There’s something personal about discovering music through your favorite artists–either via remixes, tweets, Soundcloud likes or official co-signs. In the case of Bonzai, it was wunderkind producer, Mura Masa, who introduced us. The Irish vocalist first popped up on Mura Masa’s debut album, Soundtrack To A Death, and subsequently became the first artist signed to his label, Anchor Point Records. Following up a strong 2015 debut EP in Royah and a more recent appearance on Mura Masa’s latest single, Bonzai dropped her sophomore EP last week and it’s quickly becoming one of our favorite projects of the year.
Backed by production from John Calvert, Royce Wood Junior, and Mura Masa, the Sleepy Hungry EP is a project built on jarring, yet well executed, juxtapositions between beautiful sonics and harsh, glitchy low-end elements. Bonzai’s versatile vocal chops are what truly reel in the chaos, adjusting flawlessly with every twist and turn. Her fearlessness in both songwriting and delivery helps bridge the gap between between alternative R&B and underground UK electronic music. “Daniel Gets It Wrong,” the opener, begins with a bright, fluttering signature Mura Masa progression before quickly dropping into a heavy, minimal UK-garage bass line–truly encapsulating what’s to come on the remainder of the project. While “No Rest” and “Kassi” follow that heavily contrasting feel of the intro, songs later in the EP like “Lights On” and “Where Are U Now” provide a breather with their gorgeous, addicting textures.
The avant-garde nature of the Sleepy Hungry EP demands that you truly immerse yourself as a listener: the mark of a truly unique piece of work. So, do yourself a favor and give this one a full listen from start to finish below. You can purchase a digital copy of the project over at iTunes now.
