Album Review: Ady Suleiman – ‘Memories’

Album Review: Ady Suleiman â âMemoriesâ A long-awaited debut showcasing substance as well as style... After releasing numerous EPâs that go as far back as 2013, it is astonishing that only now, in 2018, we have been presented with singer/songwriter Ady Suleimanâs debut LP Memories.

Posted: 15 March 2018 Words: Matt Holmes

A long-awaited debut showcasing substance as well as style...

After releasing numerous EP’s that go as far back as 2013, it is astonishing that only now, in 2018, we have been presented with singer/songwriter Ady Suleiman’s debut LP Memories. The album, consisting of twelve tracks, was released last week on 9th March via Pemba. Some of these tracks, including ‘So Lost’ and ‘Need Somebody to Love’ you may have heard before from his 2015 EP aptly titled This Is My EP however this is just one of the ways Suleiman seamlessly blends familiarity with originality. The album’s opener ‘I Remember’ really sets the tone for Memories. It serves as an enjoyable summer record whilst slightly delving into Suleiman’s own regrets ‘I should have been listening to what’s true and pursued something new’. However, there are no theme's of regret on his album. Instead, Memories can be viewed as a retrospective of Suleiman’s experience at making music within a creative industry. Suleiman showcases his vocal talents in each of the twelve tracks but what is refreshing is how he sounds so self-assured yet never arrogant. With tracks such as ‘Serious’ he proves that he is ready to have his voice heard: ‘when will you stop to hear my voice speak’. It is these sorts of questions that sends out a statement to his critics and makes this debut a far more personal affair. Rather than bringing out something commercial and mainstream, Suleiman has released an LP that primarily feels special to him. Each track displays a vulnerability within Suleiman, and this makes for a consistently intimate record. It is hard to believe that Memories is the first album from Suleiman. If you have followed him from the beginning, you’ll know that this album has been a long time coming. However, if Memories is your introduction to Ady Suleiman, then there is no better place to start. This debut looks set to mark the first of many steps Suleiman will take at maintaining his creative flairs in order to rise above the conventions of a mainstream artist. Good luck Ady.