Pyra, an honoree of this magazine’s 2016 Artists to Watch, released “White Lotus” on Jan 26, and our ears have since been ringing with her soulful voice.

Gramaphone Children’s Jaruepong “Jaree“ Thanapura and Cyndi Seui produced this first single from an upcoming EP, and the hand of two of Bangkok’s electro-pop trailblazers seeps from the record.

The track opens on moody beats and a voice attempting to take shape before breaking into Pyra’s signature breathy vocals declaring, “Swallowed by the cold wave. Save me. I am in despair.” A mournful keyboard and chilly background wailing accompany Pyra’s voice as she chronicles a woman struggling to free herself.

Despite its low tempo, the 4:25-minute track manages to remain catchy, thanks in part to smooth but intense electropop sounds reminiscent of other alternative electropop artists like the London duo Tender, the Australian trio Mansionair and the Korean-English singer-songwriter Miso, not to mention British avant-pop star FKA Twigs.  

Hear more Pyra at www.onlypyra.com. Watch the mind-bending video below.