SZA was the soundtrack to my summer, literally my savior. As the First Lady of Top Dawg Entertainment she's gained steady attention following her signing, myself included. It had been a while since I found an album I couldn't get enough of. After hearing the intro to S EP, "Castles" I was hooked. The track flutters over you, gradually enhances with repetitious bells until the trill beat drops. SZA's vocals are chilling yet friendly, her lyrics quirky and fantastical. Speaking of quirky, the soundbites in between the eight track EP are strange... it's refreshing! With two EPs (both free via soundcloud) under her belt I was surprised to learn she has been making and pursuing music for only a year. Drawing from an eclectic range of influences including Wu-Tang Clan, Bjork, and Coltrane along with a few impressive up and coming producers like Wondagurl, Felix Snow and BrandUn DeShay, the alternative darling is blending genres and exploring new territory.
"I have to recreate the universe every morning when I wake up. And kill it in the evening." The 23 year-old songstress tweeted the other day. I'm certainly looking forward to tapping into SZA's imagination on her next project Z EP, the second installation to her trilogy series. Here's hoping she makes a stop in Chicago while on tour with Little Dragon; which is such a perfect move for her. SZA and Little Dragon ride a likened dreamy soundscape. Look out for those tour dates. In the meantime enjoy the video for "Country" featured on the See.SZA.Run EP.
I love this! Your description is spot on.
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