Photo by Lelani Delay

For a relatively unknown project, the persona of EE Beyond has found a bold and distinct niche. Following in the footsteps of artists like Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill, the LA-based artist born Elaine Faye reckons with her life through music. Her debut EP, Watercolor Lies, is packed with societal commentary and personal experiences, speaking about living as a woman, a person of color, an American and a dreamer. Today, she released a video for the opening single “Dreamer’s Howl”; watch below.

Color and percussion are muted throughout “Dreamer’s Howl.” Hand claps and acoustic guitar make up the sparse instrumentation which easily supports Faye’s layered harmonies. Her vocal pattern rolls like a series of hills, scrawling her message across the countryside. She addresses poverty and resilience, sometimes in the same breath: “City trying to bring us low / We don’t really care though.”

As someone who grew up in a broken household and learned the hard way that the American Dream is a lie, Faye has every right to be angry about the state of our country. But she perseveres, using her voice the best way she can: through music.

Follow EE Beyond on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.