Listen to “Lick In Heaven,” Jessy Lanza’s First New Track Since 2016

A Hyperdub darling, Jessy Lanza provided some of the most definitive and underrated synth-pop of the last decade. Her unique, soulful soprano merged with her eclectic influences (from Timbaland to Ryuichi Sakamoto) to create glittered, R&B-infused dance music, rhythmic with shiny pomp.

“Lick In Heaven,” her first solo offering since her 2016 sophomore album Oh No, comes coupled with a video (dir. Winston H. Case) in which Lanza is somewhere between a cruise ship shuffleboard host and a daytime talk show’s in-house band. The crowd couldn’t be more, well, normcore, contrasted against the color-selected muted tropical palette. As Lanza plays, the crowd wildly dances offbeat, forming a bastardized vogue ball runway and glitching in tandem with the track as Lanza’s synths dissolve into empty air. The track draws on those yachty, soft-pop bands of old—there’s a definite nod to Hall and Oates’ “I Can’t Go For That,” particularly in Lanza’s playfully punchy vocal delivery.

“This song is about being angry with people and not knowing what to do about it,” Lanza explains. “I find that when I’m a certain combo of sad and angry I reach a point of provocation where I can’t stop myself from going nuclear.” The track, frenetic as it is, plays with that sense of teetering mood, as if on the apex of an outburst.

As expected, it’s a total groove, and, given Lanza announced a European tour back in December, will hopefully signal more work from the vocalist and producer later this year. You can check out the video for “Lick In Heaven” below, as well as Lanza’s 2014 Daytrotter session, the single art and her upcoming tour dates.

“Lick In Heaven” Single Art:

Jessy Lanza Tour Dates:

February
28 – Oslo, Norway @ By:Larm Festival
29 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Journeyfest at VEGA

March
2 – Aarhus, Denmark @ Tape
3 – Hamburg, Germany @ HAKKEN
5 – Prague, Czech Republic @ Meet Factory
6 – Graz, Austria @ Elevate Festival
7 – St. Gallen, Switzerland @ Palace
10 – Paris, France @ Petit Bain
11 – London, U.K. @ Redon
12 – Leeds, U.K. @ Headrow House
13 – Dublin, Ireland @ Lost Lane
14 – Berlin, Germany @ Berghain Kantine

May
21 – Lyon, France @ Nuit Sonores Festival