Smoosh first entered the public consciousness two years ago, while opening for the likes of Pearl Jam and Death Cab for Cutie. The duo's 2004 debut, She Like Electric -- released when its members, Asya and Chloe, were 12 and 10, respectively -- shows a keen sense of pop melody and a willingness to explore the possibilities of a sound built on just drums, keyboards and vocals.
Asya's voice, in particular, sounds mature beyond her years: Her sultry delivery encompasses everything from full-blown belting to, on occasion, tongue-in-cheek rapping. Asya and Chloe's sparse, eclectic pop sound has roots in schoolhouse rhymes, indie rock and modern hip-hop -- in an alternative universe, they'd be MTV stars.
"Free to Stay" has all the makings of a left-field radio hit, including a smooth R&B rhythm and a hook that's an instant earworm. On paper, it's easy to see Smoosh's youth as a gimmick, but "Free to Stay" is appealing and infectious enough to chase away the doubts in a span of less than three minutes.
Listen to yesterday's 'Song of the Day.'
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
