''Foreword'' is the second

extended play An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record.

(EP) and debut major-label release by American singer and songwriter

Tori Kelly Victoria Loren Kelly (born December 14, 1992) is an American singer-songwriter, and voice actress. She first gained recognition after posting videos on YouTube as a teenager, and made it through to Hollywood week on the ninth season of ''Americ ...

. It serves as her first release after being signed to Capitol Records in September 2013. The EP was released on October 22, 2013, through the label. The EP was preceded by the single "Dear No One", which was released as iTunes' "Free Single of the Week" on October 23, 2013. ''Foreword'' debuted and peaked at number 16 on the US ''Billboard'' 200.

Composition

In September 2013, it was announced that Kelly had signed to Capitol Records, after hiring

Scooter Braun Scott Samuel "Scooter" Braun (born June 18, 1981) is an American entrepreneur, investor, and entertainment executive. Known as the manager for artists such as Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, J Balvin, Demi Lovato, The Kid Laroi and other artists ...

as her manager. That same month, she announced that her major-label debut would be released in October. In an interview with ''

Vibe ''Vibe'' is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down producti ...

'', Kelly stated that the EP has a "double meaning", and a representation of a succession from her debut ''Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly'' (2012). ''Foreword''s material was described by ''

Elle ''Elle'' (stylized ''ELLE'') is a worldwide women's magazine of French origin that offers a mix of fashion and beauty content, together with culture, society and lifestyle. The title means "she" or "her" in French. ''Elle'' is considered the w ...

'' as a mixture of pop, R&B, and

soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun '' soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest atte ...

music. Kelly said that every track was composed in different way; some in her bedroom, some with guitar in hand. Her favorite track on the EP from a writing perspective is "Paper Hearts".

Promotion

To promote ''Foreword'', Kelly was the sole supporting act for

Ed Sheeran Edward Christopher Sheeran (; born 17 February 1991) is an English singer-songwriter. Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk, he began writing songs around the age of eleven. In early 2011, Sheeran independently re ...

at his Madison Square Garden show in November 2013. On December 12, 2013, she appeared on ''

The Queen Latifah Show ''The Queen Latifah Show'' was the title of two American television talk shows hosted by Queen Latifah. The original ''The Queen Latifah Show'' ran from September 13, 1999, to August 31, 2001. The revamped ''The Queen Latifah Show'' debuted Septem ...

'', where she spoke about the EP and performed "Dear No One".

Singles

"Dear No One" was released on October 23, 2013 as the EP's

lead single A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. Release s ...

. It was also featured as the

iTunes Store The iTunes Store is a digital media store operated by Apple Inc. It opened on April 28, 2003, as a result of Steve Jobs' push to open a digital marketplace for music. As of April 2020, iTunes offered 60 million songs, 2.2 million apps, 25,00 ...

's "Free Single of the Week" for October 23.

Critical reception

Critic

Mark Deming Mark may refer to: Currency * Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark, the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina * East German mark, the currency of the German Democratic Republic * Estonian mark, the currency of Estonia between 1918 and 1927 * Finn ...

said that the release gave "a new sophistication to her sound without interfering with her subtle, emotionally expressive power as a vocalist and songwriter."

Composition

Promotion

Singles

Critical reception

Track listing

Charts

Release history

References