Even though DM Stith has the compositional instincts of a seasoned pro, he manages to maintain the playful spontaneity of a beginner. Hearing his gentle voice and intricate choral arrangements, it makes sense that he used to play piano for Sufjan Stevens and once released an album on his label Asthmatic Kitty. "Imperial Leather," a product of his sessions with producer Ben Hillier for his album that will come out later this year, is two minutes of pure joy. It's the kind of gorgeous soundscape that reveals something new with every replay.
Apparently we have his sister to thank for his expertise at sonic layering. "When I was a kid, my older sister would force me to harmonize along with her when she sang 'I Think We're Alone Now' by Tiffany," he told The FADER. "The impulse has stuck—I can spend hours on my own building sound castles."
