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K!MMORTAL - Breathe May 28, 2020

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K!MMORTAL - "Breathe," a 2020 self-released single.

Throughout the month of May, KEXP has been celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. We’re putting an extra spotlight this week on API artists with this week’s Song of the Day picks, continuing with K!MMORTAL’s “Breathe.”

"Breathe” was released for the current moment of uncertainty during the global pandemic but actually has its roots in much earlier. The Vancouver B.C. rapper wrote and recorded the song back in 2016 but recently released the track on Bandcamp, feeling it made sense for the these “highly fraught times.” K!MMORTAL dazzles with immaculate flow over glossy, dripping beats, culminating in a reminder to breathe and a reminder that we’ll be alright. Take a deep inhale, put on this song, and allow yourself the same moment of clarity K!MMORTAL exudes on this track. — Dusty Henry

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Lightning Bug - The Onely Ones May 27, 2020

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Lightning Bug - "The Onely Ones," a 2020 single on Fat Possum.

Helmed by songwriter Audrey Kang, Lightning Bug has been making hazy, swooning music since arriving on the scene in 2015 with her project’s self-titled debut and continuing through last year’s excellent October Song LP. But if you’re just learning about Lightning Bug, her latest single “The Onely Ones” offers a spectacular entry point, with washes of guitar static and Kang’s effervescent vocal performance. It’s a beautiful sonic fog, one you won’t mind losing yourself in. — Dusty Henry

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MYXA - Carrion May 26, 2020

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MYXA - "Carrion" from the 2019 self-released album Mosca 蠅.

The Seattle trip-hop duo emerged last year with their dark and vibey debut MOSCA EP. The murky atmosphere is all consuming, heightened by Irene Fan’s haunting vocals coming in and out of the ghostly beats. “Carrion” also features lyrics contributed by South African author Ian S. Thomas, adding to the heady and immersive experience. — Dusty Henry

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MAITA - Someone's Lost Their Wallet May 25, 2020

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MAITA - "Someone's Lost Their Wallet" from the 2020 album Best Wishes on Kill Rock Stars.

Read an excerpt from KEXP writer Martin Douglas’ previous debut on the track:

“[MAITA’s] ‘Someone's Lost Their Goddamn Wallet,’ setting the pace as the second track on Best Wishes (out May 15th on Kill Rock Stars), is steeped in the songwriting tradition of jaunty, lighthearted folk-rock being used as a Trojan Horse for the creeping dread of existentialism. It's 3 AM and the party is still moving through the night presumably without incident or noise complaints, both the front and back door are being used, bodies are moving around in the enjoyably predictable way they always move around at parties.”

Read our premiere of the track on KEXP.org.

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Minimal Violence - Ravebomb (Fire Mix) May 22, 2020

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We’ve finally reached World Goth Day and DJ Abbie is going out with a bang – or rather a “Ravebomb.” This alternate mix from the Vancouver B.C. techno outfit lives up to its name. It’s a haunted eruption of sound, shrieking against the clamoring of drums. Bold, unrelenting, and even a bit frightening, it hits all the hallmarks of goth music.

Read the full post on KEXP.org

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Houses of Heaven - A Place Between May 21, 2020

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Oakland’s Houses of Heaven takes us into the homestretch of DJ Abbie’s Song of the Day pics leading into World Goth Day on May 22. The center piece of the group’s debut LP, “A Place Between” is quintessential goth with sharp, spelling-binding and dissonant percussion and whirls of cryptic drones and vocals. Playing the track loudly invokes the feeling of sweatily dancing in an underground club moments before stepping outside for the breath of invigorating fresh air.

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FEE LION - Blood Sisters May 20, 2020

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Continuing with her week of goth song of the day picks, DJ Abbie brings us the industrial banger that is Fee Lion’s “Blood Sisters.” The moniker of Justina Kairyte, she’s described the EP and titular song as themed around self-love.

“I was experiencing a deep disconnect with myself and had to begin the journey of re-learning how to love myself, which can be so daunting,” she told Paper Mag. “There were many, many days where I just didn't leave my bed, didn't leave the house and most definitely did not work on music. This wouldn't be the first time; I am actively working on finding the balance in my process.”

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The Ninth Wave - Happy Days! May 19, 2020

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We’re continuing DJ Abbie’s week of songs leading up to World Goth Day on May 22. Despite what the name may imply, Glasgow band The Ninth Wave’s “Happy Days!” is not a happy affair. This is ‘Goth Day,’ we’re talking about here – what did you expect?

“’Happy Days!’ is a song of ups and downs,” the band told DIY Mag earlier this month. “At its core, the lyrics shine a torchlight on the murky highs and lows of life.”

You can feel this in the driving pulse of the record. Waves of dark synthesizer rumbles under vocalist/guitarist Hadyn Park-Patterson’s guttural growl. The sputtering drums and spacious pauses make the climactic moments feel mammoth in size. All to say, it’s a happy day for goths with this incendiary track.

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Rowland S. Howard - Autoluminescent May 18, 2020

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Leading up to World Goth Day, DJ Abbie is giving you a dose of variations of goth every day this week. She’s kicking things off with an essential cut from The Birthday Party’s own Rowland S. Howard.

While often associated with post-punk, there’s an unmistakable goth-ness to the landmark Australian musician’s work. “Autoluminescent,” a standout track from Howard’s debut Teenage Snuff Film, contorts and twists in a bluesy haze. It’s a highlight of the tender, personal side of goth. Howard’s voice shakes as he sings “Into the dark darkness, I gave away myself.”

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Smokey Brights - I Love You But Damn May 15, 2020

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Smokey Brights - "I Love You But Damn" from the 2020 album I Love You But Damn on Freakout Records.

Seattle's own Smokey Brights — led by husband and wife duo Kim West and Ryan Devlin — return this summer with a new album titled I Love You But Damn, out in July via Freakout Records. Via their Facebook page, the band describe the song as "a love song for times of distance. Written about the early months of our relationship, we hope it serves as an audial salve for tired hearts in these strange times." Listen to the title track here.

Read the full post on KEXP.org

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