Song of the Day: DJ Béeso - (-.-)

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “(-.-)” by DJ Béeso from the 2015 album Hayííłká on Hush Hush.

DJ Béeso - (-.-) (MP3)

DJ Béeso may not hail from the Pacific Northwest, but he certainly has Seattle roots. The young DJ and producer Kino Benally grew up in Colorado as Diné, a member of the Navajo Nation, and moved out to Seattle to pursue his music. As Kimnusico Trio, he first caught the ear of KEXP DJ Alex Ruder and landed on our playlist about five years ago. Benally has since returned near home, but he's recording now as DJ Béeso and has recently released his full-length debut, Hayííłká, on the Alex Ruder-helmed local electronic label Hush Hush. Like many of his new labelmates, DJ Béeso spans a wide range of styles and influences, yet never loses the groove. And like much of Hayííłká, today's featured song is warm and atmospheric, but too frenetic to be chillwave, and too bright to be downtempo - even the emoticon title of the song is misleading. There's nothing sleepy about "(-.-)".

Enjoy a few minutes of bliss with today's Song of the Day and then check out more music on DJ Béeso's Facebook and Soundcloud pages. For now, here's another non-sleepy track off Hayííłká called "Sleepy Time":