Song Premiere: Emily Wells - Judas

KEXP Premiere
10/19/2015
Jim Beckmann
photo by Shervin Lainez

It's been a while since we've heard from Emily Wells. The NYC-based singer, performer songwriter and producer released her full-length debut, Mama, back in 2012, and surprisingly has yet to follow it up with a proper sophomore LP. But that's not to say she hasn't been busy. Since then, Wells released an acoustic version of Mama, joined Dan The Automator on a project called Pillowfight, appeared on albums by Deltron 3030 and Mirah, among others, and touring extensively in the U.S. and Europe. Now, as she's prepares to release her forthcoming album, potentially early next year, Emily Wells is back on the road and will be in Seattle on October 29 at The Crocodile.

Anticipating that show, we're happy to premiere a newly recorded (though not likely to appear on the new album), a cover of Depeche Mode's "Judas". In selecting this song to record, Wells says:

In the dead heat of summer my girlfriend and I fled our unair-conditioned apartment for a few nights and slept on the floor of my studio, a tiny, soundproofed windowless room. We took the opportunity to listen to some of our favorite records at full volume in the pitch black. This was one of hers and I knew I had to create a cover for a show I had a few days later as we listened to it in the dark. I want to play it all the time now... it feels so good to sing.

In Wells' haunting version, you'll hear her signature combination of entrancing electronics, symphonic strings (she's a classically trained violinist), and ethereal vocals, finding another level for this already atmospherically beautiful song.

Listen to Emily Wells' version of "Judas" below and be sure to pick up tickets for her October 29 show in Seattle at The Crocodile here.

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