Natalie Prass came out with her fantastically peppy self-titled debut album earlier this year and now looks to follow it up with an EP titled Side By Side which is filled with two live versions of her 2015 songs "My Baby Don't Understand Me" and "Christy" as well as covers from Simon & Garfunkel, Anita Baker and Grimes.
She chose to go with what is probably the most well known Simon & Garfunkel song, "The Sound of Silence," but said she was more influenced by Carmen McRae's psychedelic version of the classic.
"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," she said explaining her choice of covers. "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."
The Baker song she chose was "Caught Up in the Rapture," because "it's the perfect song and Anita Baker can really work a shoulder pad," she said. "I have crazy respect for her."
Finally, the LP will feature a cover of Grimes' "REALiTi."
"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 three times through," she said. "I think it works although she's probably going to say 'what is this jazz sh--' and hate it."
Sadly, the announcement of the EP doesn't bring any of the covers, but we do get the two live versions of her previously released songs via Pitchfork. But to give fans an idea of what to expect, look back to her jazz cover of Slayer's "Raining Blood" for the A.V. Club's Undercover series.
Listen to the live songs below.
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)
© 2024 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
