photo by Shelly Corbett
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday, we deliver songs by local artists. Today’s selection, featured on the Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, is “Billie Holiday” by Miike Snow, the bonus track to the UK version of their self-titled album on Downtown Records.
The writing/producing trio of Miike Snow formed in 2007 when Swedish childhood friends and producers extraordinaire Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg aka Bloodshy & Avant were slated to work with American Flames of Rome writer/frontman/producer Andrew Wyatt. Edging away from the glossed up, radio friendly, dance pop that earned Bloodshy & Avant a Grammy with Brittney Spears’ “Toxic,” Miike Snow makes up their own style of dance music for the indie crowd. Utilizing their ability to construct fine tuned electronic batches of rich hooks, the self-titled 2009 debut from Downtown attracts some serious independent electro pop credibility.
Today’s song of the day, “Billie Holiday,” is the bonus track to the UK version, now available in a deluxe digital version available via iTunes. The falsetto, unwavering choruses set to mid-tempo beats liken Miike Snow to Passion Pit but the lyrics are deeper and mood is darker. The slick euro dance richness of “Billie Holiday” bring to mind an imaginary nightlife, and a sensuality brought on by the rumbling bass and fading synths.
Recording the album without tour intentions has certainly turned around now that Miike Snow will be playing a slew of festivals this summer, and with a smattering of shows in select cities. Check out their MySpace page for dates and places. Nearly a year ago, we had Miike Snow in the studio, and they blew us away with their performance of “Burial,” which you can watch right now:
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