Oakland-bred artist King Isis grew up learning classical and jazz on their great-great-grandmother’s piano before shifting into grungier world-building. They’re only a couple of weeks away from their new SIRENITY EP, out June 13 via Dirty Hit/No Matter, and they’ve just shared another preview with the slow-burning alt-rock track “LATELY,” which was co-produced by Bartees Strange.
‘“LATELY’ is a cathartic release,” King Isis says. “The recognition that perfection doesn’t exist, that I don’t want to keep going through the motions and acceding to the same things. It’s sick of the same cycles, the same people, and the same responses. It’s wanting to stand up for myself, wanting to live for me, even if it defies others’ expectations. It’s the introduction to new worlds, and new unknowns, allowing myself the beauty of imperfection, of trial and error. That it’s OK to not be OK and try things. It’s renewal and cyclic changes at the beginning of Saturn return.”
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Strange is just one of several collaborators on Isis’ latest project, tapping Monte Booker, GREYSKIIN, and Estelle Allen. All the while, they blur alt-pop, grunge, and acoustic leanings into a greater, rawer whole, as heard on their previous single “PERMANENTLY BROKEN.” They’re playing the songs live for the first time in NYC on June 3 and in LA on June 13.
Listen to “LATELY” below.