Uploaded May 2014 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago

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"It was fascinating to watch the Downtown Los Angeles sunrise, when the natural world immerses the industrial environment in light," says lo-fi prodigy Moses Sumney, who is perched on top of the Ace Hotel in the latest installment of our series with Yours Truly, Sunrise, Sunset. "It's such a contemporary phenomenon, it feels almost futuristic. I live in Mid-City, where things are more quintessentially California: the sun peaks up out of the palm trees and casts their shadows on the sidewalk." The San Bernardino-born singer-songwriter's expressive folk-soul hybrid turned music industry heads throughout 2013 despite playing only a handful of shows and being without a record label. He is fresh from playing New York Fashion Week's closing party with Solange Knowles and her Saint Records a fortnight ago, covering Sade's "Love Is Stronger Than Pride" in a collaboration with fellow breakout alt-RnB artist Kelela. "Solange was a sweetheart," says Sumney. "She gave me a warm introduction and came back onstage during my set to ensure the rowdy fashion week crowd was paying attention." Sumney starts his weekly month-long residency at Los Angeles' Bootleg Theater tonight, with alongside local rising artists Deradoorian, yOya and Kan Wakan. "I've seen tons of residencies at the venue and they seem to represent an LA rite of passage," says Sumney of the city's live music heritage. "It feels very egalitarian that someone like me, who wasn't raised in the LA scene at all, could come in so suddenly and be embraced."

Listen to more Moses Sumney at soundcloud.com/mosessumney

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And be sure to drop by Nowness for more in the Sunrise, Sunset series: nowness.com/category/details/music

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