''Unbound 01'' is the debut

extended play An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record.

(EP) by Canadian singer

Keshia Chanté Keshia Chanté Harper (born June 16, 1988) is a Canadian singer, television host, actress, songwriter and philanthropist. As a teenager, Chanté gained recognition with the release of her singles "Unpredictable", "Bad Boy" and "Does He Love Me" " ...

. It was released on March 24, 2017, independently. The EP has garnered positive reviews upon its release from

Apple Music Apple Music is a music, audio and video streaming service developed by Apple Inc. Users select music to stream to their device on-demand, or they can listen to existing playlists. The service also includes the Internet radio stations Apple ...

, Noisey and AUX.

Background

Chante was quoted by VICE saying the following about "RedLight", "Pain can lead people into different directions in life and different places at night" and paints "a picture into erworld of escapism." Chante was quoted by Aux.tv about "Harmless", “What is perceived as harmless, generally is what hurts us the most. Like, ‘have another shot, it’s no big deal!’ or ‘He’s a good guy, what’s the worst that can happen?’ But ultimately, too much of anything can be harmful."

Critical reception

Ebro Darden from Beats 1

cited "Bryson Tiller" a song as an ode to

Bryson Tiller Bryson Djuan Tiller (born January 2, 1993) is an American singer and rapper. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, he began his career in 2011 with a mixtape entitled ''Killer Instinct Vol. 1''. Tiller initially gained mainstream success in 2015 follow ...

as a gritty R&B song. AUX said ''Unbound 01'' ignites Chante's signature sound. When speaking of "Harmless", "The slow-burning piano chords, pounding percussion and sweeping atmospherics of “Harmless” hearken back to the crowning moments of late-1990s/early-2000s R&B, but the lurking synth bass and Chanté's soaring vocals lend the track a distinctly modern edge: think

Teairra Marí Teairra Marí Thomas (born December 2, 1987) is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress. At the age of 16, Jay-Z signed her to Def Jam and she released her first album, '' Roc-A-Fella Records Presents Teairra Marí''. After disappo ...

in a zero-gravity chamber." ''

VICE A vice is a practice, behaviour, or Habit (psychology), habit generally considered immorality, immoral, sinful, crime, criminal, rude, taboo, depraved, degrading, deviant or perverted in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refe ...

'' 's NOISEY reviewed the EP calling it "considerably matured and more decidedly self-aware R&B". In particular, "RedLight"s maturity was compared to Beyonce, citing its new found maturity, saying "Chanté on "Redlight" sounds like someone who is very aware of the uncomfortable realities that emerge when you're in your 20s and beyond; weaving through the unpredictabilities and emotions that come with it. To that end, her sound and the mood she creates on the track is much darker. "Redlight" is the sonic equivalent of a cool, still night: beautiful but there is something eerie in its midst, hidden in the dark."

References

{{Keshia Chanté 2017 debut EPs Keshia Chanté albums