"TBC” is the debut from 18-year-old North Londoner Ama Lou. Cutting through the twitchy post-internet electronics and the modern R&B vocals is the extremely prevalent and disturbing issue of oppression pushed onto minorities across the world. You might not realise that this is what sits at the heart of Ama Lou’s first single due to its upbeat exterior, but part of this classically trained singer’s message is a positive one. As heard through her words, what perpetuates is a sense of strength and togetherness. In further detail, Ama Lou explains that "The pre-chorus references the infamous last words 'I can’t breathe', uttered by Eric Garner, the Staten Island, New Yorker choked to death by police in July 2014.” Those words have been immortalised time and time again, by the media, by social media culture, and by songwriters like Ama Lou, so in that way this memento mori is now a sentiment of community. As a debut single, “TBC” is great. As a political statement, it’s outstanding. -HT