TRACE – “Honey” (Stereogum Premiere)

TRACE – “Honey” (Stereogum Premiere)

TRACE is an LA-based singer making an instantly likable hybrid of pop and R&B. She works in warm tones and sighing moods, combining electronic and organic sounds in service of tender, plainspoken sentiments. Although her mother has been a successful singer in Vietnam for 50 years, stated influences such as Lykke Li, Cat Power, and James Blake are more likely to jump out at the Western listener. And frankly, if her career matches the promise of her early singles, TRACE will deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as those artists. She’s fantastic.

Today TRACE follows last year’s great “Heavy Shoulders” with the even better “Honey,” a cavernous minimal piano ballad accented with subtle electronic touches that remind me of Imogen Heap. The gorgeous sonics serve as the background for simple declarations of longing: “Call me honey,” she sings on her way to the refrain, “Give me something I can keep.” It’s the kind of song you can absolutely fall into, so do that below.

“Honey” is available now at iTunes.

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