Photo: Quasar Media

In an age where anyone can craft a song and upload it for the world to hear, tens of thousands of songs are created and released every day. This makes it hard to keep track of the beautiful works of so many artists, especially those that sound similar. But that is not the case for Mija’s music, which is unlike anything we typically hear in today’s music landscape.

With a sound that reignites Fiona Apple energy while mingling with the mysticism of Sevdaliza, Mija proves she is not afraid to experiment. After all, experimenting is the only way to pioneer something original. And Mija does just that in her album Desert Trash, a project Mija says she has “identified with [her] whole life.” She elaborates, “I wrote this album with the intention of stripping down all the excess and focusing on what truly matters to me; self-expression, realness, and the story. Desert Trash is who I am.”

Desert Trash deviates slightly from Mija’s previous, more electronically-driven work, showing us the versatility of her talent. The ambient title track of the album carries a waltzing groove and mesmerizing vocals. Some songs on the project, like “Mind Control,” lean more in the house music realm, while others, like “Digressions,” have a heavier drum and bass sound, evoking the likes of Underworld at their prime. Mija also blesses us with some eerily beautiful piano ballads like “Cover Me,” completing the album’s cinematic atmosphere.

Mija’s work upholds the value of unabashed self-expression. You can catch both Mija and her artwork on tour now, as she precedes each show with an art gallery featuring over 40 new and original paintings she created herself.

Listen to “Desert Trash” below: