LA-based alternative duo closegood announce their debut EP, Graven , is slated for release on March 22 . In celebration, they share a powerful new single "Paperbag" , which premiered earlier today on Zane Lowe 's Beats 1 radio show, and its companion video. The video was shot in Moreno Valley, CA, and is lined with suburban monotony. The song title is inspired by the brown paper bag test, which was historically used to deny access to darker-skinned African Americans in this country. "Paperbag" is about doing away with societal pressures to conform in spite of the widespread attempts to erase of marginalized identities. The duo wants you to celebrate yourself even when others don't accept you.

Graven is executive produced by G.O.O.D Music 's Grammy-winning producer/engineer, Anthony Kilhoffer ( Kanye West / Travis Scott ) and the sound lives somewhere between trip-hop, Alt-R&B, and dark pop - transcending boundaries is at the core of the duo's art. Individually they are not confined by any gender binaries nor social norms with both identifying as transgender, and their music boldy explores these complexities.

Songwriter/producer, Nyfe and producer Amada, met in college in a small town in Napa County and began making art on the campus' recording studio in efforts to escape their individual battles with depression and a way to belong. The EP serves as an escape from the world and chronicles their journey to healing.

In addition, closegood will be performing at UCLA in Los Angeles on February 25. For more info HERE.

PRESS ON CLOSEGOOD:

"undeniable unique....the duo delivers a sound we don't hear too often...gives a whole new meaning to the phrase 'band of outsiders.'" - V MAGAZINE

"a smooth and lovely merging of creative minds and identities" - PAPER MAGAZINE

"warm, youthful" - NYLON

"the single mixes poetry, R&B, and pop to create a new sound tinged with nostalgia." - ESSENCE

"closegood seamlessly fit into the smooth and grooved out hip hop territory occupied by acts like Kali Uchis, The Internet, Daniel Caesar and more." - REVOLT

"Insanely transfixing" - AFROPUNK

WATCH "OMEN" BELOW:

GRAVEN EP TRACKLISTING:
1. SPELL
2. OMEN
3. PAPERBAG
4. NOMAD
5. IDLE HANDS
6. HOROSCOPE
7. EASY
8. LUNA
9. VMP
10. 0011
11. WOODS