Maggie Tra will release a new album, ‘Kingdom Of Her’, via her SYS Sister Sounds label this month. Listen to the title track below.
The Australia-born Khmer/Viet DJ and producer follows her recent single ‘Apsara’ with a 10 track album that pays tribute to her Cambodian roots and to her mother. Blending traditional music samples and personal field recordings with punchy house, disco and techno beats, Tra expands on her trademark sound to explore personal themes, while still keeping a foot firmly on the dancefloor.
From the opening spoken word piece, in which Tra examines notions of identity, trauma and self-love, to the shadowy ambience of ‘Tra Family, which features field recordings from a hospital visit she took to see her mother, ‘Kingdom Of Her’ has a diaristic quality to it. This quality isn’t lost in the album’s clubbier moments either: techno cut ‘Strong Srey’ opens with a Khmer vocal prayer repeating “the right path” in testament to Tra’s perseverance amid anxiety. ‘Ladyship’ and ‘Temporary Visa’ balance their club-friendly beats with striking traditional strings and vocal samples.
The album’s title track pulls off a similar balance with its stomping Hi-NRG disco beat and chopped-up vocal samples. Check out its video, shot and edited by Freddy Morales, below.
‘Kingdom Of Her’ will be released on 21st September. Pre-order it here.
