• News

• All

Oct 23, 2015 Grimes By Christopher Roberts

Natalie Prass released her acclaimed self-titled debut album earlier this year via Spacebomb/StarTime International. Now she has announced a new EP, Side by Side, which is due out November 20 via StarTime International. It includes new versions of debut album cuts “My Baby Don’t Understand Me” and “Christy,” as well as covers of Grimes’ “REALiTi,” Anita Baker’s “Caught Up in the Rapture,” and Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence.” The EP was recorded live at the Spacebomb Studios in Richmond, VA, where she also recorded her album. Below you can listen to the new versions of “My Baby Don’t Understand Me” and “Christy.”

Prass had this to say about the EP’s covers:

“I chose ‘Caught Up in the Rapture’ because it’s the perfect song and Anita Baker can really work a shoulder pad. I have crazy respect for her.

“‘Sound of Silence.’ I dig the S & G… not like most people do. I can put it on for like a few songs because the lyrics and soft singing are very soothing, but then I’ll have to put on James Brown Live at the Apollo just to balance it out. Carmen McRae’s psychedelic version of this song is brilliant. We did it her way. It’s got that balance. This kind of style of music comes very naturally to us Richmond music folk. This was a one take Jake.

“‘REALiTi’ by Grimes. Four chords. Simple lyrics and melodies. I think the world of her. We worked this song out in the studio never having played it before and recorded it like 3 times through. I think it works although she’s probably going to say ‘what is this jazz shit’ and hate it.”

Check out the tracklist below, followed by her upcoming tour dates, and above is the EP’s cover art. Also read our Pleased to Meet You Spotlight interview with Prass and our separate recent print magazine article on Prass.

Side by Side EP Tracklist:

01 “My Baby Don’t Understand Me” (live)
02 “Caught Up in the Rapture” (Anita Baker cover)
03 “Christy” (live)
04 “The Sound of Silence” (Simon & Garfunkel cover)
05 “REALiTi” (Grimes cover)

Natalie Prass Tour Dates:

Oct 23 - Los Angeles CA - Echoplex
Oct 24 - San Diego CA - Soda Bar
Oct 27 - San Francisco CA - The Independent
Oct 29 - Portland OR - Doug Fir Lounge
Oct 30 - Seattle WA - Neumos
Oct 31 - Vancouver BC - Biltmore Cabaret
Nov 5 - Detroit MI - Majestic Cafe
Nov 6 - Toronto ON - Horseshoe Tavern
Nov 8 - Cambridge MA - The Sinclair
Nov 10 - Brooklyn NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
Nov 11 - Philadelphia PA - World Cafe Downstairs
Nov 12 - Washington DC - Rock & Roll Hotel

(Via Pitchfork)