In the underground world of inventive art pop and artists who are willing to push the experimentation in their work to the next level, Copenhagen’s SØSTR has found its own comfortable niche surrounded by mystique. The project founded by sisters Louise and Sharin Foo (of indie rock greats The Raveonettes) already showcased songwriting ambition with the haunting “Peace Of Mind”, released last month. With their latest single “At First”, the duo continues to push themselves into new territories.

“At First” takes some inspiration from the early works of artists like Arca, Smerz, and FKA Twigs. Aided by gentle bells, it offers light chamber pop flourishes that belie the dense and mysterious atmosphere conjured by the synths. At the same time, the song has a rhythmic backbone of booming 808s, intriguing glitched vocal samples, and reggaeton rhythms, standing in stark contrast to the psychedelic instrumentation. It matches perfectly with the song’s topics of lust, love, and romantic toxicity.

The song tells a story of a relationship that loses its foundation in mutual trust and safety. “At first you made me feel very safe / but then I realized one took and one gave” serves as a painful resurgence of one’s memories, but also a cautionary tale about toxic partners.