tUnE-yArDs

tUnE-yArDs
tUnE-yArDs performing at Café de la Danse in Paris, France on June 2, 2011
Background information
Origin	Connecticut, United States
Genres	Lo-fi, R&B, experimental
Instruments	Vocals, percussion, ukulele, drums [1]
Years active	2006–present
Labels	4AD
Associated acts	Sister Suvi, Beep
Website	http://www.tune-yards.com

tUnE-yArDs^[2] is the music project of New England native Merrill Garbus. When performing live, Garbus creates drum loops on the spot, and layers these with ukulele, voice, and electric bass (played by Nate Brenner).^[3] The "w h o k i l l" tour has added a saxophone section.

History and work

The first tUnE-yArDs album, BiRd-BrAiNs, was originally self-released by Garbus on recycled cassette tape. It was recorded using only a handheld voice recorder.^[4] A limited edition vinyl was released in June 2009, via the Portland-based imprint Marriage Records.^[5] In July 2009, it was announced that Tune-Yards had signed to 4AD, and a limited edition pressing of Bird-Brains was released on August 17, 2009.^[6] A full worldwide release followed on November 16, 2009 (and November 17 in North America). The autumn 2009 pressing was remastered at Abbey Road Studios by Christian Wright, and includes two new bonus tracks: "Want Me To" and "Real Live Flesh."

A second album, w h o k i l l, was released on April 19, 2011.^[7] A single from it, "Bizness", came out in February 2011. It was produced by Garbus and engineered by Eli Crews at New, Improved Studios in Oakland, California. Applying the live approach to her studio work for the first time, Garbus works with bass player Nate Brenner, who co-wrote some of the album's songs. Comparing the act to Sonic Youth, Frontier Psychiatrist said, "if BiRd-BrAiNs was Garbus’ EVOL, a record bursting with musical ideas that attempted to subvert the notion of song, w h o k i l l is her Sister, a record that embraces the traditional pop song as a vehicle to convey those ideas."^[8]

Garbus' song "Fiya" is featured on a 2010 commercial for the Blackberry Torch.

Gangsta, from "w h o k i l l" is featured in the closing credits of Weed's Season 7 Episode 12 "Qualitative Spatial Reasoning."

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions
		BE (Vl) [9]	UK [9]	US [10]	US Alt. [10]
2009	Bird-Brains Released: June 9, 2009 Label: Marriage Records/4AD	-	-	-	-
2011	w h o k i l l Released: April 19, 2011 Label: 4AD	49	135	148	19

Singles & EPs

• "Sunlight"
  • August 2009 – 4AD (promo-only CD-R)
  1. "Sunlight" (Edit) – 3:17
• "Hatari"
  • November 2, 2009 – 4AD, AD2934 (7" vinyl and download)
  1. "Hatari" – 5:43
  2. "Hap-B" – 3:22
  3. "Hatari" (The Small Is Beautiful Remix) – 4:20
• Bird-Droppings
  • November 3, 2009 – 4AD, EAD2938 (U.S.-only download EP)
  1. "Want Me To" – 4:24
  2. "Real Live Flesh" – 3:33
  3. "Hap-B" – 3:22
  4. "Hatari" (The Small Is Beautiful Remix) – 4:20
• "Real Live Flesh"
  • February 8, 2010 – 4AD, AD3X11 (7" vinyl and download)
  1. "Real Live Flesh" – 3:33
  2. "Youth" – 4:45
• "Bizness"
  • February 11, 2011 - 4AD
  1. "Bizness"

References

1. ^ http://allmusic.com/album/w-h-o-k-i-l-l-r2145940/credits
2. ^ "World of Wonder: How Merrill Garbus left the theatre and took the stage.". The New Yorker. May 2, 2011. http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2011/05/02/110502crmu_music_frerejones. 
3. ^ "New York Times Music Review: Putting it Together". nytimes.com. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/arts/music/08tune.html. Retrieved October 7, 2009. 
4. ^ "Ink19 Tune-Yards: Master of Puppets". ink19.com. http://www.ink19.com/issues/may2009/interviews/tuneYards.html. Retrieved May 1, 2009. 
5. ^ "Tune-Yards - Bird-Brains (LP) at Discogs". Discogs.com. http://www.discogs.com/Tune-Yards-Bird-Brains/release/1779887. Retrieved February 2, 2010. 
6. ^ "Tune-Yards - Bird-Brains (CD, Album, Lim) at Discogs". Discogs.com. August 9, 2009. http://www.discogs.com/Tune-Yards-Bird-Brains/release/1953417. Retrieved February 2, 2010. 
7. ^ "tUnE-yArDs official website". http://tune-yards.com/. Retrieved April 17, 2011. 
8. ^ "What’s A Girl To Do?: A Review of tUnE-yArDs’ w h o k i l l". Frontier Psychiatrist. April 11, 2011. http://frontpsych.com/2011/04/11/whats-a-girl-to-do-a-review-of-tune-yards-w-h-o-k-i-l-l/. Retrieved April 11, 2011. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "Chart Stats - TUnE-yArDs". ultratop.be. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Tune-Yards. Retrieved 2011-10-04. 
10. ^ ^{a b} "Chart Places tUnE-yArDs". Lescharts.com. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/tune-yards/chart-history/1080735. Retrieved 2011-10-04. 

External links

• Tune-Yards' official website
• Tune-Yards' profile on 4AD's website
• www.kevchino.com/tune-yards Yuka Honda of Cibo Matto, If By Yes interviews Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs

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