In the realm of the Zodiac and astrology, the Gemini is associated with duality. While some perceive this duality as a representation of split personalities, others view it as the divide between how the Gemini would like to be viewed and how they perceive themselves. Duality is a major theme in the sensational neo-pop album ‘Gemini’, the Soulection debut from budding star Tay Iwar. From the dual-sided artwork that represents the dark and light sides of Tay’s personality, to the lyrics that constantly portray Tay in different lights, Gemini is a fascinating character study packaged in pop sounds so lush they invite you to sink in like a memory foam mattress couched in 5000 thread count sheets. Tay proves adept at the one skill necessary for creating great albums: world-building. The production from Tay himself and a small handful of talented producers, provide Tay with the background in which to bring listeners into his summers in the garden, late night rendezvous with confused lovers, and thoughtful musings on how his insecurities are affecting the ways in which he can give and receive love. While it may seem like a heady mishmash of varying ideas, it plays out exactly the opposite. Songs flow into one another easily with brevity being another recurring theme in the composition of the album. Tay’s voice floats through with grace and power, crafting irresistible hooks as he casually details the ups and downs of his mental state and his love life.
When you first step into the world of ‘Gemini’, you are greeted by the first side of Tay, the contented romantic. ‘SATISFIED’, the opening track is a sultry burner that shows a young man singing the praises of his lover because he has found peace with her. Tay’s voice is layered throughout the song, showcasing his vocal range and just how well he can harmonise with himself. The song immediately transitions into “MONICA” which begins with “I fell in love with you and I almost died”, an abrupt turn from the Eden-like serenity of the preceding song. We’re immediately met with the second personality, a conflicted and reflective young man, dealing with paranoia inflicted from traumatic experiences in past relationships. The lyrics are heavy and a little dark but the song’s beat, produced by Tay, is a slice of neo-pop perfection with assorted clicks, snaps, claps, and funky little drum noises popping up all over the warm synths and hammering drums that construct the backbone of the song. The joyfully morbid “I almost died” ad-libs from robotic voices are guaranteed to stick in the back of your mind only to pop up at the most inappropriate of moments. The sound is sweet, the tone is sinister, and we’re not sure which Tay we’re going to see next.
While the music of ‘Gemini’ is great, one of the most interesting parts of the album isn’t a musical element at all. Tucked away at the end of ‘MONICA’ is a recording of a grizzled man telling a story about a young woman who abandoned her lover (or fiancée if you want to get very imaginative) for another man that had a black truck waiting for her at a gas station, leaving the surrounding people shocked. The duality between the heartbroken man, the man in love, and the woman between them is representative of how one decision can affect multiple parties in different ways. Throughout ‘Gemini’, Tay gives insight to different perspectives, from the man in love and the one left with a fractured heart, while doing his best to delve into the mind of the young woman. The general dreamlike quality of the music makes it difficult for the listener to determine what’s real and what’s fake, as the songs slide along with an astounding ease giving different personalities and perspectives one after the other. ‘HOW’ the first single from the album, makes even more sense when placed into the greater context of ‘Gemini’. ‘HOW’ tells the story of an angry man, upset with his lover that has done him dirty, after he tried to save her from herself. While the “save you from yourself” narrative has been flogged endlessly throughout R&B, it’s still an accurate reflection of how modern relationships can be and what happens when one party is betrayed despite their “good” intentions. The song is a high point of the album with “universe teach me balance” set to be one of the most enduring lines from Gemini for a long time.
Long time fans of Tay will appreciate ‘DON’T KNOW’, a collaboration between him and his brother Suté, a great treat for fans that have been following the brothers since their early days in Bantu collective. Tay’s hook is a drunk love affair on a steamy night in Lagos, or Abuja in his case, while Suté plays the smooth talking straight man as he rapidly mows down the beat switching between flexing and flirting with ruthless precision. With appearances from Odunsi, Santi, and Preyé, the collaborations are proof of why these young artists are playing a major role in the future of music in Nigeria and the world at large. Each feature plays perfectly into Tay’s sounds, allowing someone like Santi, who has been in dangerous form as of late, to breezily pop up with his trademark cool and disappear before you even realise what happened. Tay’s vocals never waver as the power of his voice comes to the forefront of every song regardless of who is on it with him. Despite having sixteen songs, only three of them have features and they all can be found in the final third of the album. While that many songs can seem a bit daunting, their runtimes are relatively brief with the features providing some variety before the album starts to feel like its dragging.
It’s fitting that the album ends with three songs that reflect the perspectives from the story on ‘MONICA’. Even though we’re never able to get a first person perspective from the woman, ‘SIDELINES’ has Tay in the role of heartbroken man reckoning with the ashes of their relationship. He lists out the flaws, portraying her as someone that didn’t pay him attention or communicate properly. He’s fine now and willing to leave the relationship but he has to speak his mind. Tay is an unreliable narrator throughout ‘GEMINI’ and its hard to know if we’re getting a biased account of the details. Even though his insecurities and ego are acknowledged on earlier songs like ‘FOOLS’ and ‘DIAMONDS’, its hard to know who is who, and what is really sincere. ‘MIRACLE GIRL’ is a steamy yet heartfelt ode to a girl he believes is a miracle. He sings with a pointed intensity, his voice carrying awe and desire as he is not afraid to strip himself for all to see while declaring how he really feels. Album closer ‘CALL U’ is the dreamiest song on the album, with Tay repeating “can I call you?” hypnotically. Is it the heartbroken man? Is the charmed romantic side that has found satisfaction through love? Maybe we’re finally getting the side of the woman in the middle but even then, who is she speaking about.
The duality between Tay’s personalities makes ‘Gemini’ an album worth repeating as each listen provides an opportunity for a new journey to enjoy and a renewed appreciation for the care taken in crafting such a body of work. Tay shows the different sides of who he has been and who he is now while making music at a level that shows a marked progression from earlier bodies of work, establishing him as a bright young star in a crowded field of talented artists. ‘Gemini’ is a dynamic and exciting album that shows a young man trying to find the line between the side of him that craves and finds peace in love and the side of him that is wary of anyone that would get too close after being burned one too many times. Universe teach him balance.
