You can’t get more fresh-faced than Lulu James. At 21, she’s released  just two singles on the Internet within the last few weeks, but her career has kicked off with an epic bang. Last year she supported the amazing Ghostpoet, and she recently got an first-rate shoutout in the Recommender. 

Then, of course, there are the singles themselves: “The End” and “Rope Mirage.” She’s a fan of James Blake, which is evident in her chosen genre: ethereal, whispery soul. But Lulu’s sound so far seems to float atop choppy trip hop electronic tinkerings that define her songs, but never go overboard or complicate things. The production from Domzilla is, if anything, more tangible than the straight-to-subconscious pianist behind  “Limit Your Love.” Lulu’s beats are undeniably strange, and yet, they’re steady and accessible.

Morcheeba makes a decent comparison — although, Lulu’s gorgeous voice seems to weave around the electronics, never quite occupying a space inside of them. You won’t necessarily find grounded verses, choruses, or even lyrics that include the song titles. It’s these kinds of weird experiments that give Lulu James lasting power.

She’s not saying much about herself right now, or her debut album…yet. But Lulu James’ site promises that “all will be revealed.” We’ll be waiting.

Listen to Lulu James’ “The End” and “Rope Mirage.”

Photo Courtesy of Lulu James