Hear Elise Davis Celebrate Hooking Up in Unrepentant ‘Penny’

“Toss a penny and make a wish,” Elise Davis croons to start “Penny” from her forthcoming album The Token, independently released by Make the Kill Records and Thirty Tigers. And in her voice, even pocket change seems sensual.

Over a gliding, airy arrangement (courtesy of producer Sam Kassirer, who also plays keyboards in Josh Ritter’s band), Davis sings of leaving a paramour’s house “with nothing but a smile and old makeup…high heels and your favorite T-shirt.” She has no illusions about the affair’s seriousness or longevity – Davis allows that it’s a song she’s lived.

“The coin in the song exemplifies a wish, but it’s half-hearted,” she explains. “I wanted to write a song detailing what’s going on under the surface in this particular instance. The person I am singing about felt I was naïve about his level of commitment when, in fact, I was well aware. In a way, ‘Penny’ is celebrating the excitement of no strings attached.”

The Token arrives September 9th and Davis will be on the road this fall, including an October 2nd date at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. “Penny” is available to download as an instant-grat track starting Friday.