UMI - ‘Introspection Reimagined’

Almost a year after its initial release, UMI has shared a reimagined version of her EP, Introspection.

This time, she’s backed by live instrumentation. UMI invited more than a dozen collaborators to Malibu’s Shangri-La Studios, where they remixed and rearranged her existing material.

There is not really a sense of studio polish, but in the best way. She dares to show the cracks in her voice. There is raw texture and emotion present throughout the project. 

 “I just let go of the pressure to hit notes or sound perfect….and when I let go of that it’s like the notes just hit themselves,” she explains in an accompanying documentary. 

Introspection Reimagined puts a jazzy spin on UMI’s typical ‘90s R&B energy. It’s perfect for a Sunday morning with a cup of tea and a little sunshine. 

In an era when looking inward has become so normalized (thank god), she writes earnestly almost like we’re reading her diary.  She shares stories of give-and-take in relationships, both with others and ourselves.

The remade EP also offers two new tracks, “Beautiful Day” and “Solitude.” That serve as blissful, connecting interludes.

I definitely recommend taking this 27 minute EP for a spin.