Founded: 2010
Location: Portland
Unknown Mortal Orchestra (UMO) is a New Zealand psychedelic rock band formed in Auckland, primarily composed of singer, guitarist, and songwriter Ruban Nielson, and bassist Jacob Portrait. The band is based in Portland, Oregon, US. Nielson started the band in 2009. The band's first album was released in 2011 on Fat Possum Records; four subsequent studio albums have been released on Jagjaguwar, the most recent being V (2023).
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Unknown Mortal Orchestra provided a smorgasbord at their Sydney Opera House concert, sampling their five dynamic and genre-defying albums.
Some of the biggest artists in indie and R&B circles, plus some much-hyped up-and-comers, have announced Laneway Festival sideshows.
"These “songs” obviously hold some significance for the band, who recorded some if not all in Vietnam and who were impressed enough to approve its release."
"An onslaught of fuzzy guitar goodness and trademark bittersweet sentiment, encouraging us all to colour outside the lines."
"The Enmore audience were sure to remember this genre-bending set, which showcased new and old, psych and R&B, mind-bending guitar solos and thought-provoking choruses."
"Nielson decides to jump off-stage, guitar in tow, and circle the whole venue, signalling his intentions right off the bat."
With a new album out and an Aussie tour on the way, Ruban Nielson of Unknown Mortal Orchestra chats politics, paranoia and scheduling with Rod Whitfield.
This is huge!
"Yet another curious chapter in Nielson's ever-meandering career path."
Their first since 2015!