Who is Unknown Mortal Orchestra?

Unknown Mortal Orchestra is an experimental rock-band from New Zealand. Led by singer-songwriter Ruban Nielson, the band was formed in 2010. Their unique sound blends funk, psychedelia and soul into a unique sound. The band has released six albums to date, with their most recent release being 2018’s Sex & Food.

Career Beginnings

Ruban Nielson formed Unknown Mortal Orchestra in 2010 and self-released their debut single “Ffunny Ffrends” in 2011. The song garnered widespread critical acclaim and caught the attention of several record labels. In 2012, the band signed with independent label Jagjaguwar and released their self-titled debut album. The album was critically acclaimed, with Pitchfork going on to name it Best New Music. Following the success of the album, they embarked on a world tour.

Breakthrough Success

Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s breakthrough came in 2013 with their second album II. The album was a critical and commercial success and spawned hit singles such as “Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)” and “So Good at Being in Trouble”. The album was nominated for the 2014 Polaris Music Prize and won the Taite Music Prize in 2014. The band released their third album Multi-Love in 2015 and embarked on a world tour to promote it.

Recent Projects

In 2018, Unknown Mortal Orchestra released their fourth studio album Sex & Food. The album featured guest appearances from Mac Demarco, Faye Webster and Kurt Vile. The album was met with positive reviews from critics and spawned singles such as “American Guilt” and “Not in Love We’re Just High”. In 2020, the band announced that they would be releasing a new EP titled IC-01 Hanoi on April 17th.