Just a year ago, then 17-year-old Embaci began recording in her Brooklyn home. These were simple songs that showcased her lilting, crystalline voice, composed with only a keyboard and her mom’s handheld recorder. Amid the oversaturated market of atmospheric Soundcloud ditties, Embaci managed to stand out. Her songs proved a formidable enough showcase to catch the attention of futurist “post-club” sound artists Chino Amobi and Elysia Crampton.
One year later, Embaci is now the linchpin of a NON vs. N.A.A.F.I. mixtape boasting production from the likes of Amobi, Crampton, and Dedekind Cut. The 12-minute single “ANGEL CALLING EMBACI (ANGEL-HO EDIT)” was produced by South African NON Worldwide co-founder ANGEL-HO, and it’s the most compelling realization of Embaci’s desire to “channel a girl who is a warrior and [declare] her worth.” As Embaci stretches her elegiac, improvised vocals over ANGEL-HO’s dissonant beats, they prove a complementary pair. Embaci softly coos over rapid-fire gunshot bass, yet ANGEL-HO’s judicious production can be subtle, offering ample space to unleash warrior cries reminiscent of Lafawndah or Björk at her most elastic. Embaci repeatedly sings out, “What’s more desirable than me?” and over the course of a mesmerizing 12 minutes, it’s nearly impossible to resist her allure.
