Tora - Cavalier [EP Review]
2020 has not been the ideal year to take on any big projects or new ventures, especially in the music or live-events industry. A largely unestablished artist counting on 2020 as the year of their big debut is riskier still. Yet that is the very position 20-year-old emerging London artist Tora found herself in, when, just before this year’s madness kicked off, she embarked on recording her first EP, ‘Cavalier’. With little fanfare, while we were all still stuck inside, Tora released her first record out into the world.
But what an EP it turned out to be...
To pin one genre to Tora would be reductive of the ground-breaking artistry that defines her unforgettable, expansive music. Though she can be found on Spotify playlists like ‘Alternative R&B’ (a questionable title in and of itself) and ‘Soul in the City’, her music cannot be defined simply by her smooth, soul-inflected vocals or the skittering R&B beats that typically serve as a foundation for her songs. There is a seemingly limitless number of other qualities to her sound - the alluring otherworldliness, the elaborate, innovative production, the mood-affecting melodies, the intricate song-structures, the visceral, introspective lyrics - that offer a lot more insight into Tora’s place in music.
Comprising five tracks that together total at 15 minutes, (ironically for a record made in lockdown) ‘Cavalier’ is an EP that presents an artist creatively unrestrained - but holding firm to an uncompromising creative vision. The songs work well as distinct, separate pieces but together, they make a thrilling cohesive composition. A moody, experimental edginess is at the core of this record, the authenticity of which, paired with Tora’s sensitive, carefully crafted lyrics make for a mesmerising listen.
Adding to the EP’s intrigue is its incredibly dynamic electronically-driven production, executed by London producer, Courage, who masterfully weaves digital abstractions deep into the fabric of each track to create a distinctive emotionally captivating ambience. It’s clear that Tora’s music is designed to evoke powerful emotions. Particularly rousing are ‘Call Your Name’, a booming brass ballad and ‘Vein’, an incredible song that builds seamlessly from a melancholic, mid-tempo melody into a frenetic jungle-beat.
The fact that Tora dropped this alarmingly cool set of tracks with little to no introduction lends a certain mystique to the release – and while her lyrics are expressive and emotionally charged, this aura of mystique courses through the pensive, intriguing world of ‘Cavalier’. Perhaps this is due to Tora’s ability to shape-shift as she slips from song to song, inhabiting a new form each time the sonic landscape shifts into a strange new planet – or perhaps it’s the somewhat cryptic lyricism she uses to delve into her most personal experiences and feelings. ‘Escape Room’ is particularly raw - with Tora’s soft, powerful voice easing us into her vulnerabilities over scattered chords, synths and a steady heartbeat rhythm.
Whenever a true original like Tora steps up, you wonder whether the industry and the media might finally rethink the labels used to keep musicians, particularly Black musicians, neatly packaged up and categorised. The genre of the artist is all too often determined by their cultural background or appearance, rather than how they actually sound. Fortunately, many of today’s emerging acts are rejecting such restrictions and pushing back against the expectations of their allotted genres. Tora is one such artist, swinging onto the scene with a brilliant disregard for what could be expected of her, sticking to her vision and reigning triumphant as a consequence. We’re very excited to see what lies ahead for this fascinating new voice in UK music.
Listen to Tora’s incredible EP, here below…