Since 2012, we’ve been intrigued by Empress Of and her Colorminutes project, where she introduced listeners to her music by posting one-minute demos to Youtube, each assigned to a basic visual, just a screen displaying one color. “I feel like artists today feel so determined to present a ‘polished’ product and I just wanted to let people in to my personal process as a creator,” she told me last fall. It’s been an inspiring project to follow, watching these 1-minute lo-fi YouTube clips evolve into expansive, captivating dream pop songs. This year, Terrible Records released Systems, a gorgeous 4-track collection, and one of the year’s most promising debut EPs. – Liz

FOLLOW: @EmpressOff | Facebook

BUY: The “Champagne” single is available via No Recordings.