Temple T – “Temple Vol. 1”: Creating Intentional Sounds

By Chinonso Ihekire

Ibeh Patience Udochi known as Temple T, released a two-song project titled “Temple Vol. 1” on January 24, 2023. She delivers a masterpiece with the tracks, creating a groovy atmosphere for lovers of soothing sound. This is not just any kind of music, it is one produced with an intent in mind – to make listeners relieve moments that will be hard to forget, and to ensure they leave the dance floor wanting more from Temple T in the future.

On the EP, Temple T anchored the listeners into energetic beats that will drive their mood and help them to find joy while having fun. The songs are daring, lively, and possess a cross-over appeal which is not restricted by geographical boundaries.

“Temple Vol 1” is a great project to have in the artist’s discography, as it shows in-depth artistry in making sounds that are accepted widely, while also adding to Afrobeats’ enriching soundscape.

The project opens with “Bajeola (Dj edit),” a chest thumping song with a racy, edgy feel. The piano line sets the stage, serving as a guide for hard bass to sit underneath. They flow together naturally as the song progresses, giving off an Amapiano- inspired delivery. Temple T strengthened the song with soulful vocals, thereby making it more emotional and relatable. The artist sings, “I’m falling oo Bajeola, ah ah ah ah,” a nod to to him being overpowered by the love of a love interest. These lyrics appear intermittently in between the instrumentals showing intentionality and awareness in sustaining and retaining audience attention. The latter part of the song heightened with the input of the log drum, and it smoothen out at the track’s ending.

The second track off the EP “Dance” is another-high energy offering, capable of throwing dance floors into a frenzy. The song is backed by a heavy bass, hitting hard with a melodic keyboard line. This creates a sonorous sound that gives an adrenaline rush to listeners as it entices in equal measures. The log drum is also present on this track. It shows Temple T’s inclination towards the South African genre to electrify parties. There is minimal vocal here just like in the opener. This time the artist is telling those who are not in the mood to dance to find their way home “If you no go dance ko lo le o.” It is a poignant reminder of what their purpose is while being in the club or party. The song is a solid addition to the project.

“Temple Vol 1” by Temple T is an impressive body of work that aims to ginger listeners to move their body in unison to the dictates of the sound. The song offers an escape from monotony as thumping bass engage with elegant instrumentals to create a lush atmosphere with a groovy feel.

The project is inspired by Amapiano elements and also composed of Afro rhythm and percussions. All these work together to give an Afropiano tune that resonates with listeners who wants to have a good time. With this project, Temple T has positioned herself as a hit maker in the Nigerian music scene, and we can’t wait for what her next project will produce in the future.