Rising Japanese-African-American artist UMI unveils a new track “Pretty Girl hi!”—listen here and watch a visualizer here. The song is the third offering from her forthcoming EP Introspection out June 21 (a Sunday release, timed to the moon’s position in Cancer) via Keep Cool/RCA. The Introspection EP will be accompanied by a short film, produced with Issa Rae‘s production company Raedio, that offers an intimate look into the deeply personal emotions and experiences that inspired the EP.
“‘Pretty Girl hi!’ is my coming out to the world~ It’s a song about freedom, following my
journey of self-acceptance. This song feels like summer, painted in golden hues,” UMI says.
“Now more than ever, music is a form of healing to the world. My hope is that this song can
bring light and joy to anyone who needs it.”
journey of self-acceptance. This song feels like summer, painted in golden hues,” UMI says.
“Now more than ever, music is a form of healing to the world. My hope is that this song can
bring light and joy to anyone who needs it.”
The new song follows “Open Up” and the title track of the Introspection EP as well as two standalone singles from earlier this year—“Mother,” UMI’s celebration of Mother Nature that was unveiled on Earth Day and “Picture Perfect.” In 2019, her visual EP Love Language was released via Loud Robot, the music label from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot. UMI wrote and produced the EP—featuring tracks “Love Affair,” “Sukidakara,” “Runnin” feat. Yeek and “Breathe”—in Los Angeles and worked with a team including writer Taofik Kolade (“Atlanta,” “Barry”) and director Will Kindrick (Brian Wilson, Ice Cube, Mates of State) to write, cast, animate and direct the EP’s four episodic components. On Love Language, UMI explores race, intersectionality and how love is given and received through the lens of her experience as a mixed-race woman in the music industry. She toured the EP last fall with Conan Gray.
UMI, born Tierra Umi Wilson, is a 21-year-old songwriter, vocalist and producer raised in Seattle and now based in Los Angeles. A former University of Southern California music student, UMI dropped out to focus on her unique R&B sound, acclaimed by Complex, Coup de Main, E!, Nylon, Ones to Watch and more. Her debut EP Interlude was released in 2018, featuring “Midnight Blues.”
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