“I accept my emotions and allow them to serve their purpose,” Tiana Major9 declares on the intro of her new EP, At Sixes And Sevens, out now via Motown Records. It is the follow-up to her 2019 EP, Rehearsal @ NINE. The project is titled after the English idiom, which means to be in a state of confusion. For the 24-year-old Londoner, her confusion understandably stems from the concept of love.
The path to finding love isn’t always smooth. There is usually a lot of trial and error along the way, which tends to get added to the baggage we carry from our experiences. In order for any journey to begin, one must be willing to embark on it. Tiana seemingly knows this, which is why she opens At Sixes And Sevens with the above statement (I Accept My Emotions.)
The nine-track project is organized into three parts by way of interludes inspired by positive affirmations. After accepting her emotions, Tiana now has some clarity on what her heart desires. On the DJ Camper-produced “Exclusively,” Tiana doesn’t hold back as she shoots her shot at her crush.
“I want you exclusively / Turning a new leaf / You got me falling like it’s August,” Tiana confesses on the jazzy jam. She eventually feels “Lucky,” as she takes a chance on pursuing her love interest. “I’m feelin’ lucky like I rolled a six and a five / I’m feelin’ lucky like the right place, right time,” she sings on the stellar track.
Halfway through the project, a hopeful Tiana opens her heart to receive the same love that she plans to give to her partner. The ‘70s-tinged “Collide” with Earthgang, which appeared on the Queen & Slim soundtrack, beautifully articulates the feeling of falling in love.
Paying homage to her Jamaican roots on the reggae-inspired “Think About You (Notion Mix),” Tiana keeps the lovey-dovey feels, as she sings about needing more hours in the day to think about her man. “I always seem to run out of time / When I think about you,” she sings on the infectious tune.
On the latter part of At Sixes And Sevens (“What Is Mine”), Tiana explores the downside of love. She is uncertain about the future of her relationship on hip-hop flavored “Real Affair.” Though she’s not ready to exit, she relies on smoking her blunt to calm her mind. “I just reach for the green when I get in my feelings,” she confesses over the funky bassline.
The relationship that Tiana once yearned for has now on the rocks. A vulnerable Tiana finds herself sorting through her mixed emotions on “Same Space?” She doesn’t know if she should stay or go. “Is this my destiny, to set you free?/ Is this my destiny, lying here with me? / Giving the best of me, can’t you see? / I’ve got more love to share / Maybe we should stay right here,” she ponders on the gospel-rooted tune.
Running just under 25 minutes, At Sixes And Sevens is a snapshot of Tiana’s puzzling, yet inspiring voyage to finding love. From the meticulous storytelling and refreshing production to Tiana’s mesmerizing tone — similar to Jazmine Sullivan and Marsha Ambrosius — and lush harmonies, At Sixes And Sevens is among the stronger R&B projects by a newcomer to release so far this year.
Standout tracks: “Lucky” and “Same Space?”
Stream At Sixes And Sevens by Tiana Major9 below.
