Tunde Adebimpe

Tunde Adebimpe

Tunde Adebimpe performing live with TV on the Radio at Debaser, Stockholm, Sweden, September 13, 2004
Background information
Born Nigeria
Genres Experimental rock
Indie rock
Instruments Vocals, loops
Associated acts TV on the Radio, Maximum Balloon, Nevermen, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fake Male Voice, Stabbing Eastward, Massive Attack

Babatunde Omoroga "Tunde" Adebimpe (born 1975) is an American musician, actor, and director best known as the lead singer of the Brooklyn-based band TV on the Radio. His vocal method often involves improvisation, the use of effects and repeating sampled loops.

Contents

Background and education

Adebimpe was born in Nigeria and grew up in Hampton Township, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[1] His father was an artist, psychiatrist, and social worker, and his mother was a pharmacist. His sister is a gospel and opera singer, and his late brother was a writer. He attended Shady Side Academy from 1989 to 1993, and then moved to New York City after graduating.[1] He is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, and formerly worked at MTV as an animator.[2]

In June 2011, he married cartoonist/illustrator Domitille Collardey.[3]

Acting career

He starred in a 2001 indie movie, Jump Tomorrow,[2] based on a short college film, Jorge, in which he played the same character.

In 2008 he appeared as the groom in Jonathan Demme's Rachel Getting Married alongside Anne Hathaway, who portrayed the bride's wayward sister. In the film, Adebimpe performs an a cappella cover of the Neil Young song "Unknown Legend".[4]

Solo work and collaborations

As well as occasionally performing solo, Tunde regularly collaborates with other musicians. Adebimpe appears on the track on the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' latest record, It's Blitz!, which was produced by fellow TVOTR member David Andrew Sitek. He produced and guested on "Your Glasshouse" a track from Atmosphere's record When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold. He is also featured on the song, "Deathful", on Subtle's album Yell&Ice.[5]

In early 2009 he performed three shows as a duo with Tall Firs drummer Ryan Sawyer, the latter two under the name Stabbing Eastward.[6][7][8] Also in early 2009, Adebimpe released a combined single/DVD under the name Fake Male Voice on the Japan/Brooklyn label Heartfast.[9] He performed one show under that name with a pickup group at the record's release party.[10] Fake Male Voice again performed at a Heartfast showcase during CMJ 2009, as a duo comprising Adebimpe and Gerard Smith.[11]

Adebimpe created the music video for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs song "Pin".[2]

Adebimpe recently collaborated with Massive Attack on the track "Pray for Rain".[12]

References

  1. ^ a b Mervis, Scott (2007-08-02). "Pittsburgh-rooted TV on the Radio returns as one of rock's most acclaimed and innovative acts". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07214/806092-388.stm. Retrieved 2009-12-27. 
  2. ^ a b c Mechling, Lauren (2008-09-20). "Just Asking . . . Tunde Adebimpe". The Wall Street Journal (New York City, NY). http://s.wsj.net/article/SB122186753749758491.html?mod=article-outset-box. 
  3. ^ Congrats to Domitille and Tunde. Comics Beat, accessed 2011-06-07
  4. ^ "Tunde Adebimpe Covers Neil Young". Stereogum.com. 2008-10-10. http://stereogum.com/archives/tunde-adebimpe-covers-neil-young_027321.html. Retrieved 2009-05-25. 
  5. ^ Ranta, Alan (2008-02-08). "Reviews: Subtle, Yell and Ice". PopMatters.com. http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/subtle-yellice. Retrieved 2009-05-25. 
  6. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRJ_3GKmnC8 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIRLLTb1qZo
  7. ^ http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2009/04/themselves_2009.html
  8. ^ "Stabbing Eastward @ Union Pool". Music Taster's Choice. October 17, 2009. http://musictasting.blogspot.com/2009/10/stabbing-eastward-union-pool.html. Retrieved 2009-12-27. 
  9. ^ "TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe Goes Solo on 7". Pitchfork. 2008-10-31. http://pitchfork.com/news/33906-tv-on-the-radios-tunde-adebimpe-goes-solo-on-7/. Retrieved 2009-05-25. 
  10. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY-4UhQCKwI and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bInF7wo7ZVo
  11. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IfquSP0_Vw and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wtpxNvMQT0
  12. ^ Dombal, Ryan (2009-09-03). "Hear Massive Attack's Collaboration With Tunde From TV on the Radio". Pitchfork Media Inc.. New York City, NY. http://pitchfork.com/news/36400-hear-massive-attacks-collaboration-with-tunde-from-tv-on-the-radio/. 

External links

Websites

Interviews

Video