SUMAC have released a new song titled “Two Beasts.” The band commented:
“Out today: SUMAC “Two Beasts” 7″/DL via Sub Pop Records . One of our favorite songs we’ve made, and a piece of music we’re happy to be sharing with you during this very tumultuous year. Thank you for listening. Much love, A/B/N//SUMAC”⠀
As previously reported, SUMAC have decided to keep their new album “May You Be Held” off of Spotify to protest the company. Now, while responding to a fan on Tumblr, bassist Brian Cook further discussed their decision, saying they took issue with CEO Daniel Ek treating “music as a commodity” and the service’s low payouts for artists.
Cook said the following:
“…It was a bit of a last minute decision.
I’m not anti-streaming. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a much bigger fan of streaming services than the old P2P platforms like Napster and Pirate’s Bay because there’s at least some accountability to artists and some artistic control that can be exercised on our end.
There was nothing more frustrating back in the ‘00s than finding out some shitty low grade rip of your unreleased album was up on some dude’s blog and having that dude talk about how you should be grateful for his help in spreading the word on your band. Ugh.
But it’s also pretty annoying to have a CEO of one of the largest streaming services talk about your music as a commodity and how you should be thankful for his streaming platform because it’s the only future for music.
Spotify is great for the consumer, but their pay rate to artists is dismal. And while I see Spotify as a great tool for investigating potential vinyl purchases and/or accessing my library when I’m away from home, I’m also aware that it’s become an easy way for folks to circumvent supporting the fragile economy of artists, labels, and record stores. Is Spotify convenient? Absolutely! Is it imperative that our music exists on their site? Absolutely not.
There’s also the factor of knowing May You Be Held is a difficult record to absorb as a cursory listen. I don’t want this record to be something you play on your phone’s speaker while you’re doing dishes. I want folks to actually sit down and listen to it on a quality set of speakers.
So by taking it off of Spotify, we’re reminding the CEOs of tech companies that we don’t need them and reminding listeners that our music isn’t meant to be some ephemera that you listen to once or twice and move on from… it’s something that you should take some time to ponder and develop an appreciation for.
And while I realize that’s a big ask in a time where there’s so much music vying for your attention, I also think it’s valid to try and shape the listener’s experience. Art isn’t always meant to be easy.
And if you’re a streaming-only kind of person, there’s always the lovely artist-friendly Bandcamp option here.”
[via The PRP]
SUMAC have decided to keep their new album “May You Be Held” off of Spotify in an effort to protest the service. Mike Boyd, director of publicity at Thrill Jockey Records, said the following about that:
“Apologies for the confusion y’all. The iron chair was up as a single before the decision was made to not have the album on Spotify. The album BEING on Spotify was a glitch, which I had to fix. After the pretty repugnant statements Spotify‘s CEO made earlier this year, the band asked that the album not be available on that platform.”
[via The PRP]
SUMAC are streaming the title track of their new album “May You Be Held.“ That effort will be released this Friday (October 2).
SUMAC have premiered a new song titled “The Iron Chair.” This track is from the band’s new album “May You Be Held,“ which will be released on September 18. Vocalist/guitarist Aaron Turner commented:
“As an artist in this time of significant upheaval, society seemingly having reached the end of its current iteration, it’s of critical importance to absorb and interpret this process of dissolution – and of the transformation that hopefully follows it. While I don’t believe we’re on the brink of collective destruction precisely now, this is clearly a pivotal stage in the story of humankind – and there is something that feels right about this music at this exact and very uncertain moment.”
SUMAC will be releasing a new album titled “May You Be Held“ on September 18. You can find the cover art and track listing for that below:
“May You Be Held” Track Listing:
01. “A Prayer For Your Path”
02. “May You Be Held”
03. “The Iron Chair”
04. “Consumed”
05. “Laughter And Silence”
Aaron Turner commented:
“As an artist in this time of significant upheaval, society seemingly having reached the end of its current iteration, it’s of critical importance to absorb and interpret this process of dissolution – and of the transformation that hopefully follows it. While I don’t believe we’re on the brink of collective destruction precisely now, this is clearly a pivotal stage in the story of humankind – and there is something that feels right about this music at this exact and very uncertain moment.”
He also added:
“It’s clear humans have figured out many ways over the centuries to acclimate to adverse circumstances, and even to thrive in them. My hope for our family, humanity and future generations, is that we find our way by doing what we have always done—invent, adapt, band together, and ideally, hold each other up through love and kindness.”
SUMAC have released a new live album via Bandcamp. The effort was recorded at St. Vitus in Brooklyn, NY on September 7, 2018. The group commented:
“Here is a new release from SUMAC: St Vitus – 09/07/2018. It is out today via SIGE Records and benefits various mutual aid organizations. It was recorded live at Saint Vitus Bar by Greg Moss, mixed by Kurt Ballou and mastered by James Plotkin. The songs featured vary significantly from the studio versions. We hope you will enjoy and/or support if you are able. Thank you. ❤️”
SUMAC have started the recording process for their new album at The Unknown in Anacortes, WA. The band confirmed the news in the below post:
SUMAC and Keiji Haino have shared a new collaborative track titled “Now I’ve Gone And Done It I Spilled Holy Water (Just Water) Over That Thing Called Healing Music……………………………. / There Was A Faint “Tsk” Noise.” This song is from their new collaborative album “Even For Just The Briefest Moment / Keep Charging This “expiation” / Plug In To Making It Slightly Better,“ which will be released on June 28 via Trost Records.
SUMAC have announced a European/UK tour with Baptists. Endon and Nordra will also perfom on select dates.
Tour Dates:
03/08 Aalborg, DEN – 1000fryd (with Nordra)
03/09 Copenhagen, DEN – Alice (with Nordra)
03/10 Gothenburg, SWE – Skjul Fyra Sex (with Nordra)
03/11 Oslo, NOR – Blä (with Nordra)
03/12 Stockholm, SWE – Kafe 44 (with Nordra)
03/14 Dortmund, NET – Junkyard (with Endon)
03/15 Brussels, BEL – Magasin 4 (with Endon)
03/16 Bristol, UK – The Exchange (with Endon)
03/17 Glasgow, UK – Stereo (with Endon)
03/18 Manchester, UK – Deaf Institute (with Endon)
03/19 London, UK – The Underworld (with Endon)
03/20 Paris, FRA – Petit Bain (with Endon)
03/21 Karlsruhe, GER – Jubez (with Endon)
03/22 Leipzig, GER – Institut fur Zukunft (with Endon)
03/23 Berlin, GER – Zukunft Am Ostkreuz (with Endon)
04/13 Tilburg, NET – Roadburn Festival (feat. Cave In, Sleep, etc.)
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