Py - Polyethers (Jimmy Edgar remix)

London-based vocalist and one-time Lapalux collaborator Py has a soft and stunning new single out in the form of Polyethers. Following on the from the success of her 2012 track Lungs, which was another piece of hazy, dreamy dance-pop, Polyethers is a slow burner that blossoms around Py’s delicate voice. This brand new remix from Jimmy Edgar stretches her breathy intonations over a classic groove, bringing out the heat in Py’s “fresh cut flowers” refrain; stream the rework below, and read on for our chat with the new voice about where she came from and where she’s going.

Hello, Py! Where have you come from?

Hitchin.

What was on the Py family stereo when you were growing up?

There were two separate stereos growing up, my mum was generally all about Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Fleetwood Mac. I do remember a lot of dancing to Kate Bush too – my mum is a GREAT dancer. She encouraged me to listen to lots of music, I never had any music to rebel to because often she loved it too. In fact, at the time it was a horror but she sometimes turned out to be at the same free parties as me.

My dad was probably a bit safer in his choices and always into more pop, although he did love dance music.

The progression of dance vocalist to independent pop/dance star is very common amongst current artists. How did it all come about for you?

I moved to London after listening to endless up and coming producers at the time that I loved, going out to nights, so I decided to start working with them. I got to know the scene, and would get contacted off the back of other collaborations to write vocals and sing them. I love working with other people, it’s exciting and a bit intimidating which is good for me. The first person I worked with here was Throwing Snow, who is lovely. He gave me a lot of confidence in some of the things I was creating. People seemed to like it so I carried on. The next person was George Fitzgerald, he liked one of the little ditties I used to post on Soundcloud at the beginning, which then became Lungs. I then decided to make a mixtape – I wanted to capture the exciting journey I had been on and flip the standard vocalist/dance producer set-up. I wanted it to be a narrative, lead by the voice, collaborating with different and all amazing producers rather than one.

I am still collaborating and always will, but for the past few months I have been focusing on my live band and visuals and writing new material. I am incorporating more live instruments. I think this is something that happens after playing live, you start to write from a new perspective. I am much more involved in how I want things to sound. It feels like a new adventure again.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

Touring, working with a gospel choir, curating my own nights, I would also love to collaborate with some designers as fashion has been a really important part of what I do so far.