Back in 2014, Grey Gersten fronted what he called an “imaginary band” under his long-term moniker Eternal Lips. The songwriter set up shop in downtown Manhattan’s Mmuseumm — an avant-garde art museum based out of an abandoned elevator shaft — and wrote songs for individual strangers who would pay a visit to his unconventional studio. He called these songs “custom melodies” that he’d write based on the answers visitors gave to his oftentimes highly personal questions.

Gersten has been a part of New York’s experimental music and art scene for the past decade; the same year he guested at the Mmuseumm, Gersten released an EP as Eternal Lips, which featured contributing vocals from Sharon Van Etten and TV On The Radio’s Kyp Malone. He’s been involved in various collaborative projects, but soon Gersten will release a debut LP under his given name. Naked Light was co-produced by Shahzad Ismaily, and is due out this fall. Gersten describes the album as an experiment in being emotionally present. “I didn’t think about what’s cool or what anyone would think,” he said. “I just focused on being emotionally present. The real impact of music comes from feelings. If you suspend self judgement, you create the opportunity for something universal to resound.” Listen to Naked Light’s sparse, emotive debut single “You Can’t Stop” below.

Naked Light is due out this fall.