Mike,[1]

In the beginning of October 2016, the album's first promotional single was released, entitled "Tennies".[4] Two weeks after, the album's second official single, entitled "Simulation", was released on 16 October 2016.[3] The song was revealed to have been co-written with rising electronic musician George Maple,[3] who previously co-wrote and co-produced Maidza's song "Ghost".

Reception[edit]

In a 3 ½ star rating, music journalist Bernard Zuel said "It's no surprise Tkay Maidza's debut album arrives fully sprung: performing live, the Adelaide-based rapper/singer is a ball of energy with a rapid flow to match the tempo... Maidza's energy is channelled and modified so tempos are varied without losing drive. R&B feels like her home turf instead of a token effort, and there's a natural link between songs incorporating the perspective of a young woman facing the world straight on. Her vocals are more adaptable than expected: clarity is allowed more of a show at times so her strong lyrical core comes through; and her singing – not her strength but clearly a long-term plan – reveals welcome imperfection rather than weakness."[7]

Daniel Patrin from Renowned for Sound said "TKAY serves as a soulful party dream. Executed and displayed with a fiery pressure and physical organisation, it's humbled in an artistic rawness that demands sharp attention."[8]

Chelsey Deeley from Music Feeds said "Containing pure dance-movers, hip-hop tinged electronics and fiery rapping delivery, you'll spend more time moving your feet than you will analysing the subject matter". Adding "Take this album for what it is, a punchy, eclectic mix of dance floor bangers, and the sassy, yet playful rhetoric of a home-grown star on the rise."[9]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Always Been"
  • Swick
  • Lewis Cancut
3:20
2."Afterglow"3:00
3."Carry On" (featuring Killer Mike)Dann Hume3:33
4."Simulation"
  • Maidza
  • Luke McKay
  • Higgs
LK McKay3:25
5."Tennies"Salva3:17
6."Monochrome"
  • Maidza
  • Lee Mortimer
Friend Within3:29
7."Follow Me"
  • Maidza
  • Higgs
  • Andrew Hershey
Dre Skull3:47
8."Castle in the Sky"
  • Maidza
  • Daniel Farber
Farber3:20
9."Drumsticks No Guns"
  • Maidza
  • Stefan Gräslund
Gräslund2:43
10."State of Mind"
Noah Breakfast3:27
11."House of Cards"
King Henry4:07
12."Supasonic"
  • Maidza
  • McKay
LK McKay2:38
13."You Want"
  • Maidza
  • McKay
LK McKay3:40
14."At Least I Know"
  • Maidza
  • Christoph Andersson
Andersson4:08
Total length:47:54

Charts[edit]

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[10] 20

Release history[edit]

Country Date Format Label Catalogue
Various 28 October 2016 Dew Process DEW9000887-DEW9000896
North America late 2016 Interscope Records
Europe January 2017 Kitsuné Music CDB-068


References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Tkay by Tkay Maidza. iTunes. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Tkay Maidza announces National tour and debut album with new single, Carry On". Pile Rats. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Hear: Tkay Maidza drops tropical fizzer 'Simulation' | music news | triple j". ABC. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  4. ^ a b Lefevre, Jules (4 October 2016). "Listen to Tkay Maidza's fiery new single 'Tennies'". Junkee. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Tkay Maidza drops new track 'Switch Lanes', national tour dates". ABC. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  6. ^ Williams, Tom (3 December 2014). "Music Feeds Podcast Episode #124: Tkay Maidza - Music Feeds". Music Feeds. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  7. ^ "Album Reviews: Tkay Maizda, Jamie Liddell, Mel Parsons, Raime and Illy". Sydney Morning Herald. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Album Review: Tkay Maidza – TKAY". renowned for Sound. October 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Tkay Maidza – TKAY". Music Feeds. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Tkay Maidza – Tkay". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 November 2016.