Kississippi Releases Spellbinding EP "damned if i do it for you"

Photo credit: Derek Ted

Philadelphia-based indie pop star Kississippi has just released her highly anticipated EP, "damned if i do it for you," which is now available everywhere. Alongside the release, she has also shared the raucous, self-acceptance anthem "Jesus Freak." This project sees the artist reckon with past and present pain as she carves a path forward, celebrating who she is today through splashy, striking production, evocative vocals, and her unique brand of heart-wrenching punky pop.

Spanning four fervent tracks, "damned if i do it for you" is an unrelenting exploration into the heart. Reuniting with 2021's "Mood Ring" producer Andy Park (Future Teens, Death Cab For Cutie), Kississippi found her stride again, drawing from fresh life experiences and a newfound sense of self. When she felt stuck while writing, she collaborated with Dan Campbell (The Wonder Years, Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties), and brought those drafts to Illuminati Hotties’ Sarah Tudzin (boygenius, Speedy Ortiz) and Maddie Ross for finishing touches and studio time. The seeds of the project's touching finale “Bird Song” also came together during that time and ultimately sprouted with Park.

To Kississippi, this sentimental collection is "a journey of introspection, peeling back all of your layers and searching for the love that you've always dreamed of within yourself. It’s a battle to find bliss in solitude, while you’re still healing from the wounds of a shattered heart. Along the way, it uncovers truths about identity and grapples with whether or not the imperfections you’ve found can be transformed into something beautiful. It’s a path to self-discovery and growth, as you navigate the complexities of self-love and acceptance."

The punchy "Jesus Freak" is an anthemic guitar-pop track that is bright, celebratory, anxious, and most importantly, cathartic; her command of tension and release is stronger than ever. Reflecting on the personal experiences that led to the creation of the track and ultimately, self-acceptance, Kississippi shares, "I struggled to accept my solitude, I couldn't help but feel this constant pining for more. I found myself developing feelings for a friend, too afraid to risk what we already had by confessing them. My desires seemed completely unattainable, and I felt like I was unworthy of the love I taught myself to fear. So, I kept this fantasy of us alive only in my dreams as I longed to be in their place, idolizing them and wishing for a switch in roles.”

Last month, Kississippi shared the project's irresistible, funky lead single, "Last Time," the optimal summer break-up banger. The song came about after a run-in with an ex-partner at a gig and the heartache that ensued. Kississippi recalls, "As I took the stage with only a drum machine and mic, it hit me that I was essentially doing karaoke to these songs about unrequited love, knowing that the person I wrote them about was in the next room with someone else." It's a playful, defiant goodbye that demands to be looped by the listener.

Zoe Reynolds, who performs as Kississippi, began releasing music with her first official release in 2015, the widely loved EP "We Have No Future, We're All Doomed." Since then, the playful and poignant singer-songwriter has shared two additional albums: her indie rock debut "Sunset Blush" in 2018 and "Mood Ring" in 2021. Kississippi has supported a slew of established acts globally, from Dashboard Confessional to Kevin Devine and 2023's The Greatest Generation Tour with The Wonder Years. She has captivated several leading tastemakers across the country ever since, including Pitchfork, Billboard, WXPN's World Cafe, and Stereogum's coveted Band To Watch. Pitchfork praised "Mood Ring" for its "blissful shimmer," adding that, "In these moments of imperfection, when Reynolds reveals some rust among the gold, she is most luminous."

Over glittering synths and masterful lyricism, Kississippi brilliantly blends being cheeky and profound—crafting dance-cry anthems that never age. The artist continues to blaze an incredibly mesmerizing path forward, one that is all her own and proudly embraces who she is today, never missing the opportunity to throw a banger or two into the mix.

Kississippi's first project in three years, "damned if i do it for you," filled with enthralling tales of growth, self-love, and bold healing anthems, is officially out everywhere now. The final show of the West Coast run is tonight at LA's Permanent Records Roadhouse with tickets on sale now. Keep up with Kississippi on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more from this rising star.

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