Chastity Belt have been pretty quiet since the release of their album I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone back in 2017. At that time, their frontwoman Julia Shapiro was struggling with depression and decided to go back to Seattle in order to take some time for herself. During this period, Shapiro started to work on some demos that eventually became a full solo album, to be unveiled in two months. The first single “Natural” is already here and it comes with a Matthew James-Wilson-directed video clip that you can watch below.

About the conception of the album, Julia Shapiro detailed to The Fader where the track was premiered:

[su_quote]I started recording stuff in my apartment just for fun. I wanted to learn how to use Ableton, and at the time, Chasity Belt wasn’t doing that much. Our bassist moved to Los Angeles. I liked some of what I had done, and so I sent it over to Jason [Baxter] at Hardly Art, and he suggested that I put out a solo album. I ended up going into my friend’s studio and recording the four songs that I’d already demoed. And then I was planning on just doing that for the rest of the album, but I started demoing more songs, and then I became attached to the demos. And I felt like, “What, these sounds good enough to me. Why don’t I just hold onto these and just put these on the album?[/su_quote]

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Julia Shapiro – Perfect Vision tracklisting:

01 “Natural”

02 “Parking Lot”

03 “Shape”

04 “Tired”

05 “Harder To Do”

06 “Around The Block”

07 “A Couple Highs”

08 “Perfect Version”

09 “I Lied”

10 “Empty Cup”

Every week, Free scours through hundreds of SoundCloud tracks to find the best new gems by artists that are flying under the radar.

Each Thursday our Brussels-based fellow overwhelms you with a variety of songs that make your head go nuts. But hey, Thursday is the new Friday! Here are a few of his favorites:

Charli XCX – Roll With Me & ILY2:

2017 will be the year of Charli XCX! I know it seems quick to say, but you can’t deny I might be right. Charli’s Vroom Vroom EP out last year was the best pop we heard and it’s hard to image someone doing better, bigger and poppier this year than what she’s doing on her new mixtape Number 1 Angel. It’s no coincidence the only current alt-pop artist as good – or even better – than Charli is Art Angel Grimes.

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TOPS – Petals:

If I get the chance to tour with one band in the whole world, it definitely would be TOPS. Jeanne Penny & co always seem to enjoy touring and performing so much – which is one of their greatest features. After three years I was finally able to push “Way To Be Loved” earworm out of my head, that they were ready to pull their new “Petals” right in!

CASI – The Beast:

She’s at the edge of a breakthrough, playing her first American show ever at the Pukkelpop stage at SXSW. The PC Music-ish Casi – she’s all about pink – is the new weird pop star to follow! The instrumentals in Casi’s third single “The Beast” refer to the title while she’s doubtlessly “The Beauty” in the story.

Little Dragon – Sweet:

It’s sad “Ritual Union” is still the only Little Dragon song earning frequent airplay. Yukimi Nagano’s previous LP “Nabuma Rubberband” included massive singles as “Klapp Klapp” or “Paris”. Her show at Pukkelpop a few years ago was overwhelming. As is ther new banger “Sweet”.

Another week of fresh tracks by breaking artists around the world — brought to you by FREE. Check the full playlist below!

Check on Free‘s playlist every Thursday on HighClouds and follow our curator on Soundcloud.