Lily Elise is a Bay Area-based vocalist who has been making a name for herself over the last couple of years as she’s been writing and collaborating with a number of artists including the Los Angeles, CA-based duo Frenship, Dillon Francis, DJ Felix Cartal, and Hungarian Idol winner, Gigi Radics. But I suspect that her forthcoming Taken EP, which is slated for an early 2015 release will likely expand the vocalist’s profile across the blogosphere – and perhaps even in print. In fact, the EP has Lily Elise collaborating with Felix Snow, who has worked with SZA, Gallant and Nicole Sherzinger; Dan Nigro, who has worked with Sky Ferreira, AlunaGeorge, and Twin Shadow; and Mighty Mike, who has worked with Erik Belz and Danny Score, and others. 

“Suitcases,” the first second single off the forthcoming EP pairs dense layers of cascading synths, swirling electronics, finger snapped-based percussion with Lily Elise’s soulful and sensual vocals. Sonically, it’s a mix of electro pop with R&B that bears a resemblance to the likes of Steven A. Clark and countless others. Lyrically, the single along with the rest of the material on the EP is based on extremely personal experience – the breakup of an intense and destructive relationship as she was finding herself in a rather uncertain career path as a musician. With the combination of both it evokes a sense of anxious, uncertainty and confusion – the same sort of confusion that would be expected in a difficult time.