Clean slates and hearts of pure snow—are those only a naive pipe dream? I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. As I get towards the latter half of my twenties, I realize I’ve picked up more than my fair share of cynical callouses and a tendency to throw shade towards the burning heart of romance. But I get the opportunity in a month to travel 6000 miles away from everything I’ve known; and on a date I can be anyone, with any history. Do I always want to carry around wilted memories?

TOKiMONSTA’s new single certainly makes me want to jettison my past over the Pacific. “Clean Slate” cleanses the romantic side of even the darkest person under wave after wave of beautiful synth work. It swells like a cresting riptide until your swept beneath Tokimonsta’s lilting voice. Her voice tugs at heart strings that’d been tripping you up, effortlessly tying them back in place.

I continue to assert that TOKiMONSTA is the new DJ Shadow, if he ever abdicates his throne. With a perfect ear towards that near impossible mix of accessible melodic, hip hop and innovative production, Tokimonsta is easily my favorite producer on the rise.

Check her out on her Soundcloud.

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