Jagjaguwar is proud to announce new signing Okay Kaya, the project of Norwegian-born, New York-based Kaya Wilkins, and present her new single, a cover of Cher’s late-career club powerhouse, ‘Believe.’ True to form, Okay Kaya’s take breaks the song down to it’s most crushing pieces, velvet-smooth vocals gliding over a relaxed bass beat and lilting synth. “It’s the perfect song,” Wilkins said. “It’s hopeful. It’s sad. It’s a break-up anthem – and a fuck you.”
Wilkins constructs svelte, jazz-inflected songs — which, more often than not, feature just her effortless, breathy contralto; her fancy-chord-sounding guitar figurations; and minimal, innovative accoutrement. Her deadpan, cutting lyrics are sung in a way so patient, gorgeous and smooth you assume they must have a Lexapro prescription. ‘Believe’ follows Okay Kaya’s debut album, Both, released last year. Across the album, Wilkins covers a lot of ground – the state of American women’s healthcare, mental health, and self-empowerment.
Photo by Kaya Wilkins
“Kaya Wilkins escapes music-industry servitude and speaks truth on her own terms in a frank, often melancholy bedroom-pop debut leavened by diaristic sarcasm.” – Pitchfork
“Wilkins is—without question—embarking on her boldest, most empowered chapter yet”
– Vogue
“subdued, silky pop — introduced us to her alternate universe” – The Fader
“potential to be the next biggest thing in music.” – Noisey
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