We’ve been leading up to the release of Empress Of’s sophomore album, titled Us, for quite some time – now we can get really excited, as it’s just a couple of days away. So far we’ve covered album tracks ‘Go To Hell’, ‘Trust Me Baby’ and ‘When I’m With Him’. Adding to our anticipation is another early cut, ‘I Don’t Even Smoke Weed’. It’s a lowkey jam of warm, off-kilter electronic pop that once again conveys Lorey Rodriguez’ unique take on love. This time it’s all about finding someone that you’re so comfortable with, that all else becomes irrelevant and you’re able to quieten those niggling thoughts. As Lorey’s resplendent voice sings “I don’t even smoke weed / It gives me anxiety / But when I’m with you / I’m too careless to care what people think.” These words ride over a bubbling synth-pop track, reminiscent of the expert melodious minimalism of Christine & the Queens, and this subtle groove is entirely repeat-worthy. Look out for the Us LP this Friday (October 19th) via Terrible Records. - Hannah Thacker