Less than a year after her ground-breaking win at the 2021 JUNO Awards last summer, fast-rising French-Canadian Nigerian singer, songwriter, and actress Töme releases her long-awaited third studio album titled LÖV, which stands for Love Over Vanity.
The 10-track album is an exciting R&B-afropop fusion offering that sees TÖME at her versatile and genre-fluid best, fuelled by her penchant for love songs, vivid storytelling, infectious melodies, and R&B, soul and afrobeats music.
Written by TÖME, with production from the likes of Shizzi (Beyonce, Fireboy DML, Ed Sheeran), Michelin Shin (Wretch 32, NafeSmallz, Tiggs Da Author), LT Moe (Rick Ross, Wale, Eminem) and Grammy Award nominees Legendury Beatz (Wizkid, Tems, Justin Bieber), and guest appearances from Mozambique newcomers Yaba Buluku Boyz, Nigerian pop star Skales and Atlanta-based R&B sensation JSol, LÖV makes for a glorious listen from start to finish, held together by TÖME’s enchanting voice, honest and relatable songwriting, and enthralling artistry.
The album opens with the sultry R&B love song ‘Nobody Else’, ‘Hold You’ with its amapiano sensibilities, and afrobeats dance floor filler ‘Burn Up’, before afropop fusion track ‘Please’ sees TÖME shooting her shot with her crush, while going full lover girl on the infectious ‘Be There’. The second half of LÖV sees TÖME flexing her artistic dexterities further as she continues to explore themes of love and relationships on ‘TÖME’ and ‘Dangerous’, while tracks like the braggadocios ‘Good Life’ see her aiming to reap the benefits of her hard work, focus, patience and resilience.
Speaking about the inspiration behind her LÖV album, TÖME says, “Honestly there wasn’t much of a thought process or true inspiration behind the album specifically, I just wanted my feelings to speak for me. Whatever that meant, this album feels good, it feels like heart-warming love. That was the inspiration. I want people to take home the feeling of love being in all shapes and forms, that loving yourself is just as strong and vibrant as loving somebody else. I want my fans to know their worth but not let it get into their head. Live by Love over Vanity“.
With over five million streams and a JUNO Award – Canada’s equivalent of the Grammy Awards, under her belt – it’s amazing that TÖME only started releasing music just over two years ago with her debut project TomesRoom: Chapter 1 in 2019. She followed that record up with her critically acclaimed 2020 album Bigger Than 4 Walls, before her JUNO Award-winning single ‘I Pray’ featuring Sean Kingston and the Dreams EP last year. As we settle into 2022, TÖME is far from resting on her laurels, and her new album LÖV is exactly why she should be one to watch as a global rising star.
Stream “LÖV (Love Over Vanity)” below:
