''Foreword'' is the second

extended play An extended play (EP) is a Sound recording and reproduction, musical recording that contains more tracks than a Single (music), single but fewer than an album. Contemporary EPs generally contain up to eight tracks and have a playing time of 1 ...

(EP) and

major label "Big Three" music labels A record label or record company is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and t ...

debut by American singer and songwriter

Tori Kelly Victoria Loren Kelly (born December 14, 1992) is an American singer-songwriter. She first gained recognition on YouTube before making it through to Hollywood week on the ninth season of ''American Idol'' in 2010 and eventually releasing her debu ...

. It serves as her first release after signing in September 2013. The EP was released on October 22, 2013, through

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007), and simply known as Capitol, is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-base ...

. The EP was preceded by the single "Dear No One", which was released as

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' "Free Single of the Week" on October 23, 2013. ''Foreword'' debuted and peaked at number 16 on the US ''Billboard'' 200.

Composition

In September 2013, it was announced that Kelly had signed to

, after hiring Scooter Braun as her manager. That same month, she announced that her major-label debut would be released in October. In an interview with '' Vibe'', Kelly stated that the EP has a "double meaning", and a representation of a succession from her debut ''Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly'' (2012). ''Foreword''s material was described by ''

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'' as a mixture of pop, R&B, and

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

music. Kelly said that every track was composed in different way; some in her bedroom, some with guitar in hand. Her favorite track on the EP from a writing perspective is "Paper Hearts".

Promotion

To promote ''Foreword'', Kelly was the sole supporting act for

Ed Sheeran Edward Christopher Sheeran ( ; born 17 February 1991) is an English singer-songwriter. Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk, he began writing songs around the age of eleven. In early 2011, Sheeran independently r ...

at his

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show in November 2013. On December 12, 2013, she appeared on '' The Queen Latifah Show'', where she spoke about the EP and performed "Dear No One".

Singles

"Dear No One" was released on October 23, 2013 as the EP's

lead single A lead single (or first single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. A similar term, "debut ...

. It was also featured as the iTunes Store's "Free Single of the Week" for October 23.

Critical reception

Critic Mark Deming said that the release gave "a new sophistication to her sound without interfering with her subtle, emotionally expressive power as a vocalist and songwriter."

Composition

Promotion

Singles

Critical reception

Track listing

Charts

Release history

References