''Tkay'' is the debut studio album by Australian singer and rapper

Tkay Maidza Takudzwa Victoria Rosa "Tkay" Maidza ( ; (born 17 December 1995) is a Zimbabwean-born Australian singer-songwriter and hip hop artist from Adelaide, South Australia. She has been nominated for and won many awards, and released two albums: '' Tk ...

. It was released on 28 October 2016 by

Dew Process Dew Process is an Australian independent record label, based in Brisbane, Queensland, founded and owned by Australian music industry figure Paul Piticco. Operational The label operates in two primary areas: traditional development of Australi ...

and peaked at number 20 on the

ARIA Charts The ARIA Charts are the main Australian record chart, music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA beca ...

. At the

ARIA Music Awards of 2017 The 31st Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAs) are a series of award ceremonies which include the 2017 ARIA Artisan Awards, ARIA Hall of Fame Awards, ARIA Fine ...

, the album was nominated for Best Urban Album and Breakthrough Artist.

Background

The concept for the album began in 2014, around the time Maidza was working on her debut extended play, entitled ''

Switch Tape ''Switch Tape'' is the debut extended play by Australian singer and rapper Tkay Maidza. It was released on 24 October 2014. A mixtape was self-released on Maidza's soundcloud in October 2014 as well, mixed by Maidza's longtime producer and collab ...

''. The EP was released in October 2014, through Dew Process Records. In December 2014, Maidza announced that she was working on her debut studio album. In 2016, Maidza gained greater international notice when she collaborated with DJ and record producer

Martin Solveig Martin Laurent Picandet (; born 22 September 1976), better known by his stage name Martin Solveig (), is a French DJ, singer, songwriter and record producer. He hosts a weekly radio show called ''C'est La Vie'' on radio stations worldwide, incl ...

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 Michael Santiago Render (born April 20, 1975), better known by his stage name Killer Mike, is an American rapper, singer and activist. He made his recording debut on Outkast's fourth album ''Stankonia'' (2000), and guest appeared on the duo's Gr ...

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

Reception

In a 3 ½ star rating, music journalist

Bernard Zuel Bernard Zuel (born 1965) is an Australian music journalist. Zuel wrote for Fairfax Media newspapers ''The Age'' and ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' from 1992 to 2017. He became their senior music writer and reviewer. Zuel is a judge of the Austral ...

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." 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." Chelsey Deeley from ''

Music Feeds ''Music Feeds'' is a free bi-weekly digital music and lifestyle magazine ( street press) established in 2008 and based in Sydney, Australia Sydney is the capital city of the state of New South Wales and the most populous city in Austr ...

'' 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."

Track listing

Charts

Release history

References

{{Authority control 2016 debut albums Tkay Maidza albums Dew Process albums Downtown Records albums Interscope Records albums