Juniper Alien — the dream-pop project of Toronto's Kat Baggio — has released a new single today. Along with the help of her varied roster of musician pals, "Xchange" is now available to stream here at Exclaim!
Written in late 2018, the track touts collaborations from Adrian Szmidt, as well as Denim Skeletons' AJ Wright, Jake Wright and Jacob Hrajnik. It addresses the "facades we perform for others," through the metaphor of masks — just not the kind we've become so acquainted with during the pandemic.
"It is an empathetic song about encouraging a capacity for vulnerability amongst loved ones, strengthening our bonds to ourselves and then to each other," Baggio explained in a statement, adding that the despite the synchronicity of pandemic-era mask-wearing and her plea to "take off your mask," she hopes the song still resonates at "the end of the weirdest and most trying summer of our collective lifetimes."
Of the song, co-writer AJ Wright added: "It remains dear to me as an expression of the sort of loving and supportive energy that's needed in the midst of all the current chaos."
In keeping with distancing protocols, "Xchange" was painstakingly mixed over email by Toronto-based producer Chaix throughout quarantine.
Baggio promises further releases from her Juniper Alien project in the near future, noting that material to come should carry "the same pleas for compassion" as her new single. In the meantime, stay tuned to her SoundCloud and social media for updates.
Listen to "Xchange" below and see the AJ Wright-created artwork above.
Written in late 2018, the track touts collaborations from Adrian Szmidt, as well as Denim Skeletons' AJ Wright, Jake Wright and Jacob Hrajnik. It addresses the "facades we perform for others," through the metaphor of masks — just not the kind we've become so acquainted with during the pandemic.
"It is an empathetic song about encouraging a capacity for vulnerability amongst loved ones, strengthening our bonds to ourselves and then to each other," Baggio explained in a statement, adding that the despite the synchronicity of pandemic-era mask-wearing and her plea to "take off your mask," she hopes the song still resonates at "the end of the weirdest and most trying summer of our collective lifetimes."
Of the song, co-writer AJ Wright added: "It remains dear to me as an expression of the sort of loving and supportive energy that's needed in the midst of all the current chaos."
In keeping with distancing protocols, "Xchange" was painstakingly mixed over email by Toronto-based producer Chaix throughout quarantine.
Baggio promises further releases from her Juniper Alien project in the near future, noting that material to come should carry "the same pleas for compassion" as her new single. In the meantime, stay tuned to her SoundCloud and social media for updates.
Listen to "Xchange" below and see the AJ Wright-created artwork above.