Unknown Mortal Orchestra confirmed a new album, V, due out on March 17 via Jagjaguwar. UMO leader Ruban Nielson also shared the single, “Layla.”
Nielsen crafted V in two main locales Palm Springs, California — where the Nielson spent time during the pandemic lockdowns — and Hawaii where the Hawaiian-New Zealand artist’s family has roots. Both palm tree covered places reminded Nielson of spending time with his siblings as a child while his parents performed in showbands across the Pacific and East Asia. Ruban drew influence from the music of the era like ’70s AM radio rock and ’80s pop songs, leading to some of V’s previously singles like “Weekend Run.”
Family played a big role in V, which saw Ruban’s brother Kody helping with the recording. The story of the Polynesian colonizer, Englishman Captain James Cook, meeting his demise after attempting to kidnap Hawaiian chief Kalaniʻōpuʻu, told to Ruban by his mother, led to the October 2022 single “I Killed Captain Cook,” which incorporates the Hawaiian style of music Hapa-haole.
With Ruban returning to Hawaii, his father Chris Nielson (saxophone/flute) also helped round out the album alongside longtime UMO member Jake Portrait.
“In Hawaii, everything shifted off of me and my music,” Ruban recalled. “Suddenly, I was spending more time figuring out what others need and what my role is within my family. I also learned that things I thought were true of myself are bigger than I thought. My way of making mischief – that’s not just me – that’s my whole Polynesian side. I thought I was walking away from music to focus on family, but the two ended up connecting.”
Along with the V announcement, Nielsen also shared the single “Layla,” which arrived with a music video. Check it out below:
V Tracklist:
- The Garden
- Guilty Pleasures
- Meshuggah
- The Widow
- In the Rear View
- That Life
- Layla
- Shin Ramyun
- Weekend Run
- The Beach
- Nadja
- Keaukaha
- I Killed Captain Cook
- Drag
