Le Guess Who?’s Who 2017: Tune-Yards

There’s less than two weeks to go before Le Guess Who? takes over Utrecht. With over 150 artists set to perform, how do we make sense of such a monumental line-up? We made a list of the artists we’re most excited to see and asked them for their recommendations.

Tune-Yards

Official Website

Performing Sunday 12th November at TivoliVredenburg

Tune-Yards always screams fun. The duo of Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner hadn’t released an album in three years but we can rejoice, for they have a new record on the way. I can feel you creep into my private life is due out in January and they have already teased it with a sparkling single. Bringing their dance-inducing music to TivoliVredenburg on the last day of Le Guess Who?, the festival will undoubtedly close on an explosive high note. We’ve asked Nate what other bands he is looking forward to. Find out his recommendations below!

 

Juana Molina

Official Website

Performing Sunday 12th November at TivoliVredenburg

 

Shabazz Palaces

Official Website

Performing Saturday 11th November at TivoliVredenburg

 

Moor Mother

Bandcamp

Performing Friday 10th November at TivoliVredenburg, curated by Jerusalem In My Heart

 

Le Guess Who? will take place 9-12 November. For the full line-up, tickets and more info visit leguesswho.com. And stay tuned for more artists we’re excited about picking their own Le Guess Who?’s Who.

Tune-Yards announce new album and share first single ‘Look at Your Hands’

Three years have passed since Tune-Yards released Nikki Nack and it’s high time for a follow-up. The now duo of Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner have announced I can feel you creep into my private life, the band’s fourth album. The record arrives on January 19th though 4AD. As a sparkling introduction to the new record, Tune-Yards have shared the first single ‘Look at Your Hands’. Garbus said this about the song:

“Yes, the world is a mess, but I’ve been attempting to look more and more inward: how do all of these “isms” that we live in manifest in me, in my daily activities, interactions?

Some of the ’80s throwback production came from wanting the vocals to sound robotic, maybe to counter the sincerity of the lyrics. I started sampling my vocals in an MPC which I’ve wanted to do for years, and there was something that felt really right about my voice being trapped in a machine.”

Take a listen to ‘Look at Your Hands’ now.

In other related good news, and in support of the record, Tune-Yards have announced a North American tour in February/March 2018. The pair are doing a number of special preview shows this November and December, including Le Guess Who? on November 12th.

Mixtape #87

We're ecstatic to start September with a very special selection of tunes picked by the incredibly talented and imaginative multi-instrumentalist and composer Quinta. The Quick of The Heart, her second album, is one of the most exhilarating, enchanting and engaging albums we've heard in a long time. Quinta is also part of the experimental arts quartet Collectress and regularly lends her wizardry skills and inventiveness to other projects, collaborating with many renowned artists and composing for theatre, contemporary dance and circus. So, press play and indulge your ears.

  1. Emily Hall – mantra [Bedroom Community]
  2. Sufjan Stevens – All The Trees Of The Field Will Clap Their Hands [Sounds Familyre]
  3. Serafina Steer – The Valley [Static Caravan]
  4. John Adams – Shaker Loops: I. Shaking and Trembling [nonesuch]
  5. Albert Tétard & Daniel Barenboim & Luben Yordanoff & Claude Desurmont – Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps – 5. Louange à l’Eternité de Jésus [Deutsche Grammophon]
  6. Owen Pallett – E Is For Estranged [Secret City]
  7. Joan As Police Woman – Christobel [PIAS / Reveal Records]
  8. tUnE-yArDs – News [4AD]
  9. Scott Walker – Plastic Palace People [Philips]
  10. Baby Dee – Black But Comely [Drag City / Tin Angel Records]
  11. Errollyn Wallen – Photography: IV. Moderato Keep Very Rhythmic [NMC]
  12. Radiohead – Daydreaming [XL Recordings]

tUnE-yArDs premiere video for ‘Water Fountain’

tUnE-yArDs - Water Fountain

With only two weeks to go for tUnE-yArDs to release their third album, Nikki Nack, they’ve paired the excellent first single, ‘Water Fountain’, with a fittingly colourful and fun-filled video. Joel Kefali, who directed the video, explains how the idea for it came about.

“When Merrill approached me wanting to make a video with a Pee-Wee’s Playhouse vibe I had to say yes. I’d had plenty of ideas for a kid’s show that had been waiting to see the light of day. I didn’t want to make a straight homage piece; there are moments of nostalgia in there but the video is our own modern, manic, collage of a kids show. Like many great kids shows I wanted to cram in as many ideas as possible and sneak in the occasional wink to the art world, contemporary and historic. The musical dynamic of “Water Fountain” lends itself perfectly to the concept and I think this video is best viewed while consuming a big bowl of cereal. Then again, what isn’t?”

Watch the video for ‘Water Fountain’ below and grab Nikki Nack when it drops on May 6th via 4AD.

tUnE-yArDs announces new album Nikki Nack, teases it with Megamix

tUnE-yArDs - Nikki Nack MegaMix

To coincide with her birthday today, tUnE-yArDs‘ Merrill Garbus has shared other news well worth celebrating – the band’s third full-length album entitled Nikki Nack. It follows tUnE-yArDs’ outstanding and widely acclaimed 2011’s W H O K I L L and it will hit stores on May 6th via 4AD.
To spice things up, Garbus is offering a taste of Nikki Nack in the form of a two-and-a-half-minute mash-up, the ‘Nikki Nack MegaMix’, featuring several songs from the album.

In other related jubilant news, and in support of the upcoming album, tUnE-yArDs have also announced a number of live dates, both in the US and Europe, with a stop in London on May 12th at Village Underground.

Now listen to the ‘Nikki Nack MegaMix’.