For the last few years, LA's Ramona Gonzalez, who performs as
Nite Jewel, has been crafting lo-fi 80s-inflected pop. The music has been described as "underwater disco" and "dusky karaoke-pop" (Stereogum) among other things and she's got a new EP of the stuff out now. "Am I Real?" is the title track and features Gonzalez doing what she does best.
The production sounds better "Am I Real?" than her past output but the funky, 80s disco vibes are still there. The last minute of the song has Gonzalez asking the titular phrase repeatedly until the song bounces to its last downbeat bass note and the dreamy quality of her voice really sells it. Check it out and cop the
Am I Real? EP now via Stones Throw.
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MP3: "Am I Real?"
Nite Jewel on Myspace