ABRA Releases Surprise Single 'FKA MESS'
Music

ABRA Releases Surprise Single 'FKA MESS'

When the world needed ABRA the most, she vanished. Luckily, we've gotten some signs of life for new music and fittingly, it comes in the form of a surprise single (released on her birthday, no less).

As one of the brightest figures coming out of Atlanta's hot streak in the mid 2010s due in part to Father's powerhouse Awful Records, ABRA's silky, nostalgic vocals over her own lo-fi production paved the way for bedroom R&B songstresses quickly populating the likes of Tumblr and TikTok.

To mark her grand return to music (on her own terms this time), ABRA surprised released "FKA MESS," a grand synth-pop gesture. Calling upon previous work and its subtle nods to the recognizable rhythms of new jack swing molded into spine-tingling textures. Post-punk guitars enter as juxtaposition for her layered vocals that ebb and flow in and out of harmony. ABRA further teeters the line between artificial and human, nostalgic and futuristic.

The single arrives over a year since her last offering, "Unlock It" featuring fellow Awful Records alumni Playboi Carti, produced by none other than Boys Noize. Despite not releasing a project since 2016's PRINCESS, ABRA has kept busy by collaborating with the likes of Bad Bunny, Gorillaz, Toro y Moi, Charli XCX and more. She also starred in Euphoria director Sam Levinson's 2018 satirical thriller Assassination Nation,playing Em.

While there is no confirmation that this single will lead to something more, this rollout means anything is possible. "FKA MESS" arrived after nothing more than a profile picture change and a Hall of Fame-worthy tweet:

Below, listen to ABRA's surprise return single, "FKA MESS." You can also listen via your favorite streaming service here.

Photo courtesy of the artist

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