CUM arrives on the 17th November 2023 via Soliti/Playground
Knife Girl, the ever evolving project of 23 year old songwriter/producer Lili Aslo, announces her new album CUM (released 17th November 2023). A personal pop album that eschews the indie-rock of last year’s Uniform album and relocates Knife Girl in the super melodic forefront of hyperpop experience and electronica’s more rhythm based textures.
Along with the new album announcement, Knife Girl shares one of CUM’s most exuberant and euphoric pop moments with “Fragile.”
“Fragile is about looking for a deeper connection in a casual sex relationship. I wanted to try and express the frustration and pain as well as the lust and beauty of it in this song.” Aslo tells us. “Fragile” is released on the 23rd August.
Listen to “Fragile”
Written, performed, recorded and mixed by Lili Aslo.
Mastered by tuomas@phonogenic-audio.com
Single sleeve by Otso Reitala
Knife Girl “Fragile” promo pic by Helmi Padatsu
More on the themes of the new album, Lili Also explains
“CUM is about the huge changes I experienced with my sexuality and gender identity upon starting hormone replacement therapy. I wanted to explore those themes of sex and gender in a sincere way without sensationalising or romanticising my experience. Though sex and relationships are lovely, there is a greed and ugliness to it as well. And though my gender expression fills me with euphoria, the fear of violence and hate crimes haunts me daily. I’m assuming many people will think of this album as shallow and gimmicky without giving it an honest chance. I purposefully named the album “CUM” to provoke those kinds of people. I’m writing songs about sex as an artistic choice, not because it’s an easy way out for me.
The album is about sex! I thought using CUM as an album title was a really effective way of getting that across. I set out to create an album explicitly from a trans perspective. I also wanted to be openly sexual. I’m proud I did that.
The album’s sound expands on what I was doing on my OONA EP from 2021, adding more dance elements to it. I produced the songs with the idea of wanting them to be danceable live. The sound design is inspired by some of my favourite producers like Sophie and A.G.Cook. “
Knife Girl : CUM (Soliti 107)
Release date: 17th November 2023
CUM Album sleeve by Otso Reitala
Share Your Love
Knots
Estrogen
Fragile
Satisfied
Good Boy
GUN = KISS + LOVE
Salvation
Beautiful
Credits
All songs except “Good Boy” Written, Composed, Produced, Mixed by Lili Aslo. Synth programming, Drum programming, Vocal mixing by Lili Aslo. “Good Boy” synth , drum programming by Lili Aslo, Saku Liimatainen, Aapo Lankinen
Knife Girl live shows Summer 2023
25.08.2023 — Festivali, Tampere
28.08.2023 — Helsinki Juhlaviikot
Knife Girl “Fragile” promo pic by Helmi Padatsu