Kissey Asplund recently crept onto my radar by way of the viral underground. Like many new artists coming out in the last couple of years, Asplund was able to use MySpace to network and find people to work with. It was through MySpace even, that she began connecting with various producers and beat makers, eventually establishing a formative bond with French producer Papa Jazz. The result of this union was her May 28th debut release, Plethora.

Described by Andy Kellman from AllMusic as a “Swedish space cadet…fading in and out of consciousness or singing in her sleep,” Asplund’s sound is futuristic and abstract, fusing jazz, hip hop and soul in ways both sensual and esoteric. As her voice flutters in a strange staccato over pulsating synth rhythms, Asplund fluidly straddles talking and singing; blurring the line between spoken word and vocal jazz.

Apropos comparisons to Erykah Badu aside, Asplund is definitely in a universe all her own. Plethora a complex meld of throbbing bass lines, experimental play with rhythm, and exhibition in genre bending. On “Syntax Error” Asplund waxes poetic about traveling the world wondering where she belongs over looped French horns and car alarm samples. “Entrapped” is a tale of one caught in a web of infatuation and on “So Good” (not on Plethora unfortunately), Asplund squeaks and scats about love so good it takes her “up, up, up, upupupup.”

Kissey Asplund with her cosmic take on soul music, is definitely one to watch.

Share/Save/Bookmark

Leave a Reply