By Likando of ZEDCLOUT
Tacoma-based duo Plaid Lion is back and bolder than ever with their shapeshifting new single, “Selkie Blues,” released July 1st on all major streaming platforms. Known for weaving jazz, indie pop, and soul into a lush sonic tapestry, the pair continues to push boundaries with a track that’s equal parts moody, mystical, and melodic.
Plaid Lion — made up of SaraEllen (vocals, keys, arranging, mixing) and Ian (guitar, bass, vocals) — describes their music as “genre-bending indie jazz-pop,” but that barely scratches the surface. With nods to vintage funk, psychedelic rock, and soulful R&B, their latest work feels both throwback and ahead of its time — like the lovechild of Eurythmics and Hiatus Kaiyote.
Their new release, “Selkie Blues,” is a sonic seacreature: sleek, mysterious, and a little dangerous. The track unfolds over a hypnotic breakbeat, guided by SaraEllen’s soaring three-octave range and Ian’s crisp jazz guitar lines. With warm bass and vintage synths swirling beneath poetic lyrics, it’s a song that beckons you into its underwater world — moody, mythic, and mesmerizing.
“The Selkie is a legend for our time. She’s the woman you only think you know,” says the band. “Soft as a seal, but underneath there’s an edge.”
Plaid Lion has been steadily evolving since their 2022 debut Lounge of the Lost and Found, a bold, jazz-infused album full of original arrangements. Their 2023 follow-up, Lure the Moon, leaned more synthpop, even catching the attention of KEXP with the standout single “Sea Queen’s Garden.”
With “Selkie Blues,” the band steps into deeper waters — lyrically and sonically. It’s a confident signal that Plaid Lion is carving out a unique lane: emotionally rich, technically skilled, and unafraid to swim against the current.
They’re back in the studio now, working on more music set to release later in 2025 — so if “Selkie Blues” pulls you in, don’t worry. There’s more where that came from.
Stream “Selkie Blues” now on Spotify and all platforms.
📍 More from Plaid Lion: music@plaidlion.ne
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