Download: Yuna, ‘Coffee’

Seraphina Lotkhamnga on
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Yuna first picked up at guitar at the age of 14, but it wasn’t until she was in the midst of studying law that she began to hone her songwriting craft with performances in the public eye. Now, the 24-year-old Malaysian singer is making herself at home in L.A. while she brings some of those intimate performances to the States in support of her debut EP, “Decorate” (out now via Fader Label). It’s a humble collection of songs that nod to Feist and Sia influences, but like them Yuna’s delicate vocals in sweeping soul-infused pop arrangements reveal a balance between minimalism and melody. Simple tunes such as “Coffee” are initially innocent and coy but build to a lush maturity by the finish. (In fact, the track could easily be mistaken for an Inara George and Van Dyke Parks collaboration.) Oh, and that Nirvana cover (see below)? That’s impressive, too.

||| Stream: “Coffee”

||| Live: Yuna plays tonight at Bardot as part of It’s a School Night with Bleeding Knees Club and Clubfeet.

||| Watch: After the jump, check out the video for “Come As You Are”:

||| Also: Check out her music video for the title track, “Decorate.”