New York-based multidisciplinary artist James K might still be best known for her spine-tingling guest turn on Yves Tumor’s “Licking An Orchid” or her delightfully scuzzy contribution to the ambient compilation Mono No Aware, but as she gears up to release her first new collection since her 2016 debut album Pet, it’s time for her to step into the spotlight. Her new five-track set is called 036, is coming out next Friday March 19 via AD 93, and features another duet with Tumor. Ahead of that, she’s shared two cuts from the EP, “Ultra Facial!” and “Everyrose”, which show off the variance in her production styles.
“Ultra Facial!” is a propulsive and dreamy dance number, where her whisper-sung vocals are wreathed in crystalline synth washes, like polychromatic lights moving over a hypnotically moving presence in a dark nightclub. It’s a demonstration of James K’s ability to inhabit both the dancefloor and the bedroom simultaneously, with plenty of her own unique tics on display.
The second track, “Everyrose”, firmly dwells in the hallucinogenic, as she utilises gaseous guitar drifts to create a quietly billowing environment, where her warped vocals curl and sparkle. A sticky song that seems to be her reaching out textural tendrils to suck you in, it’s a form of potent and irresistible sonic magic.
Listen to both tracks below or on streaming platforms.
James K’s new EP, 036, arrives next Friday via AD 93 (pre-order from Bandcamp). You can find her on Instagram.
