new music: stream the captivatingly beautiful “mmh/ylio” from afropunk 2015 battle of the band semi-finalists jelani sei #soundcheck

“These mistakes they make me human” has to be one of my favorite lyrics in recent memory. Sprawling psychedelic indie soul collective Jelani Sei made a big impression at their appearance in the AFROPUNK Battle of the Bands this summer, and their latest EP reinforces why. MMH/YLIO is soulful, strange, and captivatingly beautiful.

By Nathan Leigh, AFROPUNK Contributor

The vocal interplay between Evan Lawrence and Kayana Guity elevates the songs, giving them a sense of playfulness that cuts against the emotional resonance. The two singers chase each other, their voices reflecting effortlessly, particularly on the stunning “You Left It On.” Fans of similarly omni-gendered bands Bells Atlas and The Seshen will find much to love on this pair of tracks.