Tamera presents herself as a powerful woman in her debut EP “Afrodite”
She’s showing them one love
“Angel Dust” by Tamera
Tryna do banter
Wanna get gang love
Tryna do bad stuff
You tell her it’s only you
She’d tell you her OnlyFans
So she’d keep the figure high
So she don’t need a man
The London singer/songwriter Tamera dropped her highly anticipated debut EP “Afrodite” on November 18th.
“Afrodite stems from the word “Aphrodite” who is the Goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and passion in Greek mythology. It’s such a fitting title as my project was born from passion, love, and female/goddess energy it’s also a subtle nod to my Greek heritage. I used the spelling “Afrodite” instead of the original spelling because I’m also an African woman and predominant sonics of the project are heavily influenced by African culture. The mix of the two creates a perfect blend of passion, vulnerability, fearlessness, sass, brutal honesty, and vim.” explains Tamera about this project.
Not so long ago, women weren’t comfortable saying they could be powerful too — and how they liked the feeling. Admitting it in public could cause criticism or give them a bad image.
That wasn’t just a social issue. Culture also had a role to play in it. Let’s take a look at cartoons we knew way back. Villain characters were the ones in power or those who aspired to it in any way possible. Portraying a powerful female character was necessarily a bad thing. There couldn’t be any good reason behind it. Disney and its mean witches proved it many times.
Power also equals danger in movies such as The Devil Wears Prada. We all remember this particular scene where the “terrifying” and yet powerful editor-in-chief makes her entry into the magazine office… Sure, Meryl Streep’s performance was brilliant, but then again, not a great representation for ambitious women.
Not feeling sorry for who you are
We think it’s safe to assume that movements such as the “Girl Power” one paved the way for change. Nowadays, claiming to be a strong woman means your actions have an impact somewhere, whether it’s in your life or to inspire others. You know where you’re going, and being your unapologetic self is good enough for you to find your place in the world.
Many celebrities in the music industry celebrate this state of mind. When asked about empowerment and how she acts when she’s not confident, Rihanna once said: “Pretend. I mean, why not? It’s either that or cry myself to sleep. Who wants to do that?”.
Being a powerful girl or woman and feeling proud about it is now an encouraging statement. By choosing this theme to present her debut EP, Tamera sets the tone for her career. She’s claiming her identity by embracing her origins and fitting them into her personality.
Claiming back the power
Women were often said they couldn’t be sexual beings in the way that men are. Tamera proves that’s wrong with the sensual opening of her EP. “Wickedest” reminds us that a woman can be free and powerful enough to set her own conditions: “Don’t tell me nothing, baby, ‘cause I need you to show it, mm-mm / I don’t want a conversation, but I wanna see something / I don’t need a billion, but I need you to be something / If I’m gonna give you something, yeah”.
Tamera proves that a woman is strong enough to take control of a situation if she feels like it. She has the right to feel proud of the effects she has on others. Tamera’s buttery vocals and the spellbinding rhythm of the guitar create a warm welcome to her EP. She’s also giving us a warning: if we’re willing to discover her universe, we have to accept how she’s presenting herself to the world.
“Afrodite” visuals are made of yellow, orange, pink, red… And such colors make us think of a flame, whose appearance could also be compared to the shapes of a woman. “Afrodite” is solar and passionate, just like the Greek goddess was.
Being a woman of impact
However, Tamera is a mortal just like the rest of us, and it makes her vulnerable. “Don’t fall for me, don’t fall onto me / How can I be strong for you? / I ain’t even strong for me” (“Strong For Me”). But assuming this facet of her personality is also a way to be powerful.
As a woman of color, Tamera’s representation is crucial. Especially in the music industry! More and more young artists assume their boldness and their sexuality. Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion took this opportunity to express themselves freely. Tamera seems to go down this road as well. She’s not letting anything hold her back.
Society is changing. It’s now time for women to redefine power, to love it, and to claim it!
