Stereogum reported last week that Miranda Lee Richards has released the first single off her upcoming album, Echoes Of The Dreamtime, which is due out in January. “7th Ray” is available now on Soundcloud; listen to the track below.

Richards got her start as a singer-songwriter in 2001 with the release of The Herethereafter, a debut album that included a Rolling Stones cover and single that gained significant popularity in Japan. Early November (an EP) and Light of X were released in 2008 and 2009, so Echoes Of The Dreamtime should be highly anticipated for the beginning of next year.

“7th Ray” is a mellow, twangy guitar track (which also features a flute at some points) that highlights Richards’ delicate, soothing vocals. She is quoted as saying this about the song:

“7th Ray” is a song about transformation, about the journey of the soul in this lifetime. You start off beautiful, innocent and sure of yourself, and along the way, things happen that allow disillusionment to set in. The whoa’s in the chorus signify the burden of disconnection. The song has an uplifting ending, where you find a new way to experience more joy and contentment, reclaiming a relationship with your true self in the process.

Richards is currently on tour in the United States. Dates and ticket links can be found on the tour page of her website.