Is ‘Bedroom Chronicles 2’ Felicia Temple’s Breakout Project?

Lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same spot, well, singer, songwriter, and producer Felicia Temple is testing out that theory with the release of her new EP Bedroom Chronicles 2. This 5-track project featuring the single “How You Do That” serves as a sequel to the fan-favorite 2014 EP. Featuring nearly half a dozen guest-producing credits including Miykal Snoddy, Bedroom Chronicles 2 is a loop of sexual tension played out across a 20-minute span.

While the first installment is written from the perspective of the other woman, Bedroom Chronicles 2 is from the viewpoint of a fully committed woman. Femininity, sexuality, and sensual vocals are all core elements of the project but the climax fans waited so long to reach may not have been achieved. 

Temple wastes no time diving straight into the sexual nature of the project with “It’s Yours (Own It)” produced by Jodd Knight. The opening song’s warm nature is complimented by smooth guitar work as well as Temple’s breathy vocals which makes for an all-star combination. As the song builds, so does Temple’s sexual confidence heard throughout the lyrics, “turn the lights down low while I talk to you / slow it down while I break it down for you / spinning in front of the mirror so that I can watch while you hit it / cause I’m on one / you ain’t going nowhere.” 

While this track is certainly amazing, in the context of the overall EP, “It’s Yours (Own It)” may not have been the best way to open the project. If the goal of the EP was to showcase Temple in committed love, this track blurs the lines. The listener can’t be sure if she is still the other woman or if she has a partner to who she wholeheartedly gives herself. 

The next track, “Watch Me Work” is perhaps one of the breakout songs on the project. Produced by Miykal Snoddy (Trey Songz, Neyo, TheDream, Estelle), “Watch Me Work” is a pleasant detour from Temple’s signature sound. The song starts with an irresistible bouncy groove that you just cannot shake until the song is over. Throughout the lyrics Temple boasts about her partner’s complete infatuation with her. While the topic is no different from many of her songs, what makes “Watch Me Works” different is the production. 

Snoddy does an amazing job creating an environment to help Temple step outside of her slow-paced ballad comfort zone. “Watch Me Work” has the perfect balance of both R&B and Hip-Hop elements which Snoddy is a master at.  No unnecessary vocal build-ups, no outer-worldly rifts, just lighthearted vibes. “Watch Me Work” could have served as a strong opening for the project. “Watch Me Work” is fun yet sexual which is quite on-brand with other leading R&B ladies like Summer Walker, Sevyn Streeter, and Kehlani.  Listeners will certainly revisit this track multiple times.

“Till You Return” is another standout track. The duet produced by Kadeem Nichols features an effortless showing from Grammy-nominated singer Emanny. As surprising as it may seem, Temple doesn’t frequently collaborate with other artists despite having performed beside or even opened up for many artists in the past. Being the sole vocal guest feature on the project, Emanny is showcased brilliantly. Nichols does an amazing job creating a balance between Temple and Emanny equally.

On “Till You Return” Temple sonically battles it out with Emanny. The track outlines the addictive nature of love. Essentially, the track is as the title says is a lover’s countdown until their lover is back in their proximity. Centered around this heightened level of separation anxiety, both Temple and Emanny do a superb job telling their perspective. If “Till You Return” is any indication of what futures Felicia Temple collaborations I wouldn’t mind hearing more.

The lead single of the project, “How You Do That” immediately follows. This track produced by Edrick Miles is the quintessential Felicia Temple sound and the official video directed by Dexter of The Vision Tailors is the matching visual. 

“How You Do That” is a slow-tempo song recalling a past sexual encounter. Similar to “It’s Yours (Own It)”, this track walks to the tight rope of the project’s overall theme. With lyrics like, “still feel you here inside of me / can’t escape don’t want to leave / we ain’t even together”, does this song leaves the listener questioning does this track belong on Bedroom Chronicles 2? Is it a good song, yes! Does Felicia Temple perform well vocally on this track, yes. Does “How You Do That” make sense in the context of the rest of the project, maybe not so much.

The project closes with the track “Stay” produced by Christopher Grayson and Kateeb Muhammad. Unfortunately, it isn’t until this song that the project’s theme becomes crystal clear. Throughout the track, Temple journals a day in the life of a woman in love forgoing all other obligations professionally or personally, in exchange for more intimate moments with the one you love. On “Stay”, Temple truly showcases her writing abilities by taking such a common experience and elevating it into a beautiful love song.  Although sequencing may be questionable throughout the rest of the project, “Stay” is perfectly positioned.  The tranquil nature of the track is a great conclusion while creating the groundwork for fans are sure to ask for…Bedroom Chronicles 3. 

Overall, Bedroom Chronicles 2 is a solid project with five great songs but it doesn’t do much to showcase Felicia Temple’s artistic growth. Several subtle changes could have taken this EP from solid to stellar. Firstly, the project’s sequencing. In comparison to the prequel, this EP’s flow is choppy with exception of the closing track “Stay”. Opening with “Watch Me Work” rather than “It’s Yours (Own It)” could have created a much more cohesive story. In this same vein, the inclusion of skits or interludes also could have worked very well similarly to Ella Mae’s 2018 self-titled debut album or more recently with Jazmine Sullivan’s project Heaux Tales to create fundamental thread amongst these tracks.  

Secondly, Temple has to find a way to challenge herself as a songwriter. “Stay” is a masterfully written track that showcases the bliss you feel when you’re in love and being loved in return. A feeling Temple can certainly speak to as a married woman. The other tracks are just about great sex. Not how it’s better when you are in love. Not how it’s different when you are married. Nothing new. Yes, sex sells, but an account of a sensual love story of those in a happy healthy relationship is something R&B crooners haven’t heard maybe since The Isley Brothers. If there’s a songwriter that could bring this into the modern-day, Felicia Temple is the one.

To be clear, each of the songs on this project is strong enough to be stand-alone singles. However, as the second installment of a series, it’s time for Felicia Temple to be more strategic when presenting her work. There is no denying Temple’s abilities, production and vocals included, but she really needs a breakout project and I don’t think Bedroom Chronicles 2 is it. 

Felicia Temple’s Bedroom Chronicles 2 is available across streaming platforms including Tidal, Apple Music, Spotify, and SoundCloud. The EP can be purchase HERE via Apple Music. 

What did you think of Felicia Temple’s new EP Bedroom Chronicles 2? Be sure to tell us in the comment section. Want more of Felicia Temple? Be sure to connect with her across your favorite social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.