Don’t Test The Unmaker’s Patience

Description

Tanukichan, the musical project of Hannah van Loon from Oakland, California, has been a leading figure in modern shoegaze music since 2016, when she first collaborated with Chaz Bear of Toro y Moi. Together, they released an EP and two full-length albums under Bear’s Company Records, culminating in 2023’s GIZMO. With her new EP Circles, due out September 20, 2024 via Carpark Records, van Loon ventures into new territory by partnering with a new producer for the first time – Franco Reid. The genesis of their partnership dates back to the GIZMO campaign, when Reid noticed van Loon wearing an Incubus t-shirt in a press photo on Instagram. Intrigued about whether van Loon was a true fan, he sent her a DM. Their shared musical interest sparked a dialogue that eventually led to the creation of the single “NPC” in 2023. The lead single “City Bus” offers a reflection on van Loon’s childhood bus rides in San Francisco, evoking the rhythm of stops and starts of commuter life through driving drums and heavy guitar feedback that weave in and out of the mix. Themes of self-reflection and societal belonging permeate the track, echoing van Loon's ongoing personal journey. While much of Circles delves into internal struggles, “It Gets Easier” takes on a more celebratory tone as van Loon realizes she has developed a heightened sense of maturity in the face of difficulties. “It's easier to let go of situations or people that don't serve me,” van Loon reflects, “Or if they can't be avoided, at least I don’t have to dwell in the sadness or discomfort I feel when I let someone down.” Introduced by Reid, nu-gaze sensation Wisp, contributes a verse in their equally ethereal vocal style. There is a noticeable shift on Circles considering Tanukichan’s first three releases were produced by a pioneer of the chillwave genre. With van Loon’s always dreamy songwriting and Reid at the helm, Tanukichan enters new sonic territory that feels bigger, arena-ready, and closer to a high-speed night drive than the hazy summer dream of its predecessors.