Hotly tipped and an integral part of the alté renaissance in Afro-influenced music, Tim Lyre welcomes the release of his highly anticipated album Worry < (Worry Less).africori.to/worryless
A 9-track fusion of diverse and organic splendour, the album goes further into his fascinating soundscape that leans into neo-soul, trip-hop, afrobeat and downtempo, bringing with it a whole new moment for afrobeats.
Hailing from Lagos, Nigeria, Tim Lyre is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist that has carved a top tier niche of his own with his genre-bending sounds. Growing up in a musical household, Lyre studied classical music from the young age of 10; learning how to play the piano and read music. It wasn’t until he got older that he was exposed to sounds including highlife, afrobeats, jazz, R&B, neo-soul and gospel, which ignited his own desire to explore sounds deeper and interpret them in his own way, leading to his current soundscape.
Having already gained a strong following throughout Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa his international reach is becoming undeniable as his music transcends borders and cultures the world over. Being a master of each craft in the musical process, Tim’s talents have allowed him to be involved with every stage of the creation process. Worry < consists of 9 refreshing tracks, all demonstrating the diverse musical approach the talented artist is capable of.Opening the collection, the album begins with ‘Organic’ featuring rapper Tena Tempo. Soothing vocals sit on a lo-fi, vibrant instrumental as the duo discuss elements of the party life and their penchant for the real things in life. Playing with tempos, vibes and sounds, the introductory track is the perfect entrée to the myriad of moments that the listener will be blessed with throughout the albums musical journey.Leading in to ‘Present’, the door opens on deep afrobeat percussion with a Latin inspired melody as influence is drawn from basement and afrobeat styles to create an unorthodox style that is packed with depth and musicality. Flexing his lyrical ability, Tim Lyre exposes a unique, melodic flow and seasoned adlibs that add layers to the record as he touches on his rebellion against the norm and rejoices at rising up alongside his crew. Next in line is previously released, and highly acclaimed single ‘Real’, the track that earned him titles including a “quiet powerhouse” by the likes of GUAP Magazine and earned a premiere with Native Mag. The love song explores the “emotional nuances between two people in a relationship or situation-ship as it were.”culturecustodian.com/tim-lyre-real/
Leading into the centre of the collection, ‘Syzygy’ is offered up next. Featuring DAP The Contract, the insightful R&B ensemble discusses deep, spiritualistic concepts and effortlessly ebbs and flows between a mid-tempo bop to a slow paced, sensual sway, topped with layers of addictive harmonies. ‘Hubris’ sits centrally to the tracklisting and is the latest track released in the run up to the albums grand unveiling. With each track bringing variation and a refreshing sense of wonder to the overall collection, ‘Hubris’ draws on Greek mythology and hears Tim play on the title’s theme of excessive pride and arrogance. Built over a laid-back and atmospheric production he features UK rapper Lex Amor.
As the second half of the album gets underway, ‘General’ brings with it a strong reggae element running centrally through the track. Teaming up with MOJO to talk about being a leader in his area, the patois and differing flows sit atop tropical beats as we continue to be fed unique and refreshingly unpredictable musical moments.
‘Highlife’ sees a collaboration with Prettyboy DO and Lady DonLi. The single released late 2021 and came to fruition after Tim worked with Prettyboy DO on his ‘Wildfire’ album. Filled to the brim with energetic percussion and a dance ready melody, the track is “a groovy mid-tempo track that sets the mood for waist-whining fests and celebrations”. For the penultimate track, Tim Lyre ups the tempo for the bouncy ‘Primetime’ featuring July Drama and Kobla – an anthem that can easily be heard soundtracking summer days and clubs worldwide. As the final song comes to pass, ‘Spanish Lime’ is a meaningful end to a spectacular musical journey. The heartfelt love ballad, displays Tim’s exquisite vocal ability, capturing emotion, soul and stirring sentiment that is a bow to the crowd as he leaves the stage.
Having gained international recognition and support from the gatekeepers of Black Music, including BBC Radio 1Xtra, Native Mag, Triller, Guap Mag, Worldwide FM, Rinse FM, Culture Custodian and beyond, Tim Lyre is a custodian and driving force in an exciting era for afrobeats and afro centric music. Accumulating an ever-growing fan base that’s stretched over several projects including his 2020 EP ‘K.A.P’ with guest features from Shalom Dubas and Mafeni, plus his critically acclaimed project ‘Senpai’ with stand-out singles ‘Fakogbe’ and ‘Hurricane’ alongside MOJO, the release of Worry < marks a whole new era for Tim Lyre. Fearlessly interpreting and twisting styles into his own expression of music, the release of Worry < is a celebration of creativity and talent that will undoubtedly continue to exceed the expectations of both present and new followers.Stay up to date with Tim Lyre for news on his upcoming album by following his socials.www.instagram.com/timlyre/
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