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Szjerdene New Photo
Szjerdene New Photo

Szjerdene Shares The Tender New Single "Are You Here"

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

When "Are You Here," drops into its brief but sprawling chorus, it's hard not to feel struck by a familiar feeling. British R&B songwriter Szjerdene has outdone herself on her latest single, which perfectly captures the frightening uncertainty of moving on from a loved one--of hoping to grow from the pain and, at the same moment, longing to glimpse their familiar face. Built over diamond-bright synthesizers and a wide net of vocal overdubs, "Are You Here" is Szjerdene's new high-water mark; she need no longer be prefaced as that one songstress who's collaborated with Bonobo and Lapalux.

Szjerdene's vocals unfurl beautifully at every turn on the new single, which was premiered by Pigeons & Planes Monday morning. The young artist also shared some insight with the blog on what it was that brought the song out from the brainstorm phase and into its finished form:

It describes that paranoid “post break-up” phase where you’re dreading bumping into a particular individual… but also slightly hoping it will happen. Picturing the scenarios of seeing them from afar and even worse – with someone new. It’s all a vision in which you play out “the approach” in your head whilst battling with denial and regret within this weird limbo state. I hope whoever listens can briefly relate to that snapshot in time.

It's certainly a relatable moment--one which almost everyone can attest to having to navigate at some point(s). Listen to "Are You Here" below and keep your eye out for Szjerdene's official drop of the single on iTunes June 12th.