Having just been announced as part of the Splendour In The Grass 2013 lineup – also serving as the band’s only Australian appearance – TV On The Radio have now announced a split from their long-time record label as well as the news that the group are recording new material.
The Brooklynite art-rock pioneers have kept a relatively low profile over the last few years since the release of their fourth studio album Nine Types Of Light back in 2011.
Now the four-piece are planning for a return to the world of musical relevance, announcing their departure from their former label Interscope and the approaching release of an already recorded new single.
After seven years of dealings with Interscope, TV On The Radio have announced their departure from the Universal Music Group owned label, deciding to deal future releases via band member and producer Dave Sitek’s recently launched label Federal Prism.
Singer Tunde Adebimpe revealed the band’s news in a recent interview with SPIN; “Ehhhh…we parted ways with them,” he confirms.”To the best of my knowledge, they can ask about another record, but I don’t think we’re gonna do that. Um, yeah they did what they did. That’s as diplomatic as I can put that.”
Following the news of the band bowing out from their old label, Adebimpe further revealed news regarding upcoming material for TVOTR, the first signs regarding any new releases for the band since the passing of bassist and producer Gerard Smith in 2011. “We went to Dave [Sitek]’s place and studio in L.A. the last week of March and we finished a couple of songs… there’s new stuff coming.” – Tunde Adibempe, TV On The Radio
Talking about the possibility of new material Adebimpe went on to say that he and singer/multi-instrumentalist Kyp Malone “went to Dave [Sitek]’s place and studio in L.A. the last week of March and we finished a couple of songs. I’m not sure what’s gonna be out when, but there’s new stuff coming.”
Free of Interscope, TVOTR’s new material will come from bandmate Dave Sitek’s label. The creation of Federal Prism last September was a welcome addition to Sitek’s rap sheet, with the TVOTR member delving head first into an impressive list of production jobs since first producing TV On The Radio’s obscure debut collection OK Calulator in 2002.
Sitek can lay claim to producing albums such as Foals’ Antidotes, all LPs released by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and albums by The Oh Sees and Beady Eye – not to mention his work on all four TVOTR albums.
As Pitchfork reports, Federal Prism’s 2013 release schedule includes not only the new TVOTR material, but a single and album from Maximum Balloon (Sitek’s solo project), two new albums from Kelis, and more music from actress Scarlett Johansson, who Sitek first worked with on 2008 LP Anywhere I Lay My Head (a David Bowie featuring album of Tom Waits covers).
In regards to finding a permanent replacement for former TVOTR bassist Smith, Adebimpe admits that “live, we’re still figuring out what’s gonna happen full-time. We haven’t made any definite plans for that yet but I think we’ll do that closer to making a record. Right now it’s just the four of us and we’re just writing. As we get closer to doing something that’s gonna necessitate a real tour, we’ll probably figure that out.”
Of interest to note, is that during the band’s last Australian visit, for Harvest Festival’s debut in 2011, it was drummer Jaleel Bunton that filled in on bass duties with a replacement drummer in turn taking to the drum stool.
The need for a replacement bassist may come sooner than previously thought for the group, having only just been announced as part of the Splendour In The Grass lineup for 2013. This year’s event will see the festival return to its original Byron Bay stomping grounds, to be held at the North Byron Parklands in Yelgun this July.
TV On The Radio’s appearance at Splendour In The Grass will be the group’s only Australian show, joining the likes of Mumford & Sons and The National who will be performing exclusively for the winter music festival, which included the announcement of one ‘Mystery Band’ (who could it be? We’ve got a few good hunches). You can view the full Splendour lineup and dates below.
Splendour In The Grass 2013 Lineup
Mumford & Sons (Only Aus Show)
Frank Ocean
The National (Only Aus Show)
Of Monsters & Men
Empire Of The Sun
Bernard Fanning
The Presets
TV On The Radio (Only Aus Show)
Klaxons
Flume
Babyshambles
Passion Pit
Birds Of Tokyo
James Blake
Architecture In Helsinki
Laura Marling
Matt Corby
Drapht
Mystery Band
Flight Facilities
Polyphonic Spree (Performing Rocky Horror Picture Show)
Boy & Bear
Fat Freddy’s Drop
Cold War Kids
The Rubens
Sarah Blasko
Darwin Deez
You Am I (Performing Sound As Ever & Hi-Fi Way)
Hermitude
Haim
Airbourne
The Drones
Ms Mr
Gurrumul
Everything Everything
Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes
Cloud Control
Portugal. The Man
Daughter
Something For Kate
Wavves
Chet Faker
Snakadaktal
Robert Delong
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Whitley
Fidlar
Jake Bugg
The Bamboos
Surfer Blood
Deap Vally
Palma Violets
Alpine
Little Green Cars
Vance Joy
Jagwar Ma
Villagers
Violent Soho
Dune Rats
PVT
The Jungle Giants
Cub Scouts
Art Of Sleeping
The Growl
Twinsy
The Chemist
Songs
Mitzi
DJs
Alison Wonderland
Yolanda Be Cool
What So Not
Xaphoon Jones
D-Cup
Otologic
Peking Duk
Tyler Touche
Bad Ezzy
Splendour In The Grass 2013 Tickets & Dates
Tickets go on sale Friday 26th April
Three day event ticket: $350 + BF
One day event ticket: $140 + BF
Camping pass: $99 + BF
Country Club ticket: $699+BF
