Seraphina Lotkhamnga on June 24th, 2014

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Jena Malone is well-known for her acting chops (“Donnie Darko,” “Saved!,” “Sucker Punch”), but she’ll soon be known as one-half of the musical folk-pop duo who performs and records as the Shoe. Initially only improvising for fun after Malone met Lem Jay Ignacio at a Christmas party, the two already have the debut full-length “I’m Okay” under their belts. Despite the title, it’s a sweet, off-kilter record with very few instruments (a Wurlitzer and some of Malone’s tap dancing) but plenty of emotions. “Broken Hearted Love Song” is Malone’s take on a country love song; “Dead Rabbit Hopes” is an intimate confession; and “His Gorgeousness” could very well be a Jenny Lewis B-side. For those who remember Malone’s breakout performance in “Stepmom,” they’ll hear songs by the Shoe mood-swing in the same manner. Only this time, they’ve matured with soft touches here and there. “I’m Okay” is out now via Community Music and Malone’s label There Was An Old Woman (which is also home to her previous experimental project Jena Malone and Her Bloodstains.)

||| Download: “Paper Cup”

||| Live: The Shoe performs July 17 at the Hammer Museum as part of the Made in L.A. Music series.

||| Also: Check out the somewhat NSFW video for “Dead Rabbit Hopes” and “Broken Hearted Love Song.”