Shilpa Ray covers Prince's "When Doves Cry" on new single (listen), touring Europe

Brooklyn’s Shilpa Ray is releasing a new 7″ single titled Paisley on August 5 via Northern Spy. That’s the cover art above — the photo was taken by BV contributor Ebru Yildiz — and from that you might not be surprised to learn that the A-side is a cover of Prince’s “When Doves Cry.” Shilpa told us a little about her take on the song:

This was the track that got me. I was 4 years old when I heard this song. There was a story about him on the evening news and I told my mom I was gonna marry him. Why not? He looked like me. He had brown skin, black hair, big dark eyes and the longest lashes. Watching Purple Rain as an adult I was floored that I was allowed to watch it at all as a child. I didn’t remember it being so sexual. All my 4 year old self could absorb was that in the TV there was a world where you could get up on stage, wear glamorous clothes, and be surrounded by beautiful babes. I watched the older girls in my parent’s friend circle copping Appolonia’s style — big 80’s hair, purple shadow and bright red lips. She was a whole lot of woman, and Prince was the magic man from outer space. Those were good times. RIP

Shilpa definitely brings her slinky style to this simmering cover. It premieres in this post — listen below.

The b-side is a cover of “Where Evil Grows,” the 1971 single by The Poppy Family (fronted by Terry Jacks of “Seasons in the Sun” fame, and his wife Susan). You can pre-order the 7″ now.

Shilpa is on her way to England where she’ll start a short European tour. All dates are listed below.

Shilpa Ray – 2016 Tour Dates
July 29 LONDON UK @ The Social
July 30 BRUTON UK @ Farmfest 2016
Aug 2 OFFENBACH DE @ Hafen 2
Aug 3 POZNAN PL @ Kontener Art
Aug 4 PRAGUE CZ @ Cross
Aug 5 TELC CZ @ Prazdniny v Telci
Aug 6 TASOV CZ @ Beseda u Bigbitu Festival
Aug 7 BRNO CZ @ PRAHA/Forum for architecture and media