Every Monday, 88Nine music director Erin Wolf shares a sonic gem she found using her nearly 20 years of new-music exploration experience. You can hear all her discoveries at 2 p.m. every Sunday on What’s All This: Adventures in New Music.
Japanese-Canadian artist Saya Gray’s initial singles really got my attention with their prowess of production and musicianship, holding the vibes of Kate Bush, Caroline Polachek and Bjork. On Gray’s newest song, “SHELL ( OF A MAN )” she’s giving off more of a Feist-meets-Valerie June appeal.
This single heralds her debut full-length album, which overall may signal a new, focused direction (or simply a fresh mindset). As Gray shared, “I had to calm down for this record,” and it truly shows through the sparse, percussive arrangements of acoustic guitar and spare beats that allow Gray’s mesmerizing voice to step forward.
Find that debut record, Saya, out Feb. 21 on Dirty Hit Records and its single — as well as the rest of the songs from the playlist below — on the latest episode of What’s All This. Then be sure to check out my latest collection of new tunes on What’s All This: Adventures in New Music at 2 p.m. Sundays on 88Nine.
This week’s best new music
- Twen, “Infinite Sky”
- Reverend Baron, Calvin Love, “Famous Feelin'”
- White China, “Hell of a Life”
- Saya Gray, “SHELL ( OF A MAN )”
- Daughter of Swords, “Alone Together”
- Cardinals, “Get It”
- 2nd Grade, “I Wanna Be On Your Mind”
- Shadow Show, “Baba Yaga”
- Kim Deal, “A Good Time Pushed”
- Current Joys, “Tormenta”
- Freak Slug, “Sexy Lemon”
- Yukimi, Little Dragon, “Break Me Down”
- Youth Lagoon, “My Beautiful Girl”
