Miss Grit—the project of New York-based, Korean-American musician Margaret Sohn (they/she)—releases “Mind Disaster,” the third single from their forthcoming album, Under My Umbrella, out April 24th via Mute. Following the “trippy, futuristic electronica” (The Forty-Five) of “Tourist Mind” and the “dreamy electro-pop track” (Stereogum), “Stranger,” “Mind Disaster” is a warped lullaby that swells and swoops with fizzing drums, dramatic choir pads, a heady electronic pulse, and euphoric synths, evoking a raw electronic sound. It’s about trying to wrestle free of the social anxiety that comes with being overwhelmed by others.
Margaret describes “Mind Disaster” as “the one that really helped create the palette for the rest of the album for me. It’s my favorite instrumental on the record and so many good friends helped make it happen.” Some of those friends include electronic visionary and film scorer Sae Heum Han (mmph), producer Luciano Rossi (Mui Zyu), drummer Preston Fulks (Momma), and Aron Kobayashi Ritch (Momma), who mixed the whole record.
Watch the Visualizer for “Mind Disaster”
Sohn is a bold experimentalist and architect of sculptural texture, known for deftly moving between analogue and digital, guitar and synths, and creating an immersive cosmos of sound with futuristic frameworks for their searching introspection. For their second full-length album, Under My Umbrella, they’ve lifted the lid on their internal world, lasering in on the anxieties and heartbreak of the past two years. It’s an album that is as immersive and expansive as it is intimate, channeling the noirish atmosphere of classic trip-hop bands, while adding a hefty dose of maximalism and a dream-pop sensibility.
Under My Umbrella began to take shape when Sohn returned from an intense touring schedule where they’d driven themself around North America totally alone. When they returned home, Sohn found themselves yearning to capture that specific, less restrained energy of playing live. Like Follow The Cyborg, its creation mostly took place in Sohn’s Queens apartment. The music came to them quickly, streams of consciousness with one new guiding principle: don’t overthink it. “I tried not to edit too much or force a moment to happen,” they explain, leaning into big choruses where it felt right. Some guitar sounds were first takes, ditto vocals, thus preserving the immediacy and authenticity of the emotion. As such, it’s a densely layered album, charged with electric crescendos that build to moments of unbridled catharsis. “It feels truer to myself, and more of a representation of what is actually coming out of me,” says Sohn.
Miss Grit will play record release shows in NYC on Friday, April 24th at Nightclub 101 and Los Angeles on Saturday, May 2nd at Scribble. Prior, Sohn will appear at Rough Trade in NYC for an acoustic set and signing with free entry along with a pre-order of the album. Fans can RSVP here. Additionally, there will be a listening party for the album at Yu and Me Books in NYC on Saturday, April 18th.
In May, Miss Grit will support Just Mustard on their North American tour. A full list of dates is below.Under My Umbrella will be available digitally and on limited-edition crystal clear vinyl and CD.
Pre-order Under My Umbrella
Watch the Visualizer for “Stranger”
Watch Video for “Tourist Mind”
Miss Grit Tour Dates:
(New Dates in Bold)
Fri. April 24 – New York, NY @ Nightclub 101
Sat. May 2 – Los Angeles, CA @ Scribble
Fri. May 8 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern *
Sat. May 9 – Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret *
Sun. May 10 – Portland, OR @ Polaris Hall *
Tue. May 12 – San Francisco, CA @ Café Du Nord *
Thu. May 14 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room *
Sat. May 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour *
Sun. May 17 –Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar *
Tue. May 19 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge *
Thu. May 21 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle *
Sat. May 23 – Toronto, ON @ Garrison *
Sun. May 24 – Montreal, QC @ Bar le Ritz *
Fri. May 29 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s *
Sat. May 30 – Washington, DC @ Songbyrd *
* = supporting Just Mustard
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[Thanks to Jessica at Pitch Perfect PR.]