Song of the Day: Keep Shelly In Athens - Seattle

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on The Morning Show with John Richards, is “Seattle” by Keep Shelly In Athens from the 2017 album Philokalia out September 29th on Athenian Aura Recordings.

Keep Shelly In Athens - Seattle (MP3)

We've been entranced by Greek synthpop band Keep Shelly In Athens for years now, so we can't help but be thrilled they've released a song about our city. The single appears on their third LP, self-released this Friday via their own label, Athenian Aura Recordings. It's the band's first release with new vocalist Jessica Bell, a novelist/poet from Australia. (She is now the group's third frontwoman following Myrtha, who sang on their 2015 full-length Now I'm Ready, and original vocalist Sarah P. who performed with the band in the KEXP studios back in 2011.)

Founding member and producer RΠЯ continues to craft dreamy soundscapes, but on this song, in particular, the Emerald City inspires some disco dynamics. As Bell sings "And we stare at the city lights / Shine upon the seven hills," we can't help but swell with hometown pride.

No tour dates yet, but the band will be playing the 2017 Cloud Festival in Athens, Greece on Saturday, October 21st. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter, and check out a bio video below, created by the band themselves.