Following up the double release of musical gems ‘Trust Me Baby’ and ‘In Dreams’, Empress Of (aka Lorely Rodriguez) is keeping to the romantic theme with new single ‘When I’m With Him’, all of which will be included in her upcoming sophomore album. This new track starts with fragments of digital beats and soothing retro synths giving ‘When I’m With Him’ a late ‘80s/early ‘90s aesthetic and adding to the starry-eyed context of Empress Of’s recent work. With a consistent rhythm and overlaid pop melodies, Rodriguez’ voice escalates in sugary falsetto as she unravels her anxiety about being in a relationship: “I feel like I’m on the outside looking in / when I’m with him him, I don’t know how to love / I pretend, / when I’m with him.” True to her Hispanic-Americans roots, Lorely seamlessly blends in a Spanish lyric, during which the instrumentation is paired right down to ensure that this line doesn’t escape our attention. No doubt, this swirling, electronic-pop fantasy will have you itching to pick up a hairbrush and sing along. As a last note, be sure to keep tabs on the forthcoming full-length record, out via Terrible Records on October 19th. - Hannah Thacker