Kansas City-based brooding electro-pop artist, pure xtc, had an incredible year so it only makes sense to top the year off right by releasing her sophomore EP, shed my skin.
The project of multi-instrumentalist Taylor Hughes, pure xtc delves into matters of the heart that’ll have you questioning if you’re really being that open in therapy. With her music being an open portal into honest confession, new EP, shed my skin is an anthem for those who want to “let go of things and people who have hurt you, forgiving yourself for things you’ve done that hurt other people while growing and evolving into the person you want to be.”
We asked Taylor to peel back each layer of shed my skin (pun always intended) in this exclusive track-by-track commentary. Enjoy and don’t forget to listen to shed my skin below!
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“shadow”
“shadow” was the spark that lead me towards the brighter new sound you’re hearing on this new EP. The topic is still a little on the dark side but I think it’s something we all struggle with – second guessing ourselves and reliving moments of high anxiety but not being able to change the outcome. Sonically, this song was extremely pivotal for me. I think it’s where I really found out who pure xtc is and what she sounds like. That was so exciting.
“get lost”
“get lost” is about the best feeling on earth. New love, the feelings of euphoria when you find a new hot connection. There’s nothing more exciting than hearing their secrets for the first time and walls are coming down. I imagined day 1 with the love of my life and how charged it was, and getting hit with that, ‘when you know, you know’ feeling for the first time. I stayed in that headspace the entire time I worked on this song.
“shed my skin”
This song is actually about self-reflection and transformation. By shedding a certain layer and learning to be vulnerable is life changing. To stop wishing you were someone else somewhere else, and stop blaming others for situations you find yourself in and just find comfort in your own skin. This is a song about being better for yourself.
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