Tiwayo – ‘Outsider’ album review: The modern incarnation of Memphis soul
In the midst of a musical landscape falling over itself to be as ‘cutting edge’ as possible, timelessness is becoming a rather underrated attribute. Yet, when dropping the needle on Outsider, the newly released record from Parisian vocalist Tiwayo, you would be hard-pressed to determine whether it is, indeed, a new release or a newly-uncovered gem released during the golden age of 1960s soul.
The Skinny: Timelessness is a quality that seems intrinsically woven into Tiwayo’s vocal style, indebted to the sweet, soulful sounds of 1960s Stax and figures like Al Green, which adds a beautiful sense of depth to the tracklisting of Outsider. Whether it’s in the self-reflection of the emotive opener, ‘I’ve Got To Travel Alone’, or the more triumphant, floor-filling anthems, like its lead single ‘Up for Soul’, the vocalist’s tones seem to perfectly adapt to each constantly-shifting emotion without ever losing their deep, stirring qualities.
Some of the album’s efforts are certainly more memorable or emotionally weighted than others; ‘Sunshine Lady’, for instance, is certainly not among Tiwayo’s most profound or multi-faceted efforts. You could certainly accuse such tracks of weakening the record as a whole, particularly given that soul albums – particularly during the Memphis age that the vocalist is seemingly attempting to evoke – relied heavily on their storming singles. In contrast, though, each and every track on Outsider serves the purpose of supporting the wider tracklisting.
This is not merely a collection of singles strung together by filler material; it bears a constant throughline and boasts the kind of emotional journey that only a voice like Tiwayo’s could properly sustain. Along the way, that expanding narrative is supported by the production stylings of Black Pumas alum Adrian Quesada, whose deep-rooted knowledge of that soulful sound certainly works in favour of the album.
For all its timeless quality, evoking the retro-styled sounds of Stax Records, there is also something about Outsider that feels incredibly current. Not only is soul music, in a global sense, experiencing a particularly productive period as of late, but the more emotionally-driven efforts on the record feel notably more impactful in the light of current global events – whether intentional or not.
Standout floor-filler: ‘Up for Soul’
The Verdict: Like all great soul albums, Tiwayo’s Outsider is a record of light and shade, moving expertly from deeply emotional, retrospective efforts to light-and-breezy summer soul stormers, all the while retaining the French vocalist’s unparalleled aptitude for timeless soulful performance.
Release Date: April 10th, 2026 | Producer: Adrian Quesada | Label: Record Kicks
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