Take Time (EP)

## **Singles from *Take Time***

1. "Like I Want You"
Released: November 20, 2019
2. "Heartbreak Anniversary"
Released: February 21, 2020

***Take Time*** (stylized in all caps) is the debut extended play (EP) by American R&B singer GIVĒON, released through Epic Records on March 27, 2020. It has a total of eight tracks, preceded by the two singles "Like I Want You" and "Heartbreak Anniversary". It was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards

He said in a press statement, "What I want people to take away from this project is relatability. Each song on the project is based on a true story. Most of them are me looking back at past situations, but a few are inspired by what my friends went through."

## Synopsis

Before receiving a hefty signal boost on Drake's "Chicago Freestyle," the singer-songwriter Giveon was growing into a force in his own right. Early singles like 2018's "Garden Kisses" and "Fields" were but an appetizer for what would become the delicious main course of his debut TAKE TIME. The EP frames the California crooner as an old soul with new ears, a balladeer who makes slowing down, just for a moment, well worthwhile. Giveon's voice is singular—vintage, fragile, wrenching—and he astutely chooses production that showcases it with ease.

The project's first half is a tapestry of grooves slinking towards the engulfing crawl of the back end. "HEARTBREAK ANNIVERSARY" is largely piano and percussion, and he soars over it, creating harmonies with himself that render a simple line like "Don't want to let you out my head" as gospel. The lead single "LIKE I WANT YOU" pulls off a similar trick to create the kind of love song that sounds like it could exist in any era; some voices can be time-travelers. The bittersweet ballad "VANISH" tiptoes along a minimal melodic line, allowing the force of his vocals to propel the song forward and draw the EP to a close. On its face, TAKE TIME is the sentimental musings of a man wandering the corridors of his own heart, but it's also a snapshot of a singer who, despite his formidable R&B inclinations, is nimble enough to steal the show in any space he chooses. — *Apple Music*

## Critical reception

Andy Kellman of AllMusic called it "generous" with its "thoughtful dialogue with his subject," vocally. *Okayplayer* wrote how the R&B singer "manages to claim his space within the R&B market due to his vintage inclinations, each song on the new release is cutting. His voice is moving, infectious and memorable." *Niner Times* described the record as "an elegant musical representation of the complications of being in love with another being," while *Ones to Watch* praised his soulful vocals as "peerless R&B purveyor".

## Accolades

Awards

Year-end lists

## Personnel

* Ant Clemons – composer, lyricist (track 5)
* Ariel Shrum – fluegelhorn (track 2)
* Berkli Music – composer, lyricist (track 8)
* Carl "Los Hendrix" Muñoz – lyricist (track 2), composer (tracks 2, 5, 7), producer (tracks 1, 5, 7), all instruments (track 7)
* Colin Leonard – mastering engineer (all tracks)
* Ebony "wondaGURL" Oshunrinde – composer, producer, programmer (track 5)
* Gehring Miller – engineer, recording engineer (track 7)
* Giveon "GIVĒON" Evans – vocals (all tracks); lyricist, composer (tracks 1, 3-8)
* Jahaan Sweet – composer, producer (tracks 5, 7)
* Jakob "Yakob" Rabitsch – producer (tracks 1-2)
* John Kercy – mixing engineer (all tracks)
* Kelsey Gonzalez – composer, lyricist (track 8)
* Maneesh Bidaye – composer, producer (tracks 2, 6)
* Matthew "Boi-1da" Samuels – composer, producer, programmer (track 1)
* Marcus Semaj – composer, lyricist (track 7)
* Rodrigo Barahona – composer (track 3), engineer, recording engineer (tracks 1-6, 8)
* Sevn Thomas – background vocals (tracks 2, 6); composer (tracks 2, 4, 6-8), lyricist (tracks 2, 6-7), producer (tracks 2, 4, 6-8); programmer (tracks 2-8)
* Thomas "River Tiber" Paxton-Beesley – composer, producer, programmer (track 7)
* Trey Campbell – composer, lyricist (track 2)
* Varren Wade – composer, lyricist (tracks 5-6)

## Gallery

* Apple Music

**@giveon**: "we both know it's wrong"
* March 30, 2020
* Instagram
**@giveon**: "we both know it's wrong"
* March 30, 2020
* Instagram
**@giveon**: "we both know it's wrong"
* March 30, 2020
* Instagram
**@giveon**: "we both know it's wrong"
* March 30, 2020
* Instagram

## References

1. ↑ Kellman, Andy (March 27, 2020). "Take Time Review by Andy Kellman". *AllMusic*.
2. ↑ Mowatt, Robyn (March 27, 2020). "Giveon's Debut EP 'Take Time' Is a Vintage Love Letter". *Okayplayer*.
3. ↑ Smith, Madison (May 1, 2020). "ALBUM REVIEW: 'Take Time'". *Niner Times*.
4. ↑ Polo, Maxamillion (March 27, 2020). "Giveon Delivers a Breathtaking Moment of Reflection in 'TAKE TIME'". *Ones to Watch*.
5. ↑ "Giveon". *Grammy.com*.
6. ↑ "The Best Albums of 2020". *Hypebeast*. December 17, 2020.
7. ↑ "The 100 Best Albums of 2020". *Vice*. December 8, 2020.
8. ↑ "Okayplayer's Best Albums of 2020". *Okayplayer*. December 23, 2020.
9. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums of 2020". *The Fader*. December 15, 2020.