London-based Austrian-Brazilian artist Viji announces her highly-anticipated debut album So Vanilla. Along with this she is sharing a video for the hook-heavy, fuzz laden new single ‘Sedative’. The new album is due out October 27 via London tastemaker label Speedy Wunderground.
Referencing the easy, sleazy sounds of the 90s, Viji – real name Vanilla Jenner – has been cementing herself as one of the most exciting alternative artists to watch in the UK right now. Having previously released music on Dirty Hit, she recently signed to Speedy Wunderground and has rapidly built a loyal fanbase.
So Vanilla was recorded predominantly in London, in partnership with four-time Mercury Prize nominated producer and Speedy Wunderground label head, Dan Carey (Fontaines D.C., Kae Tempest, Wet Leg). Having finished So Vanilla in November 2022, Viji relays that every song had a different writing process – some saw her and Carey playing guitar chords together for hours, until the sounds fused into one, and others came from late night ramblings at home.
Combining fiercely layered guitar melodies with pop hooks and slow, soulful soliloquies, ‘Sedative’ is a perfect introduction to So Vanilla. Speaking on the track, Viji says, “I wrote ‘Sedative’ about a girl. She’s like a breath of fresh air, and there’s a fine line between friendship and attraction that was hard to navigate. Usually when I meet someone like that I wanna ‘be’ that person, but this time I wanted to be with her.”
The single is accompanied by a surreal new video directed by Gilbert Trejo. Viji says, “the scenes unlock the dreamworld inside my head, while being restrained in a padded room. Expect a bit of ‘sucker punch’ with a set of twins in homage to ‘The Shining’”.
So Vanilla:
- Anything
- Down
- Sedative
- Sundress In Pink
- Karaoke
- Blanket
- Sharks
- Slip Out Quiet
- 1850
- Say Hi
- White Lighter
- Ambien
